Alpha Second Chance

A strange calm settles over me as I hold his gaze. Elder Bria is here too, her voice low as she assures the healer, “I’ll see to it, don’t worry.” See to what? My mind races with questions. The healer leaves, and suddenly it’s just Deckard, Elder Bria, and me in the room. “You heard the healer, Alpha,” Elder Bria says firmly, turning to Deckard. “We can’t let any harm come to our future Luna. We must do everything possible to bring her back to health. So please… spend the night with her. It may be the only way to speed her recovery.” Deckard says nothing. Though I’m not looking directly at him, I can feel the weight of his gaze on me, intense and unmoving. Elder Bria waits. Once she realizes she won’t get a response from him, she steps back with a sigh. “I’ll ask the maid to bring food and anything else she might need,” she says, then exits, leaving us alone in an awkward silence. "Amica…" Deckard finally breaks the quiet, but before he can say more, quick footsteps sound in the hall. I recognize them immediately—it’s Mary. “Deckard…” she rushes into the room, her voice full of concern. Without hesitation, she wraps her arms around him in a tight embrace. “I just got back and heard—what happened?” She looks him over, worry etched in her face, then leans in and presses a kiss to his lips. “I’m not the one in need,” he replies, his voice firm. A surge of irritation flares up in me, so strong that I let out an involuntary groan, the discomfort settling deep in my chest. I can’t tell where this feeling is coming from, but it’s overwhelming. Deckard immediately shrugs Mary off and strides over to me, his eyes sharp with worry. “What’s wrong?” He gently pats my hair, his touch surprisingly soothing. “Hey! I’m here now!” Mary cuts in, her tone forced and tense. “I am the doctor, remember?” She laughs, but it sounds hollow. “She already has a doctor,” a voice calls from the doorway. It’s Elder Bria, her gaze hard as she steps back into the room with supplies in hand, her presence commanding as always.