An hour later, the healer returned and examined Dom again. “I’d recommend you send your Beta and recover for another day or two.” His verdict or opinion didn’t matter to Dom. He was unsure if he could trust this healer and Helios would hear about Dom’s concerns about him. “You know that won’t be happening. She’s mine and I no longer trust anyone with her care.” Healer Laurel looked surprised. “I see. Well, I’ve tried to be as accommodating as possible. She will soon be free from my grasp.” The healer made copious notes and to Dom, he knew it meant the healer had prepared a defense for something. Dom doubted he knew the alpha of the Black River Pack, who created and managed the facility. “When do we leave?” Dom didn’t want to wait. Raven’s condition hadn’t changed, and he felt that sinking feeling, so he didn’t want to wait any longer or trust this healer. “Can I have a few attendants to prepare both of you for travel within the next twen
Paul dealt with the administration for their people because Gregory and Aireka Wolversen were waiting for them. Dom watched Gregory take one look at Raven. Frowning, he glanced at Dom with accusation. Aireka put her hand on her mate’s arm. “He’s brought her here. Hear him out. Dom, I’ll keep an eye on your Pet and ensure she is treated as she needs. Go talk with Gregory.” Dom suspected that he’d be called on a carpet because this wasn’t something he could keep hidden within his pack any longer. The fallout from this could destroy everything he’d worked for and cost him his pack. Hilary would pay for this. “She’s special. But keep it under wraps. Please Aireka. She won’t tell me the half. Each time I believe I’ve heard everything; an additional detail emerges. “Funny that. A mate that comes with a past that doesn’t include you. What an odd and surprising thing. How could that happen? I’ll see you later Dominic.” Aireka followed Raven to t
Raven awoke to strange sounds around her. She struggled to remember the last thing that happened. She should be in Alpha Jones’s bed, sleeping beside him. Where was she? Where was he? Was he alright? Then she realized: someone grasped her hand; something prodded her arm. Upon verifying the identity of Alpha Jones, Raven scolded herself for her foolishness. Why would he waste his time doing that? Her conscience was correct. Alpha Jones was not the one. Raven was unaware of the identity of the person. She saw a healer and didn’t know what they were doing with her. “What’s going on? Who are you?” “Oh, hey you’re awake. It’s okay. Your Pack sent you over with a few others. I hear you’re a patient of Healer Northman. I’m Doctor Graves, please excuse the unfortunate last name. Healer Northman is assisting with another patient’s treatment right now. I’m just here to assess you since I was informed Healer Northman left your Pack’s territory befo
Dominic watched one of the most powerful Alphas in the world shake his head after the head facilitator and doctor reported on the care of Dom’s people. Paul arrived with him; Paul stood there looking uncomfortable. It didn’t take long for Dom to learn Paul’s discomfort came from guilt. “I’m sorry Alpha Jones. I gave the facts as I know them. Your Pet withheld information that would help her treatment.” “Why would she do that?” “Loyalty is my guess.” Dr. Graves jumped in. “This member of your pack is rather concerning for me. If I see someone like this, they’re a lone wolf or rogue. They end up here because no one knows what to do with them.” Dom could feel every eye on him. “I would say it’s circumstances of her creation, but I’d be fooling myself. I can’t get her to tell me why she won’t give up on the wolf who made sure our pack would hate her. Don’t ask me to give up on her. I won’t. Before you ask, I made her my Pet because I was afra
“Dom do you know if Raven is aware that she’s your mate?” Aireka asked. She frowned at him, a little confused. “I’ll be honest. I don’t see a difference between a Pet and a slave. You’re screwed if this leaks to the human press and with human laws as they are no one will accept it. She appears sweet, but her attitude is a self-defense mechanism. It wouldn’t be there if someone stood up for her instead of making her do it alone.” The room fell silent, all eyes on Luna from the Black River Pack. She’d listened and spoke now. Her pack knew how she and her eldest pup were. They could find perspectives no one else saw, and to disregard their words was foolishness and folly. “What do you mean?” Dom asked. This he wasn’t expecting, nor did it surprise him. Aireka was an insightful she-wolf. Her human and druid blood with her early years raised as a human and later changed by Gregory’s bite and the changes caused by carrying her first pup. “She
Raven awoke with a slight start. Someone placed a kiss on her forehead. The lightness almost caused her to miss the gentle touch of the warm lips. Eyes snapped open, meeting Alpha Jones’s gaze. She yearned to gaze into his eyes, but as his Pet or an unranked wolf, she couldn’t. Raven averted her face away from him as soon as she could. “I’m sorry Alpha, and I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I’ll prepare to leave right away. She felt stronger and if she moved with slow, determined motions, she’d be ready without too much fuss. She knew he’d feel unhappy about her delaying him. “What are you talking about Pet? I haven’t commanded you to do that. Are you presuming what I want?” Alpha Jones put out his hand to stop her and keep her from leaving the hospital bed. Nothing felt right for Raven. It felt like someone had wrapped her in cotton or she felt trapped in a waking dream. It didn’t feel real and someone else controlled her actions within that dream. The
Aireka entered the room once Dr. Graves had persuaded Alpha Jones to rest. Alright, Dr. Graves had to threaten to admit Alpha Jones to the hospital if he didn’t get some rest. The lost she-wolf was clueless about her next move. Dominic, in typical Alpha fashion, was doing his own thing, unaware of how it affected his mate. She remembered Gregory deciding he’d take what he wanted before he went crazy. So, she learned about wolf shifters and became a mate within days of each other. Aireka believed she was a full human then. Oh boy, those were messy and confusing times. She still wondered how she got through it all with her sanity. “Hi, are you alone?” Aireka asked. She’d leaned her head into the room to ask this. She intended to come as a friend and equal. Raven could use one right now. She’d go with Gregory as he prepared to head back to the city. That way, he could assess the threats in person, and she could help lend her support to Rave
Raven didn’t know what to make of Luna Wolversen, Aireka, as she insisted Raven call her. She ignored all protocol and spoke to Raven like she was teaching a catch-up class in summer school. Raven assumed this since she had only movies to go by and no experience. She’d dropped out of school before graduation. No one noticed or cared. She recalled telling the Alpha’s sob to mind his own business. Now she wondered if he’d done that because he didn’t want an uneducated mate. Aireka’s words held advice, insights, and answered her whys. Raven felt a little more confident now. It helped when Aireka gave her a way to call for help from other Lunas in the area. They have a chat group. Who would’ve thought! They insisted Raven join the chat group to fix her pack issues and educate her as a Luna. Or as one Luna named April said, she’s about to write the standardized on-the-job training manual. The conversation discussed creating standardized lessons or a lesson plan for