The Lycan's Healer Mate

Mia's POV It is often said that children do not have memories before the age of five. That's a lie. I well remember I nearly drowned the summer I turned four, thanks to Jade, my stepsister. Jade was seven years older than me and treated me well until one day she heard my mom mention that my biological father was a rouge. My mom is a healer in the pack and Jade had thought my father would be an Alpha, a Beta, or a Gamma at least. These are the ranks female healers are expected to bond with. The news was a blow to Jade and disappointed her so much. She asked her father to divorce my mom to find her another stepmother who has a better reputation. John, my stepfather, didn't listen to Jade, for mom saved his life once. Jade failed to convince her father and she was furious. There was a week during which she locked herself in her room and refused to talk to anyone. She only sneaked out at midnight. When everybody was sleeping she would grab some food and go back to her room. Her rebellion lasted a week and ended abruptly. She started to chat with us and no longer brought this topic again. Everything seemed to get back to normal, which was a relief to us. When all of us forgot this issue and moved on, Jade worked out another plan and this time she succeeded. On a hot summer day, we went to The Silver Lake to visit some old friends. The adults were chatting in the villa, and we were so boring. Jade proposed to bring me to see the egret near the lake, and I eagerly threw myself into her hug. She led me to the lake bank and we sat there, watching the birds catching the fish. It was a funny scene to watch but soon I got bored again. I told Jade I wanted to get back into the house because the sun was burning and I felt thirsty. Jade stared at me for a while and asked me if I wanted to play a game. All of a sudden the heat was no longer a bother to me and I early nodded, "Yes, of course!" Jade smiled and told me about the game. She and I took turns putting our heads under the water and holding breaths. The rule is simple, the one who can stay longer under the water shall win. "But I can't swim." I hesitated. "It's ok. You don't have to get into the water. Just lie on your stomach on the ground, take a deep breath and lower your head under the surface." Jade explained as she set an example for me by starting first. "Start to count when I go down." "Ok." I nod. Then Jade plunged her head into the water and I immediately started counting. She came out around 21 seconds later, grinning at me. "See? It is easy. What's my record?" "21 seconds," I told her. "Great. Now it's your turn. See if you can defeat me." Provoked by Jade, my worries faded and my willingness to win the game took the better side of me. I mimicked her, inhaled sharply, and lowered my head under the water. The water stung my eyes yet it gently caressed my sweaty hair, which made me feel so comfortable. I would have fallen in love with this feeling, if Jade hadn't stopped me from pulling my head out of the water by holding my neck from behind. I had thought it was a part of the game and didn't fight back. But as the air in my lungs ran out, I panicked. I started to struggle, dying to come out to breathe, yet Jade didn't lose her hands and even pressed my head deeper into the water. At that moment, fear seized me as I came to realize this was not a game. "Yeah, go to hell. You deserve this, rouge bastard." Jade's voice was blurred due to the water yet I captured the words she used. I didn't remember what happened next because my world went black. The moment I woke up, I was lying in bed with mom staying by my side. John and Jade were gone because mom told Jade to get out and John chose to chase after his daughter. They never came back, which could be a good thing. It is said that someone witnessed the scene and informed my mom, making her come to my rescue in time. To save my life, she somehow overused her healing power and the result was catastrophic. I survived yet she lost her healing ability forever. A healer became nothing when he or she lost the healing ability. Fortunately, the Council's final decision was to let us stay at the pack, working as omegas. From their point of view, it was a fair and merciful decision. After all, mom can no longer heal the warriors for the pack and her daughter was not blessed with any gifts like solid muscle, speed, healing power, etc. But mom told me not to feel grateful for the pack, because they asked us to stay not out of mercy, but a revengeful purpose. The only reason those people let us stay was to make fun of us, proving her choice to reject the Alpha and accept a rouge was stupidly wrong. They want to see mom regret so that they can use her as an example to warn the whole pack to stay away from the rogue or your