The healer and the broken alpha

Chapter Four : mate

Beth had shown Diera to a room on the second floor, and Alpha Neal had dropped by to tell her that the Shadows had attacked the Black Moon Pack on their run and Richard, the Shadows’ Alpha, had lured Iris and Damon — the prophesized mates — away from the rest of the pack. He asked her to head down to the basement at two in the afternoon because she might be needed to heal Alpha Jagger’s son.

It was morning, and breakfast was brought to her room as per Alpha Neal’s request. Over the years Diera had learned that large groups, especially large groups of unknown werewolves, set her on edge.

She stayed in her room until she heard the main floor clear out and decided to take her dishes down. She walked down the stairs and saw a few pack children piled into the living room, all focused on the TV. It reminded her of kegan and Keal fighting over the remote while she picked the channel and waited them out. She smiled at the memory and placed her dishes in the sink.

The buzzing feeling had remained with her throughout the day, an odd pull she couldn’t explain. She heard footsteps on the stairs and turned to see a girl and boy, maybe a year younger than her, entering the kitchen.

“Hi, I’m Alexis Hunter, the Beta’s daughter. This is my mate, Jared.” the girl said, smiling. The boy gave a slight nod and headed for the fridge, kissing Alexis’s cheek before grabbing a yogurt and leaving.

“I’m Diera, Alpha Neal’s daughter.” Diera said.

Alexis’s eyes lit up. “You’re that healer from the White Thorn Pack! My brother Drew was one of the wolves you healed yesterday — the pack hasn’t stopped talking about you.” She grabbed Diera’s shoulder excitedly, then let go when she felt her flinch. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Diera whispered.

They talked for a while — Alexis mostly, about her dream of becoming a fashion designer and dressing Hollywood’s biggest names, her voice full of a confidence and independence Diera quietly envied. She seemed kind, though, and Diera found herself relaxing a little before Alexis and Jared headed off, leaving her to wander outside.

The forest always cleared her mind, and today she needed that more than usual. She found a huge tree with roots like outstretched fingers in the soil, climbed over them, and sat against the trunk, closing her eyes.

Crack.

A twig snapped nearby. She waited, heard nothing more, and let her eyes fall shut again — until a hand clamped over her mouth.

She screamed and clawed at the fingers gripping her face.

“Grab her arms and legs! Hurry, before someone comes!” Josh’s voice.

Hands seized her limbs and dragged her deeper into the trees, dropping her in a clearing sealed off from view.

“There’s talk about you back at the pack house. Lots of praise for your kind heart.” Josh said, crouching in front of her with a blade glinting in his hand. She scrambled back but he caught her ankle and yanked her down. “I was told to remind you of your place. By Dean. He sent you a gift.”

He grabbed her hand and drew the blade along the inside of her little finger, opening the skin. “You are a waste of life. Remember that.”

They left her there, blood welling from the cut as her tears fell. She pressed her hand closed and watched the wound knit itself shut, leaving no trace.

Who was she trying to fool. Two weeks would change nothing.

She cleaned herself up before her meeting with Alpha Neal and Alpha Jagger. Downstairs, most of the training room had been cleared out. She met Neal and they walked together to the room she’d noticed the night before, passing Damon and Iris on their way out.

Alpha Neal’s eyes were heavy with worry.

“The insider was Alpha Jagger’s eldest son, Dax. His mother was held by the Shadows without knowing his father was their Alpha — which makes Dax their rightful heir. Iris saved him from his corrupted wolf, but he’s lost it now. We don’t know if he’ll be human, or something like you.”

“Why do you need me?” Diera asked.

“Alpha Jagger has decided his punishment is to live as a werewolf without a wolf. I was asked to have you heal him and help him move to his room. I don’t think it was truly his choice — his wolf clouded his judgment.” Neal glanced at the closed door. “I’ll leave you to it.”

He left for the upstairs meeting, and Diera opened the door slowly. Dax lay on his back, a blanket at his waist, bruises darkening his collarbone and cheeks. She stepped in and closed the door — and a scent of pine and earth hit her like a wave. The buzzing inside her dulled into something heavier, something that pulled her feet toward him before she’d decided to move.

“Hi, I’m Diera. I was told to heal you and help you to your room.” she said, not meeting his eyes.

Every step toward the bed took effort — her senses sharpened, his breathing audible, changed, the moment she got close.

“Can you roll up your sleeve?” she asked, feeling foolish.

Bruising ran black and blue along his elbow and bicep. He was lean, not bulky. She placed her hand against his arm and a jolt shot between them. She looked up into shocked grey-green eyes.

“Mate.” The word left her before she could stop it.

“Well, guess I’m not entirely human.” Dax said. “Let’s see what you can do, Diera.”

She focused on his arm, warmth spreading from her palms as the bruises faded, her breath catching every time her skin met his.

“Any pain under the bandages?” she whispered.

He smirked. “It hurts. A lot.” His voice had dropped, and it did something to her she didn’t want to name.

“W-where?”

He sat up without breaking eye contact and pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a bandaged chest. “Work your magic, babe.” He sat on the edge of the bed, legs bracketing her hips.

She unwound the bandage carefully, revealing three claw marks raking from his shoulder to his chest. His jaw was clenched, eyes shut against the pain. Without thinking, she cupped his cheek, and his eyes flew open, his hand covering hers.

“Just look at me. Breathe, or squeeze my hand if it’s too much.” she said gently.

He nodded, dropping his hand to his lap. She stepped between his knees, heat radiating between them.

“Ready when you are.” he said.

She pressed her hand to his shoulder, then moved to his chest. He flinched, his hand finding her hip. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Guess I’m not as strong without my wolf.” he breathed, then nodded for her to continue.

She pressed down lightly. He hissed, his other hand landing on her waist. She started to pull back, but he drew her closer.

“Don’t stop.”

She swallowed hard and kept working, his breath warm against her face, his scent clouding every thought until she caught herself imagining the shape of his jaw beneath her fingers, the—

“AH!” Dax groaned, and her focus shattered.

He pulled her against him instead of pushing her away, face buried in her neck, breathing through the pain.

“I’m so sorry — I lost focus.” she said quickly.

He lifted his head and drew her even closer, her legs pressed to the bed frame, his arms caging her at the waist.

“Let’s try again.” he said. With no room to step back, she angled herself against his side instead, placing her hand back on his chest, forcing her focus onto the wound and not the tension in his muscles or how low his arm sat on her waist.

Slowly, he relaxed under her touch. She traced the newly pink, healed lines across his chest, and when she glanced up, his eyes had darkened to a deeper grey.

“You’re amazing.” he murmured, and leaned in.