Chapter 2

Hazel's POV

“Stop! You can’t give her that!” I yelled, slapping the medicine from the healer's hands. The liquid and powder splashed across the floor, and I froze for a second as I watched everyone’s eyes widen.

Miss Penelope moved quickly towards me, grabbing my wrist. “Silly girl! What have you done?”

Before I could even respond, her hand struck my cheek. A sharp sting flared in my cheek, but I just put my hand on it, rubbing it quietly. I didn’t regret what I had done, not one bit.

The healer stepped forward, voice cold. “Do you realize how many herbs it took to make that for the child? How dare you just throw it from my hand? Who are you?”

I opened my mouth. “I… I…”

Then the doctor approached, sniffing in disgust. “You smell filthy. How are you even in here?” He glanced at Miss Penelope. “Is this one of your workers? How dare you let her walk in here and insult us like this? We’re trying to save this child, and she just—”

“I was trying to help,” I blurted.

“Help?” the healer spat. “How is that helping?”

“Th—the medicine you were about to give the child wasn’t right.” My voice trembled. I finally said it.

The room went still. Every pair of eyes fixed on me. I swallowed hard. The healer frowned. “What in the world are you talking about? I’m a seasoned healer, and you dare—”

“Yes,” I interrupted, voice shaking but firm. “Please listen. It’s not that the medicine was bad, but it’s far too strong for a child. If it were an adult, it would be fine… but not for her.”

The doctor cut me off with a sharp look, and I turned my gaze toward the Alpha.

He sat there, focused on the little girl, but his eyes shifted to us. He was tall, with dark hair and a pair of blue eyes. His presence was commanding, but the tension in the room left me no time to take in his full presence.

“I’m really sorry about this, Alpha,” Miss Penelope started. “Actually, I brought her in to report something she—”

The Alpha raised his hand, silencing her. Then his gaze locked on me, teeth clenched. “Do you realize what you’ve done? My child has the worst fever and reactions right now. We’re doing everything we can to stabilize her, and you just walked in here and threw it away!”

“I…” I said, my voice trembling.

“I could have you beheaded for this!” He roared.

“I know…but please hear me out. I can help her.”

His brows drew together. “You… can help her?”

“Yes,” I said, stepping a little closer. “I’m good with herbs. If I can just check what’s wrong with her, I can help. I promise.”

Everyone looked skeptical. The Alpha’s eyes narrowed. “Why would I let someone like you touch—” His sentence broke as the girl started coughing violently again.

“Please,” I pleaded, taking a shaky step forward.

The guards moved toward me, but the Alpha raised his hand, halting them. I froze for a second, then stepped toward the child, my heart racing.

I knelt beside the child, ignoring the guards and everyone else’s skeptical stares. Her skin was hot, rashy and spreading, and her breathing was uneven. Her faint pulse skipped and faltered with every beat. My stomach tightened. I had seen similar cases before. This was an allergic reaction.

I looked up, voice low. “Is she allergic to anything?”

“Nuts,” the Alpha answered, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.

I frowned, pressing my hand to my own temple, trying to think. “What did she eat last?” I asked slowly, listening carefully.

The Alpha shot the trembling woman at his side a sharp look. She must be the child’s caregiver.

“Um… granola,” she said, voice wavering.

I frowned. “Granola…” I muttered to myself. Then I turned to the child, rising slowly to stand. “She’s having an allergic reaction. To the nuts in the granola.”

The Alpha’s eyes widened. “Can you do something about it, then?”

“Yes. Please… give me a minute.”

I bolted out. As Miss Penelope pulled me through the pack house, I spotted some herbs. Outside, I grabbed them, then rushed back inside.

“Get me some wolf lux leaves, please…” I said, glancing at no one in particular.

“Go get them!” The Alpha urged, urgency sharp in his voice. A maid quickly rushed inside to get them.

When everything was brought to me, I mixed the herbs with water, forming a pale, aromatic liquid. I held it up to the child.

The healer stepped forward, frowning. “Alpha, we can’t let a stranger, especially one who looks like a servant, give little Aurella something.”

The Alpha just gave him a look. I ignored the murmurs and slowly brought the mixture to the child’s lips. She trembled, on the verge of losing consciousness, but I held her head gently, helping her sip.

I patted her chest lightly, whispering for her to stay with me. Her eyes fluttered open.

“Hero,” she whispered softly, looking up at the Alpha.

The Alpha’s face lit up. He scooped her into his arms. People gasped with wide eyes.

“She looks… way better than before!” someone exclaimed.

“It worked! Oh, thank goodness,” murmured another.

I let out a shaky breath of relief. The child was safe.

Just then, a hard grip reached around my wrist. “Oh, you got lucky,” Miss Penelope hissed. “Maybe because of this, you won’t be punished for breaking that vase, but you’re still a slave.”

Before I could react, she yanked me away, pulling me toward the exit.

“Stop!” The Alpha barked. Miss Penelope froze.

“Let go of her hand,” he ordered firmly.

“Yes, Alpha,” she muttered, glaring daggers at me as she released my wrist.

I rubbed my arm, my heart still racing. The Alpha’s gaze landed on me. “You,” he said, nodding toward me. “Step forward.”

My throat went dry. I swallowed and took a hesitant step closer, every nerve screaming.

He stepped down from the platform, his presence commanding, his blue eyes locking on mine. My heart raced under that intense stare.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Hazel,” I murmured, voice barely steady.

He studied me for a long moment, like he was trying to measure everything about me with a single look. The little girl rested in his arms, calmer now, her tiny chest rising and falling evenly.

“You saved my child,” he said, his voice low but firm. “What would you like in return?”