Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Aron
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“The salve is made of cedar wood and crushed mountain safe,” Eldra tells me, “It’s mixed with the essence of moonflower. It’s meant to trigger the healing process while also healing from within, I gave her something else to help her sleep. The longer she is asleep, the more she will heal. But,”
She pauses for a moment, and I wait for her to continue.
“What is it?”
“That might not be the only case here. I assume there’s something else as well.”
“Well, what do you think it is?” I question her, needing my answers quick and firm so I can be done with it and spend the rest of the day keeping a lookout on her.
“It’s not obvious, but I believe her wolf might not want to heal.”
What?
My brows furrow, “What does that mean?”
“Some of these injuries are from a month ago. A wolf tends to heal in a few days. Whether it’s a strong wolf or a weak wolf, it still heals.”
“She’s a runt,” I tell her, even when it feels like it’s not necessary to mention that.
“Throughout my years of being a healer, I’ve mended to numerous wolves and plenty of runts as well. Runts do heal. It’s not like they don’t,” she shakes her head and explains. “But this is different. When a wolf doesn’t want to heal, it’s not because it doesn’t have the strength to heal. It’s mostly that it is choosing not to heal.”
I glance at Marcella who’s standing by my side. She holds the same expression as I do and it’s not confusion.
Everyone knows that there are only two reasons why a wolf would deny healing. One. If it’s on the verge of death, when it would rather choose to end the suffering. Two. If a wolf is rejected. Completely and wholly rejected by its mate.
Which I did.
“The best we can do now is just wait. Hopefully, in a few day’s time, she will heal, and if not, then I’ll try to find some solution for this.”
“Thank you.”
“This salve should last for about three days. Send for me if her condition worsens.”
I nod, and she starts gathering her bags before walking toward the staircase.
Marcella follows her, “I’ll escort you out.”
I watch them both head down the stairs while I remain outside of the room where Rhea is placed inside. My chest tightens with guilt, anger, and something else–something more primal. I thought it was best to reject her. But in doing so, I’ve left her vulnerable in ways I never intended.
Once Marcella is done dropping off the healer, she returns back to me and I’m right there, where she left me last.
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I’ll keep an eye on her. Don’t worry
My tongue runs over my teeth, finding its way to the tip of one. “It’s my responsibility.”
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I’m aware. But for this particular situation, I don’t think it would be appropriate for you, she pats my shoulder and says. “There were a lot of–bruises under her clothes. And looked like they were done with purpose. Who would do such horrific things to her?”
I know who it is. I know all the names.
“There were some wolves over at the pack house she used to work in.”
“You knew?”
“I heard it from someone there. But I didn’t know it was this severe.”
“What about the cut on her shoulder?”
“One of the wolves. I believe.”
“Male?”
I nod and she sighs, shaking her head.
“Sadly, this isn’t uncommon among packs. You know it,” She murmurs. “It’s a pity. Truly.”
I bring my attention back to the closed door. A few days is what Eldra said it would take. I’m uncertain why it is that Rhea’s wolf is choosing not to heal, but that isn’t what is important. She will heal. She has too.
“Just let me know when she’s awake,” I tell Marcella before stepping away from the door. “I have some things to sort out. I’ll be mostly in my office for today.”
Marcella nods, “I’ll keep you updated.”
“And send Kovas to me when he’s here.”
With that, I walk down the hallway and into the office, shutting the door behind me. The moment I’m alone, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and lean back into the seat, allowing my gaze to fall onto the paperwork in front of me.
My hands clench into fists as I think about those wolves over at Elias‘ pack house and him, too. What they did was sickening -thrilling for their entertainment, not realizing that it doesn’t end well. There’s always a time for retaliation. A time for punishment. A time for justice.
An eye for an eye, I shall give them in return.
Sitting back down, I reach for the file and open it up.
There are some recent letters and not all of them are considered pleasant, all from the neighboring alphas that border the northern territories.
There are some invitations–one to a winter ball over at the Redhollow territory and another one hosted at the Greshire Pack. There’s another letter from Jericho, writing back that he’s willing to speak about the land over at his territory.
My men are prepared to go there, and they shall as soon as I want them to.
Kovas enters the room once I done setting Jericho’s letter to the side. He comes over and glances at the stamp over the
letter.
“Is it time?” he asks me.
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“Not now,” I’m too distracted to get an Alpha’s head. “Let’s give it a couple more days, and you can see it through?”
