Alpha's Heart Ana's Fate

CHAPTER 15: AFTER THE CRY

Hugged from behind me with little hands wrapped up on my body.

I looked down.

There was a little girl hugging my waist so hard that her knuckles went white.

Her face was hidden in my waist.

She was shivering. For a moment, I was too stunned to respond. Another cry came from the other side of the hall.

This time not out of fear but of confusion.

People started running around. Fast.

I raised my head.

One of the elders had fallen on the floor and some people were hurrying towards him.

The healer forced his way through right away. "Clear up." The people made a gap.

Kieran was already there. "Clear up for him Everyone." His voice rang out clearly amid all the chaos.

The little girl hugged me even harder.

I crouched down a bit. "You'll be fine okay.”

She shook her head. "No, I don't think so..." Her voice broke. I looked down at her.

"What happened?" "The old man fell."

Tears filled her eyes again. "Is he dead?"

This question struck me unexpectedly hard. I placed my hand on her shoulder.

"No." "You don't know that he is just resting okay, normal for people his age, he will wake up soon, don't worry." I nearly smiled.

Children were good for making one realize false consolation for what it was.

"The healer is helping him, you see that right?". She peeked from behind me.

The healer was feeling the old man's pulse, two assistants held him by his shoulders.

The entire hall stood in silence. Everybody was looking. Both warriors And elders.

Including Kieran.

Finally, after seemingly endless minutes, the old man let out a groan. The relief washed over everybody immediately.

The healer rolled his eyes. "He was simply tired." A couple of people let out breaths that they have been holding all this time.

The old man looked irritable… "I am absolutely fine." He said immediately.

"No," the healer said. "You are absolutely stubborn." You need to get enough rest.

A couple of nervous chuckles could be heard. The tension did not go away.

But it cracked slightly.

The little girl finally let go of her death grip on my waist.

"Do you see?"I whispered. "He is not dead."

She wiped her tears. And then nodded.

It was a small gesture. But enough.

"What is your name?" I asked

"Emma." She replied and smiled.

"It is nice to meet you, Emma." She stared at me for a while. And then she asked,

"Are you the Ana everyone talks about?"

Lysa covered her mouth instantly. I turned towards her. She was laughing already.

"Depends on what they are talking about."

Emma thought about it carefully.

"My brother says you are scary." Lysa started laughing out loud. I could not help but smile.

"Your brother has never met me, has he?."

No he hasn't Emma nodded. So you see, how could he say such a thing? I asked.

"I think he is wrong." You are really kind and sweet Emma said.

It made all of us laugh.For the first time all day, it sounded right.

Soon a woman approached us hurriedly.

"Emma!". I've been looking for you all over. Do you want your poor mom to be sick?.

I'm sorry mom Emma said as she rushed towards her. The woman hugged her and then turned to me.

"Thank you." I nodded. Emma waved and then followed her.

The hall was beginning to empty. Kieran stepped forward. His voice cut through the room.

"All of you go back to work." No one objected. First went workers, then healers,

and finally, younger warriors.

The hall emptied until there were just elders, warriors, and officers left.

Kieran's eyes swept around the room.

"Only elders and upper command remain."

Ana you can stay if you wish to. The mood of the gathering instantly changed.

Lysa sensed it too. She turned towards me. "I think it's my cue to leave." "Yeah."

She smiled.

"You're going to miss me." I rolled my eyes. Lol "Go." She laughed and walked out.

In no time, all that was left in the hall was leadership. Kieran was standing in the middle.

There was no yelling or screaming,

which actually made everything even more menacing.

"Elder Corvin betrayed Greenwood."

"He put our pack in danger."

No arguments or protests followed. Kieran went on. "Somebody helped him." Silence filled the room.

"If anyone in this room had anything to do with Elder Corvin's actions..."

His eyes darted around the faces in front of him. "...let's hear it now."

No one said anything. Not a sound even a sound was heard in the hall.

Then Kieran continued. "As soon as the truth gets out..." His voice was calm.

Steady and Certain. "Because they will not receive the mercy that Elder Corvin received."

Those words sank in deep. Since everybody knew exactly what was being said.

They had placed their faith in Elder Corvin But the trust had been broken.

The meeting went on. Without accusations. Or responsibilities.

No additional patrols was mentioned but more security rang through the hall.

Greenwood was adapting. Healing from the scar of betrayal. And the meeting was over before the sun started to set.

People were leaving in small groups.

Quietly discussing what happened.

I was leaning against one of the pillars when Kieran approached me.

"You stayed." I shrugged. "Like you Lol."

His lips curled up into a faint smile.

"Tired?" I chuckled. "That's putting it mildly."

For the first time in the day, he let go of some of the tension.

Just a little yh. We stepped out into the air.

The temperature changed. It got cooler.

Children played once again. People were fixing the damaged fencing.

Patrols roamed the Pack. And Life was going on. It always did yh but much better now…

"'Trust is easy to break,' Kieran said after a moment." I watched him. His gaze stayed fixed ahead.

"And harder to earn back." I nodded. "I know." We walked in silence for a moment.

Uncomfortable wasn't the word to describe our walking. It was just quiet.

Kieran looked at me. "Have you eaten yet?" I answered the question with my face all blushed and red.. No I haven't. As I looked down shyly.

He even chuckled. Ok let's go eat. He took me to get kitchen and asked for us to be served.

The meal came and I ate as much as my stomach could carry me. During our evening meal, Lysa showed up once more.

Saying it was just because she needed to eat.

But we didn't believe her. Including herself.

The healer popped up soon after. Instantly noticing I'd stripped off the bandage dressing on my wrist.

"I knew it." The healer said. Looking calm.

I covered my mouth and I pointed at Lysa.

"It's all her fault." Lysa pretended to be shocked.

"Traitor." She said and ran away.

Even Kieran couldn't help but smile.

At least for a moment, Greenwood was normal again. It took me until nightfall before I finally made it back to my room.

The passages had become quiet now.

There were guards posted at regular intervals.

Patrols kept moving endlessly. Greenwood was on guard. I approached the door of my quarters.

But then I stopped. Someone was there waiting for me. An old woman. I did not recognize her.

She was not afraid. She was not hiding.

She was just standing there patiently.

Awaiting me. Her eyes met mine.

"I have been wanting to meet you."

I frowned. "Do I know you?" A small smile played on her lips. "No." She paused a bit.

Then she said softly, "But I knew your mother." Nothing seemed more important to me again..

Just then I felt my whole world come back.

I..