Ch. 141..145: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 141-145

Chapter 141

Chapter 141 Have a nice trip BECKY Much to my surprise, Mother didn’t ask any further questions. She simply tucked her long, reddish- brown hair behind her ears and smiled at Silas. If I had to guess, I would say she appeared to be pleased to have such a prestigious guest visiting. Though we’d been on our own for quite some time, she used to have friends over all the time. She loved having company. “Why don’t you come inside,” she said to Silas with a warm smile. “That would be lovely,” Silas replied, much to my dismay. He was conducting himself very politely, but I wasn’t sure that I wanted him anywhere near my mother. I wouldn’t know how to explain this to her. But, it was too late. Silas had already accepted her invitation, and Mother had already opened the door for him. As his tall frame moved past me, his cin namon and clove scent reached my nose, and my mouth watered. Dam n this attraction. I released a sigh and entered the house behind him. On a more personal note, I was scared by how he would react to our house. I doubted that Silas would feel comfortable in our small parlor, especially when you compared it to the grand Beta’s mansion. He was used to wealth beyond my wildest imagination. How would he react when he saw our threadbare floors? Our antique furniture, our mismatched plates? Usually, I didn’t care about material things or appearances, but for the first me, I felt self-conscious of my dwelling. I glanced at Silas but didn’t say anything when we entered the kitchen. As he took a look around, Mother pulled me closer and whispered just low enough for me 1/5 to hear. “Rebecca, how do you know Silas Moses?” she wondered. “He just returned to the Anemond recently,

but you seem to be friends.” “We aren’t friends,” I assured her quickly. I studied her expression and briefly considered telling her about my real relationship with Silas, but decided against it. I was too scared of her reaction, and besides, even if she took the news well, there was little she could do to help. So, I came up with another explanation. “We met at the celebration,” I continued quietly. “He was out on some business tonight, and happened to witness Frederick’s behavior, so he stepped in and offered to help. That’s all.” Mother nodded and then glanced over at him. “I’m glad to hear that,” she remarked. “He seems like a nice young man. I’m happy he was there to intervene. It sounds as if he arrived at the most opportune

moment.” “He did,” I agreed. “Why don’t you get the kettle going for our guest, sweetheart?” she suggested. “The least we could do is make him some tea.” I nodded. “Okay.” As I stayed in the kitchen, Mother escorted him to the parlor. When Silas started looking around at our house, I began to blush. “Your home looks quite cozy and comfortable,” he commented with a smile ont rs face. “Thank you again for the invitation.” I lingered on his expression and tried to read his features. His tone seemed genuine, but could he mean it? Our home wasn’t in utter shambles, but could someone of his social standing really find it to be charming? 275 “Thank you so much, Silas,” Mother replied with a smile of her own. “That’s very. kind of you to say. Please, come take a seat with me.”

Silas’ eyes glittered and he accepted Mother’s invitation without hesitation. As they sat down at the kitchen table, another shiver ran through me. This was such a strange situation. My mother and the Beta of Wegalla in the same room? What were the odds? I glanced out the window above the sink and stared at the moon. “Please let this go okay,” I whispered, intending my words of prayer for the Moon Goddess. Surely, I would need all of the help I could get if I was going to survive this. As I prepared some chamomile tea, Mother struck up a conversation with Silas and much to my surprise, he appeared much more easygoing than he had during the celebration. “How was your inspection of the border?” she wondered. “Is everything well on that front?” “It was good,” he replied kindly. “Everything is in order and there was no cause for alarm, so that was great. Between us, I have to say that I enjoyed getting to see beyond Anemond. I’d been here my whole life, so seeing the rest of Wegalla made me feel more connected to things than I had before.” “I could only imagine,” Mother noted thoughtfully. “How wonderful that you got to see the rest of Wegalla. We’ve always been here as well. I’ve always wondered what life is like in other Packs. Now that your business has concluded, do you intend on staying in Anemond for an extended period, or will you go elsewhere?” “The plan is to stay,” he said. “But there are some other matters I need to end, of course. It will all depend on what the Alpha King needs of me.” “Of course,” Mother replied seriously. The tea kettle whistled and I jumped back in surprise before removing it from 3/5 the stovetop. I’d been so engrossed in their conversation, that I hadn’t been paying attention.

