Reignited Bonds

Eight

RAELYNN

Bumping into him along the hallway had set my nerves on fire. Rai had dared to ask me why I was at a hotel. We were nothing to each other now. Nonetheless, my blood kept heating up each time we encountered each other.

Even now, while he was still out of it, he still possessed the ability to piss me off. I hated the fact that I felt concern for him while he sat on the floor looking dazed.

"I found you on the floor. You were not breathing. I had to perform a CPR on you," I said, trying not to cringe at the memory of my lips touching his.

"What?" His eyes widened.

"It looks like you have a fever too," I pointed out and he blinked, failing when he attempted to stand up.

I sighed, annoyance bubbling inside of me. Why wouldn't he sit still?

He winced and I bit my lower lip, noticing the way sweat dripped down the sides of his face.

I held out a hand to touch his forehead, my frown deepening. He was burning up.

"I know. I had no choice either. Since when did it begin?" I asked and he frowned.

"What are you talking about?" He rasped, the words coming out as a slur.

"Does your head hurt?" I asked and he shoved my hand away from his forehead.

"He might have a concussion," said Eddie, the son of the client whom I'd attended to, a couple of hours ago.

Rai looked up at him with an expression of distaste and annoyance. Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet while steadying himself with one hand on the wall.

"It appears that you have a severe panic disorder," I said and he snorted.

"Thanks for the diagnosis, doc," he stated and I went still, worried that he'd somehow figured out what I was.

"I should get going now," he said, brushing his hair away from his face. Without a word, I watch him walk out of the elevator with unsteady movements.

"He definitely has a concussion," Eddie commented and a crease formed between my brows.

I shouldn't worry about him. He was stronger than the average Alpha. Nevertheless, I had never seen him in that state before. My doctor instincts were screaming at me to go after him.

"What's your relationship with that grumpy dude?" Eddie asked and I sighed, picking up my bag.

"He's just my past," I mumbled and he raised a brow.

"An Ex?! I didn't think you were interested in dating," he said as we left the elevator.

"Shut it," I droned and he chuckled.

"I mean...you literally bury yourself in your work," he pointed out.

He was right. Ever since Rai rejected me, I'd chosen to live only for myself and my twins.

After leaving the hotel, I returned to my office. I'd barely sat down on my seat when Rose walked in. She flashed a nervous smile at me and I raised a brow, suspicious.

"What is it?" I asked and she sighed, placing what seemed to be an invitation letter on my desk.

"What's this?" I asked.

"It's an official invitation from the Black Claw pack. They want you to come over to the pack house to help find a cure," she said and I heaved a sigh.

Going to the Black Claw Pack would mean returning to the place I'd chosen to walk away from in the first place. It would mean having to encounter Rai and Nadia more often than I would've liked.

If this strange illness was contagious, the number of infected werewolves would only continue to increase.

Rai had done nothing but regarded me with mistrust.

Was it really okay to get involved with him again?

"What will you do now?" Rose asked and I unfolded the letter to read it.

It appeared that Rai had prepared the letter himself. It was clear that he desperately needed my help.

It still didn't change the fact that it might take a while to figure out what the illness was all about.

I thought of my kind father-in-law. If he knew that I was the mysterious healer, he would come to me and beg. And honestly, I would give in to his pleas easily.

I thought about the sick people who needed my help.

So, I made my decision. It was time to return to the Black Claw Pack.

...

Walking along the hallway of the house that used to be home, I was reminded of the day I was rejected by Rai. There were a few changes in decor but there was no sign of Nadia anywhere.

Once I got to the door of Rai's study, I hesitated.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door and received his gruff response. When I walked in, he stiffened visibly, his eyes widening. His shocked expression soon faded into a cold one.

"You...What the hell are you doing here?" He demanded, rising to his feet.

"I'm here for --"

He interrupted me as he stepped around his desk and approached me.

"Cut it out, Raelynn. I don't know what you're playing at. But I want you to know this. You're not welcome here," he hissed and I rolled my eyes.

"You really think I came all the way just to seduce you? Don't flatter yourself," I said and his expression faltered briefly.

"Why are you here then?" He demanded.

Taking out the invitation letter from my bag, I waved it at him.

"I'm not here for you, Mr. Vidal. I was invited to help your pack," I said and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"What? You were invited? By who? You're not even a doctor," he retorted coldly.

With a smile on my face, I moved towards him and shoved the letter onto his chest. He grabbed it, his frown deepening.

I watched him as he unfolded it and skimmed through it.

"You sent it to me, Alpha Rai. Do you not want my help? Judging by the way you're treating me, I should probably reconsider all of this," I drawled and a muscle ticked in his jaw, his eyes darkening.

"It's shocking, I know. I mean...who would have guessed that your ex-wife is the only one who can help you and your pack now?" I said and he stormed towards his desk to grab his phone.

Amused, I settled down on one of the chairs in his study.

Rai made a quick call to his beta. I assumed that he wanted to confirm if the letter had been sent to the right person.

After he'd ended the call, he lowered his phone and stared at me for a moment. The frown on his face faded and he sank into his seat.

"You're the famous mysterious healer?" He said, his voice laced with incredulity.

I shrugged, leaning back on my seat.

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," I responded and he winced.

"I'm sorry --" he started to say and I shook my head in disapproval.

"I don't want your apology," I told him and he rose to his feet.

"Do you want me to beg? To kneel at your feet or grovel?" He asked, placing his hands on his desk.

A vein visibly throbbed in the middle of his forehead and his shoulders were tense.

"Tempting. However..." I said and he blinked.

"However?"

"I want something else," I smiled and his right eye twitched. It was entertaining watching him grow so frustrated. I could tell that his patience was wearing thin. I had nothing to lose, he knew this.

"What do you want?" He deadpanned, and a lock of his hair fell over his forehead.

I rose to my feet, moved towards him, and halted directly in front of his desk with my hands planted on the surface of the warm brown furniture.

"In exchange for helping your pack, I want you to investigate what happened five years ago," I said and his brows knitted into a frown.

"What?"

"The person who framed me and drugged you. I want you to find out," I said and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"I was accused of what I didn't do, Mr. Vidal. It's been five years and you still believe it," I continued.

"Doing what you want won't change what happened," he droned.

"Are you in or not?" I said, ignoring his statement.

"Raelynn..."

"Give me an answer, Alpha Rai."