The Lycan's Healer Mate

Chapter 3 Jump

Mia's POV

My confrontation somehow stuns the man and earns me a chance to explain, yet I lose the ability to organize language and the only thing I can do is stare at the man like a criminal caught red-handed.

I feel so disappointed in myself. These could be my last words. I should have defended myself in a more convincing way. I should have reasoned with this guy. Perhaps the pack members didn't mock me. They just stated the truth.

"We lost a healer because of you, rogue bastard."

"Hey, stay away from the kitchen! Get out and find me another omega. I would NEVER allow a rogue in my kitchen. "

"You know what Mia, when I heard one of the omegas died in the ambush, I wish it was you."

"You are a cursed child gifted with nothing."

"Behold! Here comes the daughter of the rogue, murder of the healer, loser of the pack! "

Chaotic.

The voice in my head becomes louder and louder, and all of a sudden I lose the desire to defend myself. The explanation would be useless. This man has considered me a spy, which means he would be suspicious about whatever I say.

"What are you gonna do with me?" I ask, "Will you take me to court?"

The man looks so confused yet I dare not to ask what he is thinking. The silence lingers for nearly a century and he eventually speaks, not to me though.

"What do you mean by you can't see her wolf? Are you blind?" He huffs, obviously impatient.

A surge of pain ripples from my abdomen as I come to realize he was having a conversation with his wolf. Although I know it isn't his intention to hurt me, his words is the straw that broke the camel's back, darkening my mood until I can no longer stand the tears trickling down my cheek.

"Oh no." Sensing my tears, he rummages in his pocket for a handkerchief and hands it to me, with his another hand still holding the dagger against my neck.

His gesture looks weirdly cute to me and I can't refrain from smiling through tears.

Since the day mom was stripped of her title, I've been used to holding back my tears, for the liquid is evidence of weakness. And the only use of it is to attract bullies to make you cry louder. This is a lesson I learned through pain.

A lump forms in my throat and I nearly choke.

"Easy, easy. There you go." He touches the small of my back and I am frozen.

My whole body is tensed up and I frantically flinch at his hand, bare my teeth and shout at him, "Don't you dare to touch me!"

"You are fine with a dagger pointing at your neck but cannot bear a gentle touch?" He is taken aback and soon gives me a mischievous grin, "Is that your erogenous zone?"

I blush with embarrassment with his words and squint my eyes, "Did you flirt with every trespasser you caught?"

"Why," he raise one of his eyebrows and grins, "Are you jealous?"

I send him another glare and he laughes, letting go of the topic.

"Back to business. "He clears his throat and the playfulness in his tone is gone, "You haven't explained why were you trespassing at night."

It is a surprise to me that he is still waiting for me to offer him an explanation.

To reward his patient waiting, I answer, "I didn't know I was trespassing. Where are we, if you may tell me?"

"Either you are a good liar, or you truly have no clues." He observes and shrugs, "This is Sliver Wood. Specifically, the lycan's territory."

My heart skips a beat at his mention of lycan. Fear starts to bubble in the pit of my stomach, as I know I have gotten myself into big trouble.

"I didn't mean to trespass. I left my pack only to breathe some fresh air."

"You mean to refresh your mind?" he smiles knowingly and puts away the dagger, shoveling it back into the sheath tied to his belt.

I blink at him, unsure why he suddenly does this. I relax a little bit and answer, "Yeah."

"You mentioned you left your pack—" he rubs his chin and asks, "So you are not a human. Are you a werewolf？Underage?"

"I am an omega from the Black Moon pack. No, I am mature. Yesterday happened to be my 18th birthday." I give him a bitter smile, "Are you going to ask me why I am wolfless?"

"I want to know." He admits and shakes his head, "Yet you don't have to answer. I can tell talking this makes you painful."

A part of me is moved by his words while the other side of me forces me to stay alert. Last time I trust someone, I nearly got myself killed.

No, no, no. I couldn't let my guard down.

I take a deep breath and challenges him coldly. "Why do you care? You barely know me. Is this one of the tricks you would use to make spies talk?"

"I do care." he says softly.

"Either you are a good interrogator, or you truly cared," I mumble, intentionally mimicking his way of talking, which mades him chuckle and the laughter takes a load off my heart like healing magic.

It is so comforting and I would do anything to make him conjure the magic again.

Hold on a second. Could he be a healer? The thought strikes me and I blurted out, "Are you a healer?"

"I wish I were." he sighs and suddenly becomes frustrated, "Do I look like a healer to you? Do I look too pale?"

"Um, it is so dark here and I can't make out your face. It is your dressing. It reminds me of my mom. She was a healer and she enjoyed wearing her black cloak. It was like a camouflage, you know? Help her hide in the darkness and pick up herbs without being noticed by humans."

"Your mom is a healer?" his eyes widens and the excitement in his eyes reminds me of Jade.

I shudder at this resemblance and correct him, "She was. She was a healer respected and adored by every man until one day she lost her power. And then, in a blink of an eye, she was nothing. She sought help from the Council and the Council organized a meeting to address the emergency. The next day they relieve her of her title and duties to the pack. They offered her two choices, one was to leave the pack and the other was to stay as an omega servant. Mom chose the latter because I was little and she knew if we left the pack, I would never be able to survive. And you know what the most ironic thing is? She fought for my survival through her life yet I am not even sure what I live for——"

Once I start talking, I can't stop. It has been ages since the last time I share my thought with another breathing soul. I feel so grateful that he listen in silence instead of interrupting me with stupid questions like how my mom lost her ability or where my father was.

I talk and talk as he suddenly covers my mouth with his left hand and whispers to me, "Save your story later. We have followers."

"Wha—"

"Move." he uses his Alpha voice and my instinct is to obey the order.

"Who are they? I didn't see anyone." I follow him and glance back from the corner of my eyes.

"What a pity. They saw us. There are three, no, four vampires out there, hunting for juicy flesh. Now, if you don't want to be devoured, walk faster and do not look back."

"Where are we going?" I quicken my pace to catch up with him.

"The White Cliff."

"The WHAT?"

"You heard me. There is only one way out here. We need to jump from the cliff. Once we are in the Silver River, we are safe, for the river bed contained the anti-vampire material. Silver ore."

It sounds like a practical method so I followe him to the cliffside. I don't have acrophobia so it is supposed to be an easy task.

Except it wasn't.

The moment I stand on the cliff, I glance down and see the swirling waters glistening in the moonlight, like a bloody mouth wide open like a sacrificial bowl.

"Now you look paler than me. Fear of heights?" he stand by my side, "It's ok. Just close your eyes."

Drum, drum, drum.

I can recognize snickers from behind, discussing which part of our flesh would be most juicy.

I take a step back and shake my head, "I can't. I can't do this. It is not about height. I can't swim."

"I am a good swimmer and I will carry you."

Drum, drum, drum.

"Do you trust me?" he push me forward and I struggle to step back, shrieking, "No! I don't even know your name!"

The vampires must cast curious looks on us. I can sense we are being watched.

"You made me look like the bad guy. "He rolls his eyes and reaches out his hand, "I am Ryan."

"I a—am Mia." I stutter and give him a handshake. Before I can finish my sentence and withdraw my hand, Ryan holds my wrist and doesn't let go.

Shit. He reaches out his hand to set me up.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mia. "He gives me a hand kiss and winks at me with a devilish smile, "I want to know more about you, but we are running out of time. We can chat later down there. You ready?"

"No, no, no—"

Ryan chuckles and ignores my protest. He puts his arm around my waist and the next second, we fall.