The Call That Knocked Me to My Knees

Winnie’s POV

“Oh, why? Why? I was just enjoying my sleep…” I cried dramatically, kicking away the poor alarm that just delivered its duty.

I lay in bed for almost an hour questioning my life decisions, “Why have I chosen medicine?”

That's how bad a short night can turn me into a drama queen.

I just got up, dressed, tied my hair, and stepped outside.

It's a brand new week!

I should head straight to the pack hospital where I serve as an intern, but I had somewhere much more important to head to.

The special medical center.

I pushed the front entrance open, the familiar herbal scent hitting me instantly.

Nurses and healers hurried around, their hands glowing faintly with activated herbs as they attended to patients.

I walked into a room I've become very familiar with.

“Mama?” I called as I got in.

She was awake, sitting up with a blanket over her lap.

Her face was as usual—pale, with her eyes sunken in their sockets, but still she gave me a small smile.

I wonder when she will finally be fine.

She doesn't deserve this. My mother ended up here while she was only trying to help. She went to visit her sick cousin only to get attacked by hunters and she got shot with wolfsbane. It was so rare and strong that it killed faster and had no immediate antidote.

I remember how I had threatened everyone that I was going to commit suicide if she died, but here she is, all strong and battling for life for 2 years now.

“You are early today,” she whispered.

“Yes, I have some stuff to do at work bit I have to come see you first.”

She took my hand, thumb rubbing over my knuckles.

“You don’t have to worry so much.”

“I’m your daughter. It’s literally my job.”

She laughed softly, then coughed. The cough echoed strangely.

My chest tightened, but I smiled anyway.

“I’ll check on you during my break,” I said, standing.

“Don’t skip lunch,” she warned. “And… try to have fun tonight at the festival.”

“Oh sure!” I replied, even though I had literally forgotten it was the Moon Goddess festival tonight.

I kissed her forehead and walked out.

---

I rushed out of the center and sprinted towards the hospital. My heart skipped a beat or two as I passed before the barracks.

Jason.

I stopped, my hands folded into a fist while I fought the strong urge to burst in there to see him, which was rather a crazy idea.

But I missed him, and I would do anything to have him around me.

I sighed, biting the inside of my cheek.

“Forget it,” I whispered to myself as I resumed my sprint to work.

The hospital was as… chaotic as ever.

With patients limping here and there and some ready to land a punch the doctor faces.

“Winnie!” a voice called.

Clara came running towards me, her coat looked less rough today.

We exchanged some greetings before she nudged me. “Come on, we’ve got a warrior who swears he’s dying. Spoiler alert: it’s just a minor sprain.”

I laughed as we walked to our station.

The day moved fast—mixing herbs, helping healers prepare more herbs, cleaning minor wounds, and listening to Clara’s dramatic gossip.

This is the only place on earth that made me feel useful.

I can't believe I'm almost there. I'm almost a professional healer.

I am achieving my childhood dream to help wolves like Mama.

To be strong in a way that didn’t require claws or fangs.

“Now to the festival tonight,” Clara sang as we organized vials. “You going?”

“Yeah.”

“Is Jason bringing you or occupied?”

“I do not know,” I shrugged.

Clara raised an eyebrow but she kept her mouth shut—something I'm extremely grateful for.

But also my heart sank, Jason hadn't returned any of my calls or messages since yesterday… maybe he's just busy with the pack festival preparation.

Maybe.

---

By evening, the entire pack was glowing with excitement.

Ancient Lanterns swung from trees, music started echoing from the plaza, and everywhere was filled with wolves dressed in blue and white.

I went to visit Mama again. I wish I could sneak her out of the center for the festival but I'm going to regret it.

“You look beautiful,” she said as I adjusted her scarf.

“You look… more alive,” I teased.

She slapped my arm lightly. “Rude child.”

“Remember to ig—”

“Ignore the Alpha at all costs.” I completed… ugh! Silly rules I never understand where they came from or why.

“Good, and don’t be too careless about this.” She said as she adjusted the button of my gown.

“It's something I've been doing all my life,” I rolled my eyes.

She was talking about the birthmark on my tummy.

Something she warned me to never expose… for reasons I still don't know to date.

I still remember how her face went white when I threatened to show it to everyone if I did not have a candy after my dinner.

What a chaotic child!

As a baby and a teen, all I wore were dungarees. It provides more protection that suits my hyper energetic lifestyle but I also got picked on for it and nobody wanted to be my friend.

Stupid how most kids reason.

But Jason was always there for me and that's why I love him.

“Do you have any candies to offer?” The sweetest tiny voice I've ever heard brought me out of my thoughts.

Standing before me was a little cute baby girl who shouldn't be up to four years old. Her pouted lips and big eyes made my knees turn jelly.

Can anyone be cuter?

“Sure…”

I gave out alot if candies to the pups around and pretty soon? My cheeks were aching from smiling too much.

The festival went on with older wolves blessing the younger ones, the Alpha came around and blessed the pack but is it just because of “Mama rules” or did I feel the Aloha's eyes boring holes in my body twice?

I was playing around with some pups when I heard it.

Gasps.

Whispers.

The crowd was heading to a direction.

My heart skipped.

“What’s happening?” I asked nobody in particular.

I just walked closer, pushing through bodies, stepping between shoulders—my curiosity growing bigger with each passing second.

My heart stopped working when I got a proper view.

There he was—Jason.

But he wasn't just patrolling or performing his duties.

He was on his knees with a shiny ring in hand and standing before him was the Alpha's sister, Lila.

I stood frozen for a moment with my jaw dropping to the ground.

Is this a joke?

My throat tightened and my heart collapsed as if a truck had run over it.

Jason is proposing to another woman.