A BEAM OF HOPE

“Young Alpha?” Thane heard the hesitant voice of his maid, Zara.

Theresa got up and patted Thane on the shoulder.

“I just returned from Bloomberry pack. I will go freshen up and give Father the reports. Be good, Brother.”

Thane nodded as Theresa opened the door and went out of the room, letting in the hesitant Zara.

Zara, his loyal maid, attended to his needs, her gentle touch a comforting solace. To take his mind off his troubles, he decided to chat with the maid.

“Zara, how are things in the pack?” He asked.

Zara hesitated, not knowing how much of the activities going on to talk about, in order not to worry her master.

“Normal daily pack life, Young Alpha.” She eventually replied.

“Give me the details.” Thane insisted.

“Ryker trains the warriors every day. The guards go on patrol, the tutors train the pups. They are preparing for another age group rite of passage.” Zara concluded.

That pained Thane. He was the one in charge of decisions on such things. Normally, he would have taken the supervisors on a scouting spree, to scout out safe forests for the pups. It seemed pack life had gone on without him, he grimaced. His incapacitation has stolen precious things from him. He shook off the depressed thought and focused on Zara, who was arranging his wardrobe.

“Where will the rite of passage hold?” He asked out of curiosity.

Before Zara could answer, Theresa, his sister, entered the room, with their father, Malcom in tow.

“Why is your mate not here with you?” Malcolm asked.

“She is trying to settle in…” Thane murmured, not ready to reveal the arrangement with River to stay away from each other’s business.

“Why are you pushing her away? I noticed how you treated her during breakfast, Thane. You were not warm towards her…”

Thane's thoughts swirled, torn between duty and desire, reality staring him in the face.

"But, Father, I am broken, wheelchair-bound. What life can I offer River?"

Memories of Axel lingered, a bittersweet ache.

"Was that why you contemplated killing yourself?" he asked, his voice firm but laced with pain and a hint of desperation.

Thane's gaze dropped, shame washing over him like a tidal wave. His eyes burned, and his throat constricted. He scowled at Theresa, who clamped her hand together apologizing.

“Father saw me leaving your room shaken, he pried it out of me.” Theresa explained.

"I'm sorry, Father," he whispered, the words barely audible. "I just feel so trapped." His voice cracked, the anguish spilling out.

Malcolm's expression softened, empathy etched on his face. He placed a gentle hand on Thane's shoulder.

"Trapped? You are alive, Thane. You have a purpose," he said, his voice gentle but firm.

Thane's frustration simmered, boiling over into bitterness. "What purpose? I'm crippled, Father. Useless to the pack," he spat, the words tainted with self-loathing.

Malcolm's voice stern, his eyes flashing with authority. "That's enough!" He rose from his seat, towering over Thane.

"You're not useless," Malcolm declared, his tone resolute. "You're my son, and you will continue our lineage. You will find a new path with River, your mate, one that doesn't require physical strength but the strength of your heart and mind."

“I don’t want to burden River, Father. I am too broken for a mate…” Thane began but was interrupted by his father.

“Which burden? You are my son, wealthy, influential; you have everything to offer her.” Malcolm assured Thane.

Thane's gaze fell, his mind racing with doubts.

“How exactly will I perform the duty to secure our future, broken like this? For goddess’ sake, River is even wolfless.” Thane snarled.

Theresa's gentle voice interrupted him.

"Thane, I know this is not ideal, but River might surprise you. She is strong and healthy, despite being wolfless."

Thane's eyes narrowed.

"Strength is not just about having a wolf, Theresa. It is about being whole."

Malcolm’s face fell at Thane’s words and he was short of words to console him as he himself was still hurting from the effects of the attack on his son. He could not forget the fact that Thane was in that state because of him. He had rescued him from the wicked rogues that day and fought in his stead. Their pack eventually won the battle but at a great price: Thane’s legs.

All future plans of Thane taking over as the pack’s alpha has been shattered, he could only force himself to remain calm because he must uphold his status as the alpha of the pack. These were indeed trying times for all of them.

He shuddered as the thought of Thane not being able to perform the act of procreation crossed his mind for the first time. Malcolm hastened out of Thane’s room, thankful that Theresa was still there, to accompany Thane.

Theresa's concern for Thane deepened, witnessing his inner turmoil.

"Thane, I thought we already agreed on this. Do not measure yourself by your chair," she said gently. "You are still the same brother I admire."

Thane's gaze lifted, his eyes searching.

"Easy for you to say, Theresa. This marriage will sentence River to a life with a broken mate."

Theresa's voice took on a determined tone.

"River deserves a chance."

Theresa's thoughts revealed her own doubts.

But what if Thane's right? What if River's wolfless nature puts our pack at risk? She thought but knew such words must not be uttered.

The maid, Zara's heart went out to Thane, witnessing his pain.

"As Master Thane's maid, I have seen his darkest moments," she thought. "His chair does not define him, but fear does."

Zara remembered Axel's departure, Thane's shattered heart.

"He is still hurting, still vulnerable," she reflected. "This marriage, will it heal or harm him further?"

Zara's loyalty to Thane ran deep.

"I will support him, no matter what," she vowed. "But this Young Luna River, she is wolfless. Can she truly understand master's world?"

Zara's thoughts turned to a rumor she had heard: a mysterious healer from the East, known for unconventional methods. There had been tales of wolves and humans he healed. Some failed but most of his treatments were successful. Zara thought that if their healers and the orthodox doctors could not help Thane, maybe the foreign healer could.

"Master Thane, I have heard tales of a healer who has achieved remarkable results," Zara said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thane's gaze narrowed. "What makes you think he would succeed where others failed?"

Zara hesitated before speaking. "They say his techniques are unorthodox, but effective. Perhaps, he could help you walk again."

Thane's eyes flashed with a mix of hope and skepticism. Could there be hope for him?

Theresa, who had been listening, stepped forward. "Thane, it is worth a try. Send for the healer. What do you have to lose?"

Thane's thoughts swirled. Could this healer truly reverse his fate?

"Very well," Thane said finally. "Send for the healer from the East."

Theresa smiled. "I will arrange it immediately."

As Zara departed to deliver the message, Thane's mind whirled with possibilities.

Will he really stand on his feet again?