#Chapter 2 A Face-off in the Forest

Mira

I made a quick assessment of the patient in front of me, realizing how quickly my mind when into medical mode at the sight of an injured body. This wolf needed my help, and fast. Quickly scanning a mental map of the area, I recalled the nearest medical post and took of running to retrieve supplies.

When I returned, it seemed this Alpha had gotten worse. Not only could I see blood in several spots, but his head swiveled violently and he couldn’t seem to focus his eyes. As I came back towards him, he snarled and lunged, then just as quickly whimpered and fell back.

I felt my duty as a healer override my fear. I held up my medical bag in front of my face.

“Please, I’m a doctor!” my voice was firm but kind. “If you don’t calm down and stop moving, your wounds will get worse. Let me help you, unless you’d rather I leave you here to die— it’s up to you, Alpha.”

There was a change in him when he heard that last word, as if he was snapped back into reality. I watched the rippling muscles in his body relax as he slowly sank down onto the ground.

I exhaled the breath I didn’t know I was holding, and opened up my kit.

“I’ll need to stop the bleeding, and then I can apply a salve and bandage what I can.”

I kept my voice steady and professional. He responded with a grunt, which I chose to accept as a thank you.

As I pressed the first piece of gauze to his bleeding chest, I felt a immediate energy and heat flow out of him. An electric shock sent from his body straight into my heart. I did my best to keep my face calm as my heart beat faster and faster. I shook it off as adrenaline and focused on the work in front of me.

The Alpha’s body started to relax, his muscle softening under my touch, and I saw sanity returning into his eyes. His state wasn’t as bad as I initially feared, and I felt myself relax as well, knowing I could save him. I had just turned to reach for ointment in my kit when I felt my spine crash into a nearby tree. His hand tightened around my throat. There was murder in his eyes.

“Who are you?” the wold demanded. “Who sent you? What were you doing to me just now?”

I clawed at his hand, sputtering for air. I could hardly breath let alone answer his questions. He must’ve realized this, as I felt his grip soften slightly.

“I told you, I am a doctor!” a hoarse whisper escaped my lips. “I was running nearby when I heard you, in pain.” He processed this information, still skeptical. “My name is Mira.”

As suddenly as he had grabbed me, he eyes widened in some sort of realization and he let me go. I sucked in air and massaged my neck while he stood in front of me, blocking  any means of escape.

“How do I know I can trust you?” he asked, his words still laced with venom.

“Seriously?” I snapped. “I took a medical oath to heal, not to harm! And why would I even stop to help you when I could just leave you to die out here all alone? I guess not every Alpha is a wise as he’s said to be.”

“What did you say?” his closed his fists, sending tension into the muscles of his arms. “How dare you speak to me like that?! Don’t you know who I am?”

“You’re a reckless, arrogant asshole— if my medical assessment is correct!” the words spilled out of me before I could think. “What kind of Alpha attacks a doctor trying to save them?”

“I—“ he was caught off guard, and took a step away from me.

We both stood silent, staring at each other, feeling the heat rising off our bodies in the cool night air.

Dominic

Release her.

The command came from far away, deep in the recesses of my mind, pulling me back into my rational mind. The wolf was taking back control.

She is your savior.

It was then I realized my body felt stronger, and noticed the bandage wrapped around my wounded shoulder. The red lens of my rage cleared from my eyes, and I stared into the bright eyes of a small she-wolf. Her eyes were fixed on mine, showing a mixture of fear and defiance.

A wave of shame washed over me as I released my grip on her throat, but I couldn’t let her see. How did I get here, attacking a strange woman with such force?

“I— I am sorry,” my eyes fell to the ground between us, unable to hold her piercing gaze any longer. “I don’t know what came over me.”

I assumed she would take the opportunity to run away, but when I looked back she was still staring.

“That’s no excuse,” she was still so angry. “I came to your aid, offered you kindness, and respond by attacking me, accusing me of trying to harm you. Ridiculous.”

“You don’t know anything!” I felt the rage building up in me again. She didn’t even flinch.

“I know when someone is bleeding out in the middle of the woods they shouldn’t bite the hand that heals them,” she spat back. She was quick, and clever. “What the hell were you doing out here? What happened to you?”

“I don’t know!” she was infuriating, especially because she was right. “I don’t…remember.”

What had happened to me?

These fits of rage had gotten worse. I’d read of other Alphas who were like me, but not for generations had such power appeared in our Pack. The family kept this secret close. And when I felt an episode coming I would retreat to an enclosed area of the forest for everyone’s safety.

So how did I get to this part of the woods? Who sent this doctor to help me? Irene’s face flashes into my mind. My step-mother was always trying to undermine me, along with her daughter, Tessa.

But would they go so far as to kidnap and trick me? I needed answers from this so-called-doctor.

“I will ask you again: who sent you?”

“What? No one sent me, I told you I was running in the woods and—“

“No!” this doctor was getting on my nerves. “I don’t believe you. How convenient that you just so happened to be in this area? What part did you play in this scheme? ”

She seemed stunned by my question.

“You absolute fool!” she almost laughed as she said it. “I don’t want anything from you. I am a doctor. It is my job, my whole purpose on this earth, to take care of those who need my help.”

I could smell her sweat as she closed the distance between us, speaking directly into my face.

“I don’t care who you are, or who your daddy is, I will never let someone die when I can do anything in my power to prevent it.”

She walked away from me, gathering up supplies and repacking her medical kit.

For some reason, I believed her words. Even my deeper wolf intuition sensed she was telling the truth. More than that, I knew I could trust her.

I watched her, studied her, and really seeing her for the first time. I didn’t notice my feet moving until I was standing right over her. Something was pulling me to her, something that felt…familiar, and safe. This feeling was entirely new to me, and I didn’t know if I liked it.

She stood quickly when she realized I was close to her. Her head only came up to my chest, but she was not threatened by me. Our bodies did not touch, but it was like her heart was beating in time with mine.

The wind shifted and her scent filled my senses. It was intoxicating, and it was dangerous.

Don’t let her get away.

She took a step as if to leave, and I grabbed her arm..

“Stay.”