Chapter Two : Encountering the Supreme Alpha

Gavin came closer, concern edged on his face.

“Alpha Kane, is she still alive?” he asked, placing his ear on her chest to check for a heartbeat. At first, he heard none, but then he pressed harder and heard a faint thump, and a sigh escaped his lips.

“Alpha she needs proper treatment what do we do?” Gavin asked with a sense of urgency.

“We take her back to her pack,” he said sniffing the air.

“From her scent, I can tell she's from the Blood Moon pack.” Alpha Kane replied.

“Beta Gavin come and place her on my back” he instructed.

Gavin’s eyes widened, the Alpha never allowed skin contact with people let alone a stranger Gavin wondered as he hurriedly did as he was told.

“Thankfully we are heading that same way”, Gavin said.

The alpha only nodded leading the way while others followed suit.

On arriving at the pack territory, the guards at the border stepped aside. Alpha Kane's reputation surpassed him.

He isn't just an alpha he is the supreme Alpha the leader of all seven packs. His presence commanded instant respect.

“Welcome Alpha” they chorused with their heads bowed.

“Take me to the pack’s healer,” Kane ordered.

One guard stepped forward to lead the way, but his eyes nearly popped from their sockets when he saw the unconscious girl on Kane’s back. Kane noticed his reaction immediately.

“Lead the way,” he said leaving no room for hesitation.

The guard turned sharply and began walking. Gavin called back to the others, “Wait here for us.”

“Who is she? I can tell from your reaction earlier that you know her”.

“Y-yes, Alpha,” the guard stammered. “She’s Maya, the second daughter of the Pack’s Beta. Earlier today, at the coronation ceremony, she was rejected by our Alpha because… she has a weak wolf.”

Gavin’s heart sank.

“That explains why she was outside the pack’s territory and almost, devoured by rogues,”

Gavin muttered and the guard gasped.

Gavin hurried to keep pace with Alpha Kane, his eyes fixed on Maya’s limp form, which swayed with each stride.

The guard pushed open the healer’s hut door, and the sharp scent of herbs filled the air. An elderly woman emerged, only to freeze at the sight of the most feared Alpha standing in her small hut.

“Welcome my Alpha and Beta” she greeted with a bow, hands fidgeting.

“Attend to her she has a deep injury and has lost a lot of blood,” Kane commanded.

The woman gasped in recognition as Maya was laid on the bed, the healer immediately got to work, her hands trembled as she examined Maya’s Wound.

“This is beyond my skill,” she whispered her eyes darting nervously towards Alpha Kane.

Maya who has been drifting in and out of consciousness heard that.

Moon Goddess please save me I don’t want to die she prayed silently.

“What did you say?” Alpha Kane's eyes narrowed. His voice was low and menacing, sending shivers down the healer’s spine.

“Look here, woman do anything to bring her back to consciousness I'm coming for her tomorrow if she is not Awake you know what that means,” he said allowing his words to sink in.

“Let's go,” he ordered, and the guard led the way immediately.

- - - -

Meanwhile, in the pack house, the scent of roasting meat wafted, mingling with the sound of children’s laughter.

Zara is seen grinning from ear to ear, and she carries herself with a sense of pride.

Becoming Luna has been her wish, and she has gone through great measures to make it come true her mind drifted off to Maya and her smile faltered, but she quickly regained her composure, her eyes glinting with a mix of triumph and disdain.

She would be in great pain after being rejected by her mate, but she doesn't care. "Maya is a loser after all," she chuckled.

She was still grinning when her mother walked up to her.

“Zara, have you seen Maya?” Mrs Rhea asked worry etched on her face.

“No mum, she might have gone into hiding unable to bear the shame of public humiliation,” Zara replied her mind elsewhere.

“Ohh poor Maya,” her mother sighed walking off.

Zara rolled her eyes. No matter what Maya would always be beneath me I’ve gone too far to go back and I’m sure the Moon Goddess is on my side. Rising from her seat, she went to join her peers in celebration. Laughter, clinking of glasses, and loud music wrapped around her like a crown. She swept into a drinking spree until the world around her blurred and she was completely wasted.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the healer’s hut, she gathered other necessary ingredients while the potion was brewing on the stove.

Once done with the gathering, she put off the stove, transferring the potion into a bowl she held it with one hand while the other hand contained fresh herbs. She squeezed the crushed herbs over Maya’s wound, but Maya didn’t flinch.

She pressed down firmly on the wound.

“Please Maya wake up, I don't want to get into trouble with the Alpha” the healer pleaded on the verge of tears.

She fetched a little quantity of the brewed potion and forced it down Maya’s throat.

She waited two minutes, but nothing happened. She was about to give up when Maya sneezed.

The healer jolted up with the speed of lightning.

“Maya, can you hear me?” She asked, hope tinged in her voice.

“Achuuu” Maya sneezed again, trying to stand up but the sting on her leg made her lie down again.

“Where am I?” she asked faintly looking around.

“Calm down, Maya you are safe here now that you are awake let’s proceed with the treatment,” she said, and Maya nodded.

She supported Maya to a sitting position, careful enough not to touch her injured spot.

“Here, drink this,” she said handing a cup to her.

Maya collected the cup with shaky hands.

She took the cup to her lips but stopped mid-air the stench mixed with steam made her want to puke.

“Drink up, Maya I wouldn’t want to incur the Supreme Alpha’s wrath” she said half pleading, half persuading.

Maya took a sip and scrunched her face, she almost spat it out but the look on the healer’s face made her rethink.

“I will have to bathe you with the remaining potion, it will help your wound heal faster… You know, since your wolf isn't as strong as the rest of us.” the healer trailed off her voice laced with awkwardness.

“Everybody tends to remind me that I have a weak wolf,” Maya said a hint of bitterness in her voice.

“That’s not what I meant Maya.” She tried explaining but Maya wasn’t ready to listen.

“I don’t like bathing outside can’t I go bathe at home?”

“It’s just you and I Maya, and I’m a woman like you, don’t worry it won’t take time” the healer reassured.

“Okay,” Maya mumbled.

And the healer assisted her in pulling off her dress; her eyes landed on Maya’s bare body.

And her eyes widened.

“Bloody hell, who did this to you, Maya!!”