he As I poured the hot water over the tea leaves, I thought about Silas’ answer. So, was planning on staying in Anemond after all? What would that mean for us? Sure, I was working in the clinic now, but with our proximity to the palace, I would likely be running into him fairly often. Luckily, my impending trip to Wild Crawler would grant me some distance. The distraction would be welcome after all of this. I carried the cups carefully to the table, and when I set them in front of Mother and Silas, they thanked me. I took a seat beside Mother and carefully sipped on my tea. They continued to talk more and more, but I remained silent, choosing to observe rather than speak. The atmosphere grew so comfortable and pleasant that she began to ask more personal questions, like if Silas was married or seeing anyone special. “Mother!” I blurted out as my cheeks grew hot. At my sudden outburst, she seemed to realize how inappropriate the question was and apologized. “I’m so sorry,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean to pry.” “It’s okay,” Silas assured her, clearly not upset in the slightest. “No, I’m not married. Maybe one day, though.” His golden eyes lingered on me, but I managed to turn away. I wasn’t in the mood to entertain games, whether they were intentional or not. Mother shifted the subject, and they continued to talk until finally, Silas glanc the clock above the door. “I should be going,” he announced, then rose from his chair and smiled at Mother. “Thank you for the tea and conversation. It was very nice of you to invite me inside.” “Of course,” Mother said with a smile. “Let us walk you to the door.” She got up and I followed suit. We led Silas to the door, and after she said goodnight to the Beta, she headed back into the kitchen, most likely to grant us some privacy. Once we were alone, my stomach twisted into knots. I wasn’t sure what to say. Thankfully, Silas broke

the silence first. Will you be on duty at the clinic next week?” he wondered, and when I frowned, he continued. “I was wanting to get a health check, but I prefer not to t the royal healers. Will you be around?” I was about to say yes and then remembered my upcoming visit to Wild. Crawler. “I might not be in Anemond next week,” I replied. “But Ca ssandra can help you out.” Silas frowned. “Where are you going?” “It’s a private matter,” I said quickly. “Private,” he repeated back. “Yes,” I said, flustered at the sudden questioning. Why did he care where I was going? My personal affairs were none of his business. Silas stared at me and then nodded. “Have a good trip,” he said simply, and without another word, he left. III

 

Chapter 142 Respect her CAS SANDRA Thankfully, obtaining permission for Becky to leave Anemond wasn’t difficult in the least. After I told Asher all about the new chemical compounds and the potential research that my assistant was planning to conduct in Wild Crawler, the Alphal King’s eyes widened, and his lips parted in surprise. “Wow,” he said. “Yes, by all means, she is welcome to go to Wild Crawler. Any bit of information she can get will be helpful. She has my permission to leave for however long she needs.” With the king’s blessing in mind, Becky went straight to work right away and packed her belongings. Marley and I advised her on the right things to wear and supplied her with warmer coats and sweaters just in case. “With it being near the border, there’s a lot of forests, so the weather is going to be a lot colder,” Marley explained as she exchanged coats with Becky. “This has a sherpa lining so it’ll keep you nice and warm.” “Thank you, Marley,” Becky thanked my friend happily. “I really appreciate it.” “Of course,” Marley replied with a wave of her hand. “It’s no big deal, honestly. Just can’t have you freeze to death out there.” Becky giggled. “I appreciate it.” Once she was all packed, we helped her gather her luggage up and bring it to the front of her mother’s house. Jane watched us carry her suitcase and studied us with a look somewhere between concerned and curious. “Cas sandra?” she prompted me, and she waved me over to where she was ated in the parlor. I glanced at Becky, who was lost in conversation with Marley, and then walked O 1/5 “Yes?” I wondered. Jane seemed hesitant for a moment and then gave me a worried smile.

