TheWolf from Five Years ago

Ring… Ring… Ring…

The sound of the ringtone going off broke my sleep but it was not my phone. I fluttered my tired eyes open and looked around; the ceiling was white and there was a smell of antiseptic in the air.

“I gotta take this call.”

“Sure… I will be here.” I heard a man and woman converse. 

I darted my eyes in the direction of the sound and saw a silhouette clad in a black suit walk out of the room. I was trying to understand where I was when I heard Natalie’s voice, “Emma? You are awake?” The worry on her face diffused into relief. She took my hand and helped me sit upright.

I clutched my head weakly and asked, “What happened?”

“You passed out. Your sugar level was dangerously low.” She spoke, tucking the pillow on my back to support me, "When was the last time you had a proper meal?"

I stayed mum as I knew I would hear an earful if I told her the truth.

I jogged my memory and realized that she was right. But I was on the road, how did I end up here? I asked, “Who brought me here?”

“Oh, it was Alex. He brought you in and asked me to come over.”

“Alex?” Just as I muttered the name, a young man with curly black hair walked into the room, “Sorry, work calls.”

He slid his phone into his pocket and lifted his head, only to stop in his tracks at my sight. A smile broke on his thin lips, “You are awake?”

“You are here? We were just talking about you.” Natalie said as she dragged him closer to the bed, “Emma, meet my friend Alex..”

“Alexander Frost. Nice to meet you.” He extended his hand towards me.

“Emma Whitemane.” I shook his hands, remembering that he was the man I saw before going unconscious. I continued, “Natalie told me that you were the one who brought me to the hospital. Thank you so much.”

“It’s ok, you don't have to thank me for that. How are you feeling now?" He asked before sitting down on the stool next to the bed.

"Better…"

Alexander was a tall man, not necessarily heavy-looking but I could see the muscles bulging through his tailor-made suit. He had chocolate brown hair and captivating hazel eyes. He had a really husky voice, the kind you can call sexy but what stood out about him was the slash on his left eyebrow. 

Natalie spoke up, "He is the one who is going to help you with your divorce."

"You are a lawyer?" I asked. The aura around him was not that of a lawyer, he looked as if he was some celebrity in the movie industry.

He chuckled and said, "Sort of. Why? Do I not look like one?"

"No… That's now what I meant…" I smiled awkwardly. It felt as if he had just read my mind and I had no clue about what to say further. Thankfully, Natalie was there to save the day and change the topic. She said, "Emma, do you not remember Alex? You guys have met before."

"What? Have we?" I looked at Alex and scanned his face. I had no recollection of ever meeting him, he did not even look like he belonged in the Silvermoon pack. 

Has Natalie mistaken something?

I shook my head and said the same to them.

My answer earned a look of astonishment from the girl who said, "Seriously? Remember you once saved an injured wolf at the pack border five years ago?"

I nodded wordlessly, even though it's been years since it happened, I vaguely remembered it. I was at the pack territories, hiding away from my bullies when I found a severely injured wolf in the forest grounds. It was unconscious and needed immediate medical attention.

I called the patrolling guards and took him to the hospital but due to time constraints, I could not stick around to meet him. I left immediately after I was told that the wolf was safe and out of danger.

"It was him." She disclosed. 

"You?" 

"Yes, it was me." He replied.

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. What are the odds of us crossing paths again like this? 

"Wow. What are the chances, right? This world is indeed a very small place." I said to which he replied, "Or maybe destiny is a very powerful thing."

"Haha, right." I laughed.

No wonder I felt like he was not from the Silvermoon pack; the wolf that I saved that day did not belong to our pack. I asked, "What pack are you from?"

A charming smile appeared on his face, "I don't belong to any pack."

"What?" I was shocked by his words. I looked around and lowered my voice so that no one hears me, "You… are a rogue?"

"Haha, no." The man chuckled, "I am sure Alpha Draven won't allow a rogue to move so freely in his pack."

He was right! Rogues were nothing but troublemakers and our pack despised them. Even if a rogue wolf loses his way and ends up in our territory by mistake, it would be captured and put in the dungeons without a trial. 

Alexander did not keep me in suspense for too long. He said slowly, "I am a member of the Werewolf Council."

“Werewolf Council?” My back straightened itself even with the mention of their name.

The Werewolf Council was an independent body that governed all the packs in the regions. It is usually constituted by the elderly wolves of various packs and is very selective about who they take in. It was surprising to see a young man like him be a member of the board. He must be a very gifted wolf!

I immediately lowered my eyes and said, “I am so sorry, sir. I did not know you were an official.”

My timidness earned a round of laughter from him, he said, “It’s okay, you don’t have to be so formal. You can call me Alex like everybody else.”

Natalie said, “Beside being the youngest council member, Alex also helps women with divorce cases all the time.”

“Really?” My eyes lit up.

The man shoved a hand inside his pocket and said solemnly, “Yes, I have noticed that a lot of women are treated unfairly after marriage. So I am dedicated to helping them build a life after they get divorced.”

“That is very kind of you.” My respect for him reached new levels after I heard his words, it was very noble of him to think about us. I said, “I want to divorce my husband but I don’t know how to do it.”

“Don’t worry. I will definitely help you.” He assured me with his ever-warming smile.