CHAPTER 003

Seth wipes the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand and then keeps scrubbing the bloodstained floor of the pack's clinic.

The metallic smell of blood clings to the wall, fixing with the scent of disinfectant while around him are injured wolves groaning in pain while the nurses move around briskly and every few minutes, someone yells his name.

“Seth!” comes a bark behind him. “You missed a spot!”

He doesn't look up, as he scrubs harder.

“Move faster, damn it! The Alpha might walk in here any minute. Do you want him to see this mess?”

Seth shakes his head.

Suddenly, someone bumps into him, knocking over the bucket and instantly, his pants are soaked and he jumps to his feet, trying to dust it off. When he lifts his head, he finds a man in front of him, face squeezed in displeasure as he suddenly steps into Seth space, sniffing.

He grimaces. “You’re like a damn ghost,” he says. “No wolf, no scent, just floating around like a curse. What are you even?” he shakes his head and walks away.

Seth doesn't respond, he never does. Most of everyone in the pack already thinks he's mute. He grabs his mop and starts over, but that's when the clinic doors swing open.

He lifts his head and watches as Lena walks in, in a dress that clings to her waist, her skin glowing and her brown hair curled in waves.

Suddenly, everyone in the room is looking at her, straightening and beaming. Seth goes back to work while whispers come from every direction.

“The future Luna,”

“She's so pretty,”

“Blessed by the goddess,”

Lena gives everyone a graceful nod. “I’m here to help. I thought it would be good to volunteer, especially with so many wolves coming back from training injured.”

With that dress? Seth doesn't think she will be helping out much.

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” the head nurse gushes. “So kind of you, Lena. You’re a gift to our pack.”

Lena smiles sweetly, then turns her head, her gaze landing on Seth. “You,” she points at him. “There are boxes in the truck outside. Go bring them in. All of them.”

Seth pauses, then he nods slowly. He keeps the mop aside and walks out without a word.

The sun is hot outside, it bakes the ground underneath his worn out boots. He finds the truck parked outside, immediately opening the back and sees several labeled boxes. He grabs one and turns around, coming face to face with a familiar face.

“Hey!”

Castel waves at him, grinning, wearing her usual oversized jacket, black jeans, and her long hair tied into two braids. She's the only one who speaks to him, she calls herself his friend but Seth doesn't know the definition of that term.

“You hiding?” she beams.

“No.” Seth finally speaks, not because he wants to but she won't go away like the others. The fastest way is to answer her questions.

She raises a brow. “Okay, liar. So, are you going to the party?”

“What party?”

“Kieran’s birthday, silly,” she playfully hits his chest and plays with her braids. “It's three days from now and everyone is talking about it, the whole pack is going crazy about it. Apparently, it’s going to be a huge bonfire, hunting games, all that werewolf traditional crap. Kieran will shift and claims his mate,”

Seth looks down at the box in his hands. “I’m not invited.”

“Oh, come on. It’s a pack-wide thing. It's the future alpha first shift, everyone can go.”

“I still won’t,” he says flatly. “He won’t want me there.”

Castel studies him for a second, then tsks. “You’re probably right. But still… you could just show up for the food and sneak out before anyone throws something at you. Beside he's going to be in a shitty mood and shifting, so he won't even not notice you're there,”

Seth doesn't answer.

She hits him on the chest again. “Alright, ghost boy,” she teases. “See you later.” She turns and runs off.

He nods and turns back toward the clinic, the box heavy in his arms as he steps inside, just in time as he hears Lena says, gossiping with three nurses.

“…and when Kieran shifts fully under the moon, I know the bond will snap in place,” shs flips her hair dramatically and continues. “He’s already started noticing me more. It’s fate, I can feel it. He’s going to claim me. He has to. Everyone says we’re perfect together.”

A nurse giggles. “Of course he will. You’re made for him. You’ll be Luna soon.”

Lena giggles while Seth blinks as he pauses. The box in his arms shakes slightly, and then—crash.

A sharp sound reaches everyone's ears as a glass vial slips out from inside the box and shatters on the floor, sharp pieces bouncing off and then, there's a cry.

“Ow!” Lena yelps, her hand flying to her face where there's a tiny cut. “What the hell!”

Seth froze, not even realizing he’d gripped the box so tightly. His heart thumps.

Her gaze falls on him instantly and she approaches him like a storm. “You fucking idiot!” she hisses and before he can apologize, she raises her hand and strikes him hard across the face, the sound echoing.

“You worthless, clumsy mistake of a breed!” she snarls. “I don’t care if it was the alpha who took you in, when I become the Luna, I will make sure I fucking kick you out of this pack like the trash that you are. The rogues will have fun tearing you into pieces.”

Seth looks at her, crimson eyes blank and empty, with a single reaction to the hit and her display of anger that irks her even further.

“Clean it up the fucking mess,” she snaps and storms off.

He slowly crouches down, picking up the shards, the sting in his cheek pulsing and blood trickles from his hand as a piece cuts his palm, but he doesn't flinch.

He never does. He's that dead.