“Is my Becky going to be safe in Wild Crawler?” she asked me quietly. “She’s never left Anemond before. I’m a little nervous for her. I know she can handle herself, of course, but I’m her mother.” “Your nervousness is totally valid,” I assured her. “Any mother would be worried about their child leaving for the first time. But she’s going to be perfectly safe there. It’s a quiet Pack, full of a lot of good people. They’re going to take care of her, Jar I promise.”

Jane began to nod in relief, and then she touched my arm gently. “Thank you, dear,” she said. “I appreciate it.” “Of course,” I replied. Becky’s mother may have been insistent when it came to her daughter’s future as a wife, but she was still very kind and understanding. She clearly cared for Becky. Finally, after her luggage was handled and she said goodbye to her mother, Marley and I escorted Becky to the town square, where a car and a guard were waiting for her. As the guard loaded up her luggage, we both gave her huge hugs and then she got into the car. Becky waved to us as the car drove away, and once it was gone, Marley and I turned back to walk back to the clinic. But before we could leave, Silas Moses appeared, almost out of nowhere. His golden eyes were fixed on the car as it drove off, and once it was gone, he turned to “Cas sandra Keller?” he asked politely. “May I have a word?” I stared back at him in surprise and then glanced at Marley. My friend looked < 2/5 just as shocked to see the Beta as I was. “I have something important I’d like to discuss with you, Cas sandra,” Silas continued as Marley suddenly shot daggers at him with her eyes. Her mouth had drawn into a thin line and her irritation radiated from her. She clearly disliked Silas, not that I could blame her. I wasn’t a huge fan of himself given the circumstances. I stood there for a moment and debated my next move, but ultimately decided that speaking with him

was the best option. Though I was no longer in the palace, I was still a royal healer and needed to be polite with the upper-class members of Anemond. “Okay,” I said. “We can step over here.” I then turned to Marley. “Wait for me at the clinic?” My friend continued to stare at Silas but nodded her head. “Fine,” she remarked. “I’ll see you in a little while.” was one She offered Silas one last glare and then left. Once she Silas led me over to a nearby bench beneath a large tree. We sat down, and nervousness rose within me. What did he want? “So, where is Becky going?” Silas broke the silence finally. “She’s going to the Wild Crawler Pack,” I explained shortly. “She has some business to attend to.” “Wild Crawler,” he repeated back. “Is that your hometown?” I was a little taken aback but I nodded. “M/ sister told me so,” he explained. Adalyn. Of course, she had told Silas all about me. The mere thought of her made me a bit uneasy. Though Silas conducted himself politely, he was still a Moses. ||| 3/5 Could I trust him? Silas seemed to pick up on my concern right away and smiled at me. “I’m not here to spy on you or intercept information on her behalf,” he assured me. “Although that’s what she wants. I’m not her pawn, Cas sandra, I swear.” “Then why are you here?” I asked directly. But before he could respond, I realized the reason. He was here because of Becky. He was actually concerned about her. “Is Wild Crawler a safe place?” he wondered quietly.

