The Alpha king's healer

Chapter One Yvette's point of view It's just a few minutes, a few minutes left before the elder makes the atonement to the moon goddess and every wolf past the age of seventeen would find their fated mate. I just wanted this to be done and over with so I can get back to my duties. Mating ceremonies are a huge deal in my pack but not to every one of us. For some of us, having a mate is just a far fetched fantasy meant to keep you going or if I may say, unfocused. My eyes fell on the podium for a few seconds, Alpha Zachary’s hands entwined in the hands of the future Luna, Lindsey Sullivan. From the stage, she looked like the perfect lady, all smiles and grace, but in private, I knew the exact kind of dragon she was to us maids. I get the first-hand treatment of it every day. Being a maid of Lindsey's, I was forced to stay in front where she could easily reach out to me if she needed help which I doubt she would be needing with the Alpha by her side. “Oh look at that.” Someone in the crowd said as a shimmer of heavy bright, light descended above us all. The bonding ceremony has begun, wolves everywhere fell to their knees. I fell too, which isn't good cause it can only mean one thing. The moon goddess has given me a mate. I had two options to choose from, either I run out of the hall and pretend this bond doesnt exist or I join the crowd and search for mate. The bond didn't allow me much of a choice, I found myself sniffling about the hall for my mate’s scent. It was embarrassing, thank the goddess no one was actually looking at me. My omega instinct was to go backwards where I could stay hidden even though the scent was stronger in the front. As I moved away from the podium, the scent became harder to find. My wolf growled in my head, ‘This is definitely going to take a long while.” “I am not going to call any attention to myself, Gia.” I told her with a frown. “Yeah, right, just like we are not going to find him if you keep being stupid.” I could imagine her giving me the equivalent of a human eye roll in wolf language. I rolled my eyes at her too, we were totally two different people and I have come to believe that Gia was probably an ancient Alpha’s wolf stuck in an Omega’s body. I kept walking amidst the crowd, the faint scent of cedarwood lingering in my nostrils. It got stronger as I made my way back to the front , most of the female wolves I left behind here had found their mates. Male pheromones were bustling hard in the air this time and amongst them all, there was just one I was attracted to and it came from… “Alpha Zachary” Gia completed for me. “We should leave.” I said matter-of-factly. There's no way I'm going up there and claiming him as my mate in front of the whole pack. “Not happening “ Gia refused me, two simple words. “He is never going to accept us as his mate, Gia. I don't want to embarrass myself.” Alpha Zach's eyes was searching the crowd, he was resisting the mate bond but still wanted to know who the moon goddess had paired him with. I felt this need to take the chance before he found out who, but also wanted to stay, maybe if he found out himself, this situation wouldn't be all that awkward. “If you think I'm going to let you leave this hall, you must be a fool.” Gia bristled. I had no problem with that, I have always been a fool. The moment Gia started to struggle for control was when I knew this wasn't going to end well. I slammed my mental walls up, barring her away as I made a run for it, my legs dragged as though it was being hurled through quicksand. Gia relentlessly kept turning me back to the hall, “Stop.” I snarled at her, some guy looked at me as if I was losing it which I was in the literal sense. “Make me.” Gia shot back. I blacked out that instant, my essence got shoved into the darkest recesses of my mind, legs moving of their own accord and back into the hall, I watched myself stagger to the ground with a bow growling the very word that I never thought I would say in a million years. “Mate.” Only then did Gia give me back control, the lack of music, the pack's silence and Lindsey's demeaning look told me all I needed to know, even so Alpha Zach refused to look at me. “You should have stayed away.” He growled,I shuddered, Gia whined in my head. I shut her out immediately, couldn't allow for more distractions. “I didn't mean to.” My words came out defensively. Sweat trickled down my forehead continuously, this certainly would never have been the best state to meet my mate even if he wasn't already taken. Lindsey held on to his arm possessively, she was fidgeting, I could see it. The corner of her eyes flickered continuously. “What are you going to do?” She asked, her sweet voice coated with malice. One look at Alpha Zach told me he knew exactly what she was implying, I did too so I bowed my head in resignation for what was coming, “I Alpha Zach of the Night howl pack rejects Yvette Hollow as my fated mate and future Luna.” His voice didn't crack, he didn't even waver, it hurt but none of it hurt as much as the gut-wrenching pain in my heart or the triumphant smile of joy on Lindsey's face, as if she thought I posed any threat to her position. I lay down there on the cold bare floor unable to move, my eyes felt heavy and all I wanted was for this pain to go. I knew what my fate would be before I found myself on this podium, I just didn't want to make it public. I felt the crowd slowly dissipate, the rumor from everyone's mouth was that I had ruined this night for the Alpha and Lindsey. No one cared about me or how I must feel, losing my mate to another woman, I guess this is how it is when you lack popularity. I picked myself off the ground some moments later, my head heavy with shame, it's been only five minutes but it felt like a lifetime. The hall was empty except for Alpha Zach and Lindsey who were now seated on their chairs. None of them showed a single look of remorse. “Yvette.” Alpha Zach called me when I stood up, I was too weak to answer so I just stood staring at him. He stood up and walked up to me, Lindsey did the same. I didn't miss the monstrous glare on her face that was reserved just for me. “How do you feel? Rejection hurts everytime but don't worry, you would get used to it.” She smiled at me, I wasn't surprised that Alpha Zach didn't see anything wrong with her choice of words. “Why did you call me?” I asked them both, changing the subject. “Oh, Zach and I have an offer for you.” She nudged Alpha Zach sheepishly on the shoulder,his expression remained stoic. “Come with me, Yvette.” He ordered walking away with Lindsey while I followed after. I had walked these hallways earlier this morning with a little less resentment than I felt now, oh how time flies. We got to Alpha Zach's room in an instant and just as Lindsey was about to walk in, he stopped her. “I would rather be alone tonight.” She stiffened but quickly covered it up with a smile. “Alright.” She stepped backwards and leaned into me with a hiss, “Make sure you're back early to draw my bath.” Then with a smile and a poised posture, she departed. “Come inside.”