“I can see it through tonight itself.”
“Not tonight.”
“My mind’s on something else.”
“And what would that be?”
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My eyes gaze over map beneath my fingers and I exhale. I can only catch a glimpse of it as the rest of it is covered in papers and letters but what I see is far more than enough to rattle me.
“The Blackfang territory,” I tell him. “It’s getting to me. I want to prioritize it over everything else.”
“We just returned from there. What’s the hurry? You wanted to give it some time. Is that no longer the case?” Kovas asks me, concern in his voice,
“Yes. The case has changed.”
He steps back and crosses his arms over his chest. “Then, tell me your wish. We’ll act upon it. We’ll put Jericho to the side for now and send our men to Elias‘ territory to kill whoever it is you desire. Once the pack falls, we can head there and claim it.”
I shake my
head. It’s nowhere near what I’m thinking. I don’t want my wolves to kill them in silence or in the dark of the night. I want it to happen in the light, the open, and for people to see.
“I was thinking of an attack than an ambush. A public execution.”
“Public? It’s a difficult task. Elias isn’t much of a fool. He’ll know if you’re coming from him. The only way to kill those people there is an ambush. But I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“As I said, things have changed,” I lift my head up and look at him. “I want it to be done in a different manner, and I want to kill.”
“You?” He stares at me in disbelief.
“Us.” I correct him.
“Elias just had an attack on his life. He’ll know if we’re coming for him, especially considering that you bought the very person that did the attack on him,” Kovas tries to reason and tries to convince me, but my mind doesn’t change.
I’m fixated. I’m certain what I want, and that is to kill them all with my bare hands. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes.
“And you do know that if you do this, the word will spread. People will know, and they’ll make assumptions. And people will whisper even when it’s all over.”
“I know.”
Kovas leans forward and raises a brow while looking at me intently. It’s one of those stares he gives me when he knows there’s something rattling inside me.
“Did something happen?”
“What do you mean?”
“Over at the cabin, you told me you wanted to send men to kill Elias and the few members of his pack. You were clear, then. You wanted the land that you gave him back. But now, there’s something else, isn’t there? Is it about your mate being in that cellar, nearly killed? Or is there more?”
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He doesn’t knows what I know. I haven’t told him, or anyone for the matter of fact.
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I lean back in my chair, trying to mask the unease that’s creeping up inside me. Kovas isn’t wrong. There is something else. But I’m not sure if it is him who I want to tell.
“I’ve known you for long, Aron. Through all your stages and faces. Something is there.”
He pushes me to tell him and there’s no way to wriggle out of the conversation I’m having with him right now.
So, I give up and tell him what he wants to know, what I’ve learned–everything.
“Oh, that is what the call with that kid was about? He told you all of this?” Kovas asks me.
“Yes,” I confirm and sigh before taking a sharp breath. “And now, since I’ve rejected her, her wolf isn’t healing from those wounds. I had Eldra come in a while ago to see what was wrong when she was bleeding onto the floors and sheets.”
I’m not surprised by the silence I get from him. Or at least, I’m not surprised by the amount of stillness.
“Fuck. What–how is she doing now?”
I shrug, “I’m not certain.”
“Who were these male wolves that did it?”
“There were a couple from the pack house. I don’t think I’ve seen them when I was there, but I know who they are. And then there’s that woman–you met her too at the ball.”
“The women Elias chose?”
“Yes,” I give him a nod. “She orchastered to kill Elias while using Rhea as a bait.”
“Fuck. No way,” he exclaims, seemingly taken back.
“A runt, that is truly, truly despised.”
Kovas nods his head slowly, though that expression never leaves him as he looks me in the eyes.
“No wonder why it’s your priority to kill Elias and take his pack. All this time, I thought it was for the land you exchanged for your mate.”
There’s a knock on the door that pulls us from the seriousness and conversation. I allow whoever it is to come in. For a moment there, I think it’s Marcella, coming to give me information about Rhea, but it isn’t her.
It’s Marco,
“This arrived in the mail just a while ago,” He steps inside and places an envelope on my desk. “I believe it may be of some importance to you.”
I take the envelope and open it up quickly. The stamp in the front tells me where it’s from–from Elias. A surge of anger courses through me but I don’t let it surface just yet.
Kovas leans in slightly, his curiosity piqued as I manage to see what’s inside. It’s not a letter.
It’s an invitation.
To Elias‘ wedding.
