3: Kyla’s Wish

"What happened to the future Alpha?" Claudia asked.

"He was sick of waiting around for the trackers to find your daughter, so he stormed off into the woods trying to catch on to Vivica's scent," the Luna sniffled, choking on her sobs.

"And?" Beta Albert asked.

"He searched for hours, but there was no sign of her. And when he lost her scent, he got angry and kicked a tree hard. He was so deep in his grief, he didn't see the tree until it was too late. It fell on him and knocked him out cold," Alpha Morgan finished for his wife.

"Oh no!" Claudia gasped, and Albert swallowed hard.

"There's more. I'm just coming from the hospital." The Luna had a pale look on her face.

"Don't tell me my son is...," Alpha Morgan couldn't even get himself to say it out loud.

"No, he's not dead. But the doctors tried everything, Morgan, and his bones were so badly crushed his wolf was unable to heal him."

"What are you saying, woman? Spit it out!" the Alpha shook her violently.

"Tormund is crippled. He will never walk again."

"NOOOOOOO!" The Alpha fell to his knees, a howl tearing from his soul. His wife dropped to the floor next to him and began to sob bitterly as she hugged her husband.

"We have to do something. I cannot let my only son live like this. I don't care what it costs...we have to fix him," Tabitha cried.

Claudia had tears running down her face as well. "Are you talking about black magic, Luna?"

Tabitha's eyes blazed. "Black, white, or grey, I don't care. I will trade my soul if it means my son walks again. Whoever heals him, whatever their price is, we will give it to them."

Morgan's rage refocused. His finger shot toward Kyla. "Your disgusting daughter will be tried and punished for this," the Alpha said to the Beta. "If she hadn't threatened that sweet and loving Vivica, she wouldn't have left that suicide note for Tormund, and he wouldn't have run into the woods like a madman and gotten himself hurt."

Albert bowed his head. "I understand, Alpha."

"Then get her out of my sight before I end her right here!"

Beta Albert pulled his daughter to another room where they could be alone.

"Father, I promise I didn't do anything."

"Silence!" His voice thundered. "Do you want our family destroyed? Do you want us cast out in shame? The Alpha will kill you for this. Kill us even. Unless..." His eyes narrowed. "...you heal Tormund."

"What? Father, I... I can't—"

"Oh yes, you can." His laugh was cruel. "I saw you heal that bird at the cemetery the other day. So don't fucking lie to me. You will heal Tormund using your damn witchcraft. And when they ask your price, demand marriage. Our family cannot lose its place. Vivica may be dead for all we know, so you will have to take her place."

Kyla was shocked. She had admired Tormund in silence for years, but she would never have dared to dream of such a bond, especially since she found out he despised her, plus she was ugly. Which man in their right mind will want a scarred woman like her?

"Father, I can't," she said.

Her father's eyes glowed. "Oh yes, you will. Do you want to die? Do you want your family's blood on your hands? You're gonna march back into that room and tell the Alpha and Luna that you will heal their son. And that's an order from your Beta and father."

Her father used his Beta aura on her, so Kyla had no choice but to obey whatever he had demanded.

"Ok, Father. I will do it."

Kyla marched back into the room, and the Alpha stood to his feet with his claws out, ready to dig into her neck.

"You dare show your face here again?"

"I can heal Tormund!" Kyla shouted. His claws stilled midair. "I can fix him. I can make him walk again."

The Luna gasped, hope flooding her tear-streaked face. She slowly stood to her feet.

Claudia spat, "Lies! She's only trying to save her worthless hide."

"Shut up, Claudia," Albert growled. "Let her speak."

"Can you really heal him?" Tabitha asked.

"Yes, Luna."

"You?" the Alpha scoffed. "I don't believe it." Morgan narrowed his eyes. "I should rip your tongue out for such blasphemy."

But Tabitha was desperate to save her son. She didn't care if the girl was telling the truth or not, she just wanted her to try. "If you can really heal my son, I will give you anything you want. Money? Clothes? You name it, and it's yours."

Kyla looked to her father, who nodded at her, giving her the permission to go ahead and ask for what he had told her to ask for.

Kyla sighed. "If I succeed, my only wish... is to marry Tormund."

The Alpha hesitated, and Tabitha clenched her teeth.

"This is ridiculous!" Claudia began to protest, but Albert grabbed her by the shoulders and growled at her. She immediately cowered away to the side of the room with anger boiling in her veins.

The Luna grabbed the Alpha's palm, and he looked at his wife and saw the pain on her face.

The Alpha sighed, then his dark eyes landed on Kyla. "This better work, or you and your entire family are dead."

******

Within a week, Kyla's powers nursed Tormund back from the brink of death. His bones magically healed, and he was walking again. His parents wept with joy as their son was no longer crippled.

And as promised, Kyla's wish was granted. A month after Tormund's miraculous recovery, she became his wife and her family's status was safe.

The ceremony was small and suffocating. Tormund barely looked at her, let alone spoke to her. But he marked her in front of their families, Kyla felt the bond sear into her soul, branding her his forever. She didn't get to mark him, since her wolf was too shy to do it in public, but Tormund assured her family and his parents that he would let her do it before the night ends.

But on their wedding night, Tormund's cold words shattered her heart.

"Don't think for one minute that because you forced this marriage with your schemes, that I will ever love you. Prepare to live like a widow beside me. Because you are dead to me, and I am dead to you."