I laughed lightly. “There are hardly any safer places in Wegalla than Wild Crawler. She’s going to be perfectly fine.” As Silas nodded, I lowered my voice. “Why didn’t you come over when we were saying goodbye?” I asked gently. “I didn’t think she would want to see me,” he replied. As his expression saddened, I was reminded of what had happened during the celebration, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out the question we’d all be wondering. “Do you truly like her, Silas?” The Beta nodded again without hesitation. “She’s all I can think about. Not being around her… it’s awful. The pull is irresistible. I can’t explain it. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. Lunderstood him immediately. I knew that feeling all too well. When Asher and I from him Every sally † Addyn was trying to investor bunnen, but I decided the if tough strong-willed get Dot push her but prove that prou care for fact from Sac express that he understand ght by tecky ( deserved especially if Adalyn was trying to involve herself in our business, but I decided the best course of action was to give him a little advice from someone who’d been in this position before. “If you want to be with her, you need to respect her,” I emphasized. “She’s at tough strong-willed girl. Don’t push her, but prove to her that you care for her.” We fell into silence, but I knew from Silas’ expression that he understood. bet All I could hope was that he would do right by Becky and be the man she

deserved. 55

 

Chapter 143 Something different CAS SANDRA Later that day, Lancel accompanied me to the dungeon to check on Spi ke’s progress. Between the celebration, the opening of the clinic, and all of the other events. of late, I hadn’t stopped in to visit the imposter in a while. I had no idea where he was at with his research and wanted to compare it to what Becky had been working on. There was bound to be overlap, and hopefully, we were coming close to progress. If we could help heal the people of Wild Crawler as well as the man that I loved… there could be a real improvement in the state of Wegalla. I could finally put to rest the years of countless research and focus my efforts on other things, like my relationship with the Alpha King. As Lancel and I descended the staircase to the dungeon, the awkwardness between us grew. Asher’s most trusted guard said little and seemed even more reserved than usual as we walked. I knew he was unhappy with the Alpha King’s decision to let an imposter and criminal conduct such important research, but there was no other choice. Whatever Asher ordered was absolute, so Lancel had no choice but to honor it. I could admire his dedication to his Alpha, but I wished that he could lighten up round me and let his guard down, so to speak. Lancel and I had spent plenty of ime in close proximity with one another. Why was he still so on edge in my presence? Did he suspect my true identity? 1/5 aimer

Was there mistrust there? It was hard to say. But by the time we reached the dungeon, I cast those questions aside. There were more pressing matters to attend to. My relationship with Lancel could wait.

“I’ll be over here,” Lancel announced gruffly, and he stood like a statue just beyond the cells. “Call if something is awry. If he tries anything funny-” “You’ll be the first to know,” I assured him. Lancel offered me a single nod, and then I walked down the hall until I reached Spi ke’s cell. Spi ke seemed exceptionally focused today. His dark eyes were narrowed behind his safety goggles, and his gaze was hyper-focused on the beaker in front of him. I tried to tread lightly to not disturb him, but when I approached the bars of his cell to see what he was doing, the man let out a huff and cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry,” I apologized quickly. “Fine,” Spi k e replied, but he cast his beaker back down on the ground. “You shouldn’t sneak up on someone mid-experiment.” “I’m sorry,” I emphasized again, and then I gestured down at the beaker. “What happened?” ” I was close to being successful,” he murmured, and then he huffed again. “So very close.” frowned. “What were you close to succeeding?” “I’ve been trying to recreate a poison,” he explained, his voice weary and tired. “I was suspecting that the disease was initially caused by a chronic poison. However, I failed to replicate it. Something isn’t right.” 2/5 As Spi ke’s revelation sunk in, I nodded my head in response. I hadn’t expected progress so soon. This was likely great news and could be a massive help to us. “Could you attempt it again?” I wondered. “Again?” Spi ke repeated back and then, much to my dismay, he shook his head dejectedly. “No, this

