5

DAVINA'S POV 

The next day…

Being escorted by Beta warriors to my quarters while I packed my belongings felt surreal.

How had I ended up in this situation?

Alpha Jasper was clearly forcing me against my will. I had never intended to run away, but at that moment, escaping didn't seem like such a terrible idea anymore.

"Ma'am, you need to make it snappy," one of the Betas ordered.

I frowned.

"Don't you all have actual jobs to do? Why are you following an ordinary healer around?"

"We obey our Alpha's orders."

"Yeah," I muttered, pulling a childish face.

Their Alpha was definitely a bully.

Once I finished packing, the warriors collected my belongings and led me toward a black SUV parked outside.

Ambassador Flinn stood beside the vehicle with an annoyingly cheerful smile on his face. I forced a smile in return as he handed me a golden tag and congratulated me.

I felt like crying.

This wasn't a blessing; it was imprisonment.

And they were all too blind to see it.

I stared at the golden tag, resisting the urge to throw it away.

I climbed into the SUV, and less than twenty minutes later, we arrived at the palace.

The grand structure before me was breathtaking. Its elegant architecture seemed almost unreal, and I had to admit that the palace was stunning.

I had only been here once before, and both trips had been through the hidden emergency passage. There was clearly much more of the pack I had never seen.

Since arriving at Deep Paw Claw, I had been too occupied with infirmary duties to explore the residential districts or learn what the rest of the packhouse looked like.

The Beta warriors guided me through the enormous mansion, its extravagant designs and polished halls radiating wealth and authority.

"This is your room," one of them said. "You can freshen up. The Alpha will send for you in an hour."

After handing me the key, they all left.

I stood in front of the door for a moment, taking a slow breath.

"Davina…" I whispered sadly to myself.

This wasn't the future I had imagined.

Unlocking the door, I stepped inside, and my eyes widened with genuine delight.

I had to admit it–Alpha Jasper had excellent taste.

The room was elegant without being overwhelming. Soft fabrics, carved wooden furniture, and warm colours made it feel unexpectedly welcoming.

Drawn to the large French windows, I opened them and stepped onto the terrace. Beautiful wooden chairs had been arranged neatly outside, and the cool breeze carried the scent of pine and wildflowers. The view of the surrounding mountains was absolutely breathtaking.

For a brief moment, I forgot about my frustration.

A gentle knock on the door pulled me back to reality.

I closed the French windows and returned inside.

"Come in," I called.

Ambassador Flinn entered, followed by several pack guards.

"These Sentinels are at your disposal. The Alpha has instructed that they attend to your needs personally," he explained. "If you require anything, simply tell them."

Without waiting for my response, he turned and walked away.

Apparently, there was no room for discussion.

Sentinels?

Five of them?

Why did I suddenly feel like a prisoner?

I was here as a healer, not a criminal.

"I don't need protection. You should all focus your energy elsewhere," I protested.

"We are here under the Alpha's orders. We can never defy our Alpha," one of them replied respectfully.

My hands clenched into fists. I forced a smile.

"Fine. You're dismissed," I said, waving them away.

Why was Alpha Jasper making such a fuss over me?

All of this was completely unnecessary.

I really needed to speak to Jasper about this. He was being utterly unreasonable.

The moment the door closed behind them, exhaustion washed over me. I collapsed onto the bed with a frustrated groan.