fate would be as miserable as this woman. Born sacred and glorious, contaminated by a rouge and then her status? Down to the dirt. Mom never defended my father and argued against them. She taught me to ignore the mockery so that I could spend more time discovering the beauty of the world. I was fond of exploring nature. But after the accident, I totally lost that hobby. I would rather stay in the pack, and serve the higher ranks than go outside like other teenagers. I had thought I would spend the rest of my life here, working as an omega and die as an omega. The only thing that can make me happy would be my wolf. I've been expected to meet her since the day I knew that every werewolf could have his or her own wolf. The wolf will come to visit us on our 18th birthday and we'd be lifetime friends. I've been waiting for my wolf-like a human child waiting for Santa Claus' gift. I've made a to-do list and I planned to ask her to do those stuff with me one by one. First, we will take turns to have a self-introduction. I will tell her about my family and me, and I will know my wolf's name. Must be a cute one. If she doesn't have one, I will name her after my mother, Elena. Next, I will introduce my friends to my wolf. It would be quick because I only have two friends in the pack. One is my mom who is now lying six feet under in the graveyard. I will go there and bring her some flowers. Red roses, perhaps, that's her favorite. Mom would be happy for me. Then we would come back from the graveyard to meet another friend of mine, Gamma Jack. Don't make me wrong. Jack and I seldom speak, and probably he didn't see me as his friend. I regard him as my friend only because he wouldn't mock at me like anyone else. He just stood there and watched the show. He was a gentle coward. Yesterday was my 18th birthday and none of this plan was carried out, for my wolf didn't appear. I waited and waited, till the hour hand reached 12 and a new day had come. The disappointment is unbearable. I am so confused, and I can't help but rush to the Council Hall at midnight, seeking an answer from the wise, known as Old Mike. The man has a poker face and the last thing I want to do is to disturb him. Yet this is an emergency and I have to break the rules. Upon entering the hall, I start to throw a pile of questions at him. "Sir, please help me! Yesterday was my 18th birthday and I didn't meet my wolf. How could this happen? Did she get lost? How could I show her the way?" Old Mike gazes at me in silence. After a long pause, he sends me a pitiful look. "Elena never told you. Did she?" "Told me what?" Something in his tone makes me nervous. "Did you remember what happened to you when you were younger?" Old Mike kindly offers the clues to let me know what he was talking about, "Near the Silver Lake." I shudder at his words and nod. The question is stupid. I doubt if anyone would ever forget such an experience. It was so impressive and unforgettable, in a bad way, though. Old Mike breathes a sigh of relief as if my memory saves him from the explaining works. He calmly announces, "Then you should understand you will never be able to have a wolf. It died in that accident." "But I survived." I retort in disbelief. "Well, it didn't." Old Mike shrug, "Would you please see yourself out? You may come here tomorrow, asking more questions during my working hours." "Ok," I say. Not that I want to obey, but this is the only word I could utter at that moment. The following day I don't show up in the hall as what I told Old Mike. Instead, I leave the pack. I don't know why I am doing this. Perhaps at the bottom of my heart, I believe in the power of nature and hope it can take my life away. I wander aimlessly in the forest and the moon goddess answers my appeal. There is a shadow, moving in the foggy woodland, following me like a tail. I stride forward. It quicken the pace. I pause, so does it. It is like a predator playing with its prey. I can no longer stand the lingering tension so I stop and turn around, shouting at the follower. "Show yourself, coward! If you want my life, come and claim it. Just make it quick." In the darkness, I heard a chuckle, suggesting my follower is a male. As the shadow approaches, I see a figure in a black cloak. I can barely see his face due to the hood he wears. A silver shiny thing touches my neck and the coldness sends a shiver down my spine. I glance down and recognizes it as a dagger. "My apology, young lady, but we don't kill spies in this way. Death would be too merciful." "What? But I am not a spy." "Alas, said every spy," he answers nonchalantly as he lifts the dagger a little bit, forcing me to raise my chin. Our eyes met, and he snorts, "Then perhaps you can explain why you are trespassing at night?" My eyes widen sharply. Trespassing?!