Incident

Muffled voices and a damp, cold towel pressed to her skin woke Jordane. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, taking in the worried faces above hers.

Her mother was the first to sigh with relief, thanking the goddess before staring down at her daughter.

“You made us all panic, and for a moment, I thought I would be a grandmother.”

Jordane’s eyes widened at her mother’s claim; she immediately caught sight of Livvy, who pretended to check her nails, avoiding eye contact. 

“Well, wouldn’t that be a dream come true?” she muttered, lacing with as much sarcasm as she could, removing the cloth from her forehead. 

Jordane grunted as she pulled herself to sit up. She craned her neck to the side, peeking at the window behind her mother’s shoulder. 

Night had already fallen, and Jordane could hardly remember what had happened. She cleared her throat, eyeing Livvy pointedly. 

The latter opened her mouth to say something, but the door of Jordane’s room suddenly bursting open cut her short. 

“Thank goddess!” one of the elder wolves, Alicia, stared at Esmeralda Samael, holding her hands in prayer as a greeting before proceeding to what she had to say. “We need you at the infirmary.”

Jordane and Livvy exchanged curious glances, each shrugging as they watched the events unfold before them. 

“What happened?” Esmeralda answered, already forgetting about Jordane. 

Alicia considered Livvy and Jordane for a moment before she let out a resigned sigh.

“It’s chaos, and I have no other words to describe the situation. It’s better when you see it for yourself.”

Esmeralda turned to Jordane and Livvy.

“I don’t want to hear any more mishaps from you two.”

The two friends obediently nodded, watching the elderly women leave Jordane’s room. The door creakily closed in their wake. 

Jordane bit her lower lip and was about to open her mouth when Livvy beat her to it. 

“Let’s go,” she chirped excitedly. Jordane shook her head, grinning while she took the time to get out of bed. 

Glimpses of the vision she had earlier appeared before her, halting her progress briefly. Livvy caught on, immediately catching Jordane before she could fall. 

“Whoa,” Livvy placed a hand on Jordane’s back, supporting her. “I think you should sit this one out, Jadie.”

Jordane shook her head, closing her eyes momentarily before blowing out a determined sigh. 

“No,” she insisted. “Let’s go.”

Livvy hesitated.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Jordane replied, chasing away the thoughts about the man in her dreams. 

‘If only he didn’t look so scary and sound like a psycho pervert, that would have been a thrilling experience.’

Jordane rushed out of her room, refusing to let him invade her mind twice that day. 

“You know,” Livvy spoke, interrupting Jordane’s thoughts. The latter turned to her friend. Livvy had just closed the door to her room, looking worried. “I think this might be a bad idea.”

Jordane snorted, placing her hands on her hips. 

“And when did that thought ever stop us?”

Livvy chuckled, rolling her eyes as she threw her hands in the air. 

“Never.

“Exactly.”

–

Other than the infirmary in town, the Eastern Werewolves decided to have their own facility within the border. 

They managed to have two doctors in the pack, and most of the women helped out with assisting and tending to the patients. 

The infirmary was not usually packed as the wolves maintained a healthy lifestyle and avoided getting in trouble lest they would be punished by the Alpha.

It was then quite interesting for Jordane when her mother was called over. Esmeralda Samael’s expertise lies in being a midwife.

Jordane witnessed it a few times. Many young women had different struggles in labor. 

It was her mother who always helped out. 

A few cases were amusing as the young mother ended up shifting, her fear and the excruciating pain felt by her body forcing her wolf to come out in an attempt to protect her.

Jordane knew her mother would scold her if she learned what she thought of it. But it was one of the things that kept her distracted.

Her dreams of the man with a prominent scar had visited her more often. It was troubling, but Jordane didn’t know whom to talk to about it. 

Livvy had been a great listener, but Jordane knew her friend hardly believed any of it. She wouldn’t either if she wasn’t the one at the receiving end. 

Jordane heard a loud crunch from behind. She squinted, grateful for the amplified eyesight gifted to them by the moon goddess. She narrowed her gaze at Livvy, who mouthed sorry and tiptoed her way to join Jordane crouching by the window.

The infirmary was the former house used by the former Alphas. It had several rooms for different purposes. 

Her mother and Alicia entered the labor room. Jordane immediately heard the shrill scream of the one in pain. It was followed by a shattering of glass and a growl.

“Yikes,” Livvy commented. She and Jordane peered through the window, trying to see what was happening. 

Esmeralda wore the gloves but had yet to approach. The pregnant wolf was standing at the corner, claws out, ready to attack anyone who came near. 

Three other women were in the room, trying to calm her down. Crystal shards were scattered around her, proof of the chaos that Alicia mentioned. 

“This makes me not want to have any children at all,” Livvy added with a grimace. 

Jordane clicked her tongue, smirking.

“I would be the first person to be there when it happens, Liv,” she answered. “Don’t worry, I—”

The sound of breaking glass and the tiny crystals that suddenly fell above them, along with the cracking of the window's wooden frame, disrupted Jordane’s thoughts.

She and Livvy had to dive away to avoid getting scratched.

“Whoosh!” the figure that jumped right out ran away as quickly as possible, leaving dust and a warm gust of wind in its wake. 

Jordane got up, exchanging glances with Livvy. She turned to the broken window, catching her mother’s scrutinizing gaze. 

It only took her a while before drawing a conclusion about what happened. 

Jordane ignored her mother and turned to Livvy.

“I’ll find her. Keep my mother busy.”

“But,” Livvy started but trailed off as Jordane squeezed her hand and left. “I should come with you….”