"I just want to wake up and discover that all of this was a dream," I murmured, closing my eyes.

~~~~

Two days later…

Gray Hour 

The rapid knocking on my door jolted me awake. Glancing toward the French windows, I could tell it was barely dawn. I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I had imagined the sound.

Then the knocking came again, louder than before.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. What could have happened?

I climbed out of bed, and the cold floor sent a shiver through me. I really needed to get some wool-lined slippers to keep my feet warm.

"Imperial Physician," Ambassador Flinn called warmly from outside the door.

It was him.

I unlocked the door immediately.

"The Alpha summons you," he said urgently.

I rolled my eyes.

"At this hour?" I asked, unable to hide my irritation.

"His life is in danger," he whispered.

That instantly wiped the annoyance from my face.

I hurried back into my room, grabbed my healing equipment, and followed him toward Jasper's quarters.

Just like the first time, the strong stench of fresh blood greeted me the moment I entered the room.

My eyes landed on Jasper's well-built body, and I immediately noticed the problem.

His ribs were broken.

So that was why he hadn't come calling for me these past few days.

It seemed he had left the pack grounds.

Someone was clearly determined to kill him.

Still, it wasn't my place to ask questions.

Jasper met my gaze and gave me a faint, chilling smile. Ignoring him, I sat beside the bed and examined the extent of the damage. The fractures were worse than before.

I frowned.

How could he remain so calm while suffering this much pain?

My fingers brushed against the rib bones protruding through his flesh.

Closing my eyes, I reached out to connect with his wolf. Jasper's expression darkened, but he endured the pain without a sound.

Once again, the broken bones shifted back into alignment.

Then I placed my hands over the torn flesh and healed the superficial wounds.

And once again, I felt almost no drain on my energy.

I handed an ointment to Ambassador Flinn. He was about to take it when Jasper shot him a terrifying glare.

"You're dismissed," Jasper said, his voice rough and hoarse.

My eyes darted between them in confusion.

With a slight bow, Ambassador Flinn left immediately.

"You need to give yourself a break," I said, placing the ointment on the bedside cupboard. Whatever reckless thing he kept doing that resulted in these injuries had to stop.

What if something changed and healing him suddenly began to drain my energy normally?

I wouldn't survive long in this pack.

"Pick up the ointment," he commanded.

I sighed.

"Apply it," he added.

Reluctantly, I picked up the ointment and began applying it gently to the bruises scattered across his chest and shoulders.

A yawn escaped me involuntarily. My body was reminding me that I hadn't gotten enough sleep.

My fingers brushed against the warmth of his chest as I worked, and my eyelids grew heavier with each passing second. I just needed to finish and go back to bed.

Unfortunately, the pale rays of the early morning sun were already creeping through the windows, shattering any hope of getting more sleep.

I sighed deeply in frustration.

Without warning, Jasper grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him.

I fell against his chest, leaving us in an awkward position on the bed.

Startled, I tried to push myself away, but my face ended up only an inch from his. Before I could react, he tightened his arms around my waist, preventing me from escaping.

Then his lips brushed mine.

My eyes widened in shock.

The smug grin on his face only made my embarrassment worse.

"Let me go!" I yelled.

He ignored me completely, his grin widening with obvious mischief.

"And if I don't?" he asked teasingly.

Without thinking, I lunged forward and bit his bare chest.

Instead of reacting in pain, he chuckled.

I frowned.

That wasn't the response I had expected.

"You're a werewolf, aren't you?" he teased. "You should bite harder. Put some strength into it."

I stared at him in disbelief.

Was he addicted to pain?

Annoyed, I dug my teeth deeper into his skin, but it barely affected him.

Suddenly, he cupped my face and captured my lips in a real kiss.

My eyes widened again.

At that exact moment, the bedroom door burst open.

My entire body froze, and Jasper stiffened beneath me as well.

How was I supposed to explain being sprawled across the Alpha in such a compromising position?

Mortified, I lowered my head in shame, unable to look at whoever had entered.

Then Jasper shoved me away.

The sudden force sent me tumbling off the high bed, and I crashed onto the floor. A loud yelp escaped my lips as my knees struck the marble hard.

Pain exploded through my right knee.

I clutched it desperately, feeling the unmistakable crack of injured bone.

Breathing hard, I looked toward the doorway.

My heart sank.

It wasn't Ambassador Flinn.

It was the woman from the Luna Ceremony.

The same woman to whom Jasper had sworn his oath.

Cassidy Hudson.