The Lost Luna’s second chance

2: RESCUE.

LYCAN PRINCE LEO GOULD.

I approached the pack gates and yelled for the guard to open them immediately. Donald emerged from the guard hut and scanned the area. Spotting me rushing toward him with a bloodied woman in my arms, he sprang into action. The gates started to open, and by the time I arrived, there was just enough space for me to slip through. "CLOSE IT UP, DONALD!" I commanded once I was clear. "YES, SIR!" he replied as the gates slammed shut behind me. Donald had belonged to our pack his entire life. His mother had served as a maid for my great-grandmother, the Queen, and was among her most trusted attendants. In his youth, Donald was one of our fiercest warriors, fighting in the Royal Guard. After retiring with honors, he was offered a place on the King’s council, but instead requested guard duty. I never understood why, and my father always insisted it was Donald’s choice, so I never questioned it.

I quickly worked my way through the pack grounds. I would have already been there by now in my Lycan form, but I didn’t want to frighten her if she woke up. Even in my human form, it didn’t take me long to reach the palace. The drawbridge was already down, so I just ran straight inside, calling for help as I did. A few of the palace guards rushed over to see what was happening. They were clearly surprised to see the blood and dirt-covered woman lying unconscious in my arms. "Fetch Doctor Blake," I ordered.

In mere moments, the doctor had arrived along with my father. “Son! Who the hell is this? Did you hurt her?” my father asked. His tone wasn’t accusatory; it was more concerned. I shook my head, “No, I found her buried in the forest. I had to perform CPR as she wasn’t breathing, and I’m afraid that I likely broke a rib. I have no idea who she is or why she was buried like that, but she clearly needs our help,” I explained to them both. The doctor nodded, taking in the little information that I had to give. “I will do all that I can,” he assured me. One of the guards took her from my arms and rushed her off to the pack hospital with Doctor Blake. If anyone could help her, it would be him. Doctor Blake was the very best in the medical profession. He was a werewolf/warlock hybrid. His mother was a very powerful witch, and he had inherited her magical skills, which he used to heal.

I watched as they disappeared out of the palace gates, and a part of me wanted to follow, to be there when or if she woke up. I wanted to know what had happened to her. I took a step forward, but my father’s voice stopped me. “Come along, son, let’s get you cleaned up, and you can tell me again about this girl and her grave,” he said, gently laying his arm over my shoulders to guide me inside. I almost protested, but finally noticed the blood on my hands and chest. I nodded, allowing myself to be led. Perhaps a shower wasn’t such a bad idea.

My father was waiting on the sofa when I emerged after a quick shower. I shook my head, sending droplets of water flying everywhere, and then pulled on the black t-shirt that I had in my hands. “Sit,” he said, patting the cushion next to him. I did as I was told and, not waiting for him to ask, began to tell him everything I had seen, heard, and smelled in the forest. He nodded as I spoke, listening silently without interrupting. Once I was done, his eyes narrowed, and he looked thoughtful. “Firstly, we need to find out who this mystery woman is. With any luck, that will answer the question of how and why she ended up buried in the forest. However, I need you to understand that what I am about to do is for the safety of our people,” he said. I was confused, what was he about to do?.

His eyes turned black and glassy for a moment, and he was mind-linking to someone. I didn’t have to wait long to find out who. The door opened, and my father’s second in command entered. “You summoned me,” he said. “Yes, Jack, please go to the hospital and see Doctor Blake. Tell him that I would like the young woman whom Leo brought in to be restrained at all times. We know nothing about her, and for all we know, she could be a danger to our people,” my father replied. Jack nodded and left immediately. I wanted to argue with my father, tell him that she was the victim in all of this. I didn’t, though, because I knew that it was useless to argue with him when he had made up his mind, and honestly, because I knew that he was right.

I got to my feet. “How do we find out about her?” I asked. My father rose too, “Well, once she wakes up, then we can ask her. Until then, we can start by checking her pockets and seeing if there is anything to give us a clue,” he suggested. I nodded and offered to go down to the hospital and fetch her things myself. I didn’t wait for his answer before hurrying off, not wanting to chance that he might disagree. I was through the palace gates and in the pack grounds in no time. The hospital wasn’t far. I approached the receptionist's desk and asked where Doctor Blake had taken the woman. The receptionist, a serious-looking older woman called Sandra, told me that she was in the operating theatre. I explained that I was here to look through her things for any evidence as to her identity. Sandra picked up the phone and made a quick call. “Wait here, please, your highness,” she said, gesturing towards the rows of chairs behind me in the waiting room.

I sighed and took a seat. Jack suddenly appeared at my side with a sealed bag. “Here are the woman’s clothes. They were cut off and bagged up so that they could get her straight into the theatre. Please let your father know that I will be staying here for a while to keep an eye on things personally,” he told me, handing me the bag. I thanked him and left. I considered asking Sandra to open one of the consulting rooms for me to use to check through her pockets, but decided that it would be better to do it up at the palace. My father would probably want to be present anyway.