The Alpha's Miracle Doctor

EPISODE 15

DR. WINTER'S POV

I wander farther down the fields, past all the carefully tended plants and ornaments and into the overgrown fields where no one passes or remembers to tend.

It takes me hours because by the time I stop to sit, the harsh afternoon sun has assumed an orange glow over the horizon.

For the first time in six years, I am lost. Although I have spent a lot of years in WestMoon packhouse, I never wandered to these parts, neither do I know hidden routes or paths.

It seems like Jayda and Xavier have a way of making me lose my way, because the last time this happened to me is the first time I’d had a Jayda-Xavier love encounter.

A headache throbs steadily behind my eyes and my nose is runny from all the crying I’ve done.

I decide to rest my banging head on the rough field grass, but as soon as I shut my eyes, sleep takes over.

The next time I open my eyes, the sun is replaced by constellations of twinkling stars.

“Ohhhh,” I groan, sitting up and looking around me. My entire body aches and I feel a hundred years old.

I’m not with my phone or a watch. It can be 3am or 8pm for all I know, and I have no idea how to get back to the packhouse.

Behind a fallen, rotting tree, I squat to pee, but I hear rushing footsteps ahead and I lower myself even more to hide behind the log.

A tall shadow rushes past me and then stops a few meters away.

Don’t peep. Curiosity kills the cat. I tell myself in my head.

The sound of a belt buckle and the fast movement of a zip makes me more curious, and I disregard my own advice.

I lift my head just enough to get a glimpse of the midnight runner, and my eyes nearly pop out.

A bare, butt-naked man. Not just any naked man, but Xavier. I’ve seen that body so much that I’d recognize him a million kilometers away.

It never gets old. The hot feeling that crashes through my insides like a volcano and sends my nerves haywire. It’s like he does something to the inner wiring of my body that burns off my brain cells and makes me a needy hypersexual.

The moonlight bounces off his skin as if it is adoring the goddess's creation with its luminescence.

I swallow, watching him put on tattered clothes which I can't help but pay attention to. My feet lose strength and lower myself back onto the grass, and the crunch of a branch rushes blood to my face.

I lower myself down to the grass. My heart is thumping hard against the ground as I wait for the worst.

Did he hear me? Obviously. He's an Alpha with outstanding senses; he definitely hears the snapping of the branch.

I hold my breath the whole time until I hear him moving again.

He’s running in the opposite direction, his black cloak flying in the air behind him.

Where could Xavier be off to by this time? No beta with him, and this is not even a standard or normal path.

My thoughts go back to my son and how he was found in the woods away from the packhouse.

Bile rises to my throat as I watch Xavier run away. He must have something to do with Kael getting missing that night, and I wonder what he’s going to do tonight.

Is there another kid he’ll hurt?

I crunch my hands into tight fists and I chase after him.

##########################

“Ladies are not allowed!” The big bouncer spits in front of me.

After running tirelessly for a long time, I find myself at an underground, shady place. I have no idea what's happening here but I have a feeling that it's nothing good.

Too many rogues are here; hundreds of fighters and criminals have trooped in, and not one of them looks like a regular, good fellow.

What is Xavier doing here?

“Are you deaf?” The bouncer barks, spittle flying all over the air. “If you're looking for a man to pay for your services, not here. These men will eat you raw, so get out and find a motel or some bar.”

I’m not surprised he believes I’m a p********e. What normal lady walks into an underground gathering by this hour?

I dip my hand into my pocket and pick out my professional business card. Luckily, it looks expensive with gold foil designs.

“I need a bodyguard.” I lie. “And I’m here to scout for one myself.”

The bouncer gazes at my card for a minute before returning it to me. “Fine! But what happens in DeathCamp stays in Deathcamp.”

DeathCamp? A scary but befitting name for this place. I can smell death all over the place. Death, sweat, and everything vile.

I nod and he lets me in.

Following the crowd, it doesn't take long before I get to a large wrestling ring. The crowd surrounds the ring, chanting and making bets.

There are a few ladies and all of them are dressed in transparent lace lingerie, revealing so much you’ll wonder why they bothered putting it on.

So this is what Xavier watches? This is his new form of entertainment, watching men fight in shady, illegal matches?

A sad feeling lingers in my guts.

I look around but I can't find Xavier. The whole place is packed and rowdy.

The whole crowd roars with excitement as the fighters are welcomed. My eyes round as soon as I sight Xavier amongst the eleven men ushered into the ring.

My breath hitches and I struggle to remain steady on my feet.

These aren't just normal men he's standing with. From their tattoos and unbelievable height and build, I can tell they're Lycan, monstrous warriors. In their eyes, there's no life, no mercy, no sane emotion.

“This is suicidal.” I voice out, a sob nearly bursting out. “How can anyone battle any of these Lycans?”

The men around me choke out with laughter, the stench of beer oozing out of their mouths.

One of them points to the masked Xavier in the ring and says, “You see that man? That's Knight X.” He explains, excitement making his voice tremble. “He's the craziest man in WestMoon. He’s the only one who dares to fight the Lycans.”

“And he does it every wrestle night!” Another man spits out.

I return my gaze to Xavier who’s warming up in the ring.

How dare he do this? Risk his life, fighting a Lycan warrior?

Was he out of his mind?

“The only people who’ve fought Lycan warriors in here died ten seconds into the match.” The man narrates. “But you see Knight X, the last wrestle night he fought three Lycans.”

I gasp, my heart dropping like a rock. “Three?”

“I won so much money that night.” The man cackles out as he pours out his mooncoins into his hands. “It was unbelievable.”

The ringmaster and referee circle the ring and check their watches. Then the master picks up a megaphone. “Fighters! The infamous Knight X versus Lycan Demon Kin, a ten man rogue group.”

“Ten?” The whole crowd gasps and then roars with cheers.

My heart stops beating and everything moves in slow motion.

Ten!

The man who had been explaining to me groans. “I guess this is the end of my money maker. He really wants to die.” He shakes his head and then takes up a betting ticket with the Lycan group on it.

No one picks up Knight X. No one.