attempt was my last idea. I don’t have any further inspiration on the matter.” I was puzzled by his answer and took a step closer. “I don’t understand,” I admitted as my brow furrowed. “What do you mean by that?” Spi ke took a deep breath and stepped away from his table full of scientific equipment and data. “When I examined the coroner’s report, I was confident we were dealing with a chronic poison,” he elaborated as he crossed his arms against his chest and approached the bars. “However, this blood sample appears to be slightly different. I believe this discrepancy was because the sample I used today and the others I tried before came from different individuals, which could explain the differing test results. Consequently, I attempted to conduct experiments based on this assumption… but I failed.” He released a heavy sigh. “There are two potential explanations for the failure. Either my initial research direction was wrong, or the person who provided the blood sample had a similar, yet subtly different disease.” “A different disease?” I asked in surprise. Spi ke nodded. “I believe I might have been mistaken from the beginning because I wasn’t aware that the blood sample was taken from the Alpha King. I had assumed both of the samples came from a different source, but clearly, that wasn’t the case.” I was taken aback by his answer. 3/5 I understood what he was implying, and realized the problem moments later. I didn’t think Spi ke was initially wrong and knew in the back of my mind that it was possible that the disease Asher had was different than the one prevalent in Wild Crawler. But I hadn’t given it too much thought out of fear of the truth. If Asher’s disease was different… what

could that mean? I cast those worries aside at once. Though he was correct, I couldn’t let him know that the blood sample had in fact come from Asher. No one, aside from me, could know that the Alpha King was ill. It was an ironclad secret that I had no intention of sharing. So, I simply rolled my shoulders back and smiled. “Don’t lose hope,” I assured him calmly. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for all of this. Just run the samples again. I’m sure they’re similar.” Spi ke didn’t seem convinced. His dark eyes studied me for a moment, but my gaze didn’t waver. Finally, he offered me a strange smile. “Sure,” he said, and a chill ran through me. “Perhaps I’m wrong after all.” He picked his goggles up again and placed them on his head, and then he returned to his work. I lingered there for a minute more and then headed back down the hallway. Once I reached Lancel, the guard studied me, and then we began our ascent up the stairs. “Is Asher in the palace?” I asked him. “The Alpha is visiting soldiers who have returned from the border with Silas Moses,” he answered formally. His eyes were distant, and his mind was clearly preoccupied. “I’ll wait for him in his study then,” I decided. 475 Lancel accompanied me up the winding stairs silently. Though we exchanged no words, the silence was heavy. Once we reached the corridor outside of the study, Lancel stopped in his tracks and looked around. Luckily, we were entirely alone, so there was no one to overhear us. I stopped with him and frowned as the guard leaned in closely. “Miss Cas sandra, did the criminal speak the truth?” he asked softly. “Was the blood sample from the Alpha?”

I was surprised by his question. I knew that Asher trusted Lancel with his life, yet he didn’t know. When I confirmed it with a nod, Lancel sighed. “I’m concerned about the danger of all of this,” he remarked. “Giving a criminal his blood… I don’t think this is the best idea.” “I know,” I agreed. “But bringing a patient from Wild Crawler to Anemond would attract too much attention. No one here can know about the disease, not yet anyway.” I half-expected Lancel to protest or say something against me, but instead, he sighed again. “I hope you can keep the Alpha safe, Miss Cas sandra,” he said quietly. “I understand the severity of the disease. I hope you can find a cure quickly.” The sincerity in Lancel’s eyes left me stunned and gave me the sense that maybe Asher’s most loyal guard was starting to trust me after all. I smiled at him. “I promise I’ll do everything I can, Lancel.”

 

Chapter 144 Worse situation BECKY As the car drove on, I watched in wonder as the tall buildings and bustling streets dwindled. Once we were outside the city limits of Anemond, I was surprised to see the sheer amount of trees and wooded lands. I’d always lived in the capital. This was my first time visiting a different Pack in Wegalla, and while I was nervous to travel somewhere new, I had to admit that I was excited about the adventure of it all. Sure, I had research to do, but the experience of leaving the capital and seeing how other people lived their lives elsewhere was incredible. We continued on for a few hours until finally, we reached a place that was nothing but wooded areas. I saw a single sign, weathered by the elements that read: Wild Crawler. We were here at last. The car entered a small road with tall, evergreen trees on both sides and continued until we reached a tall, relatively large house. While it wasn’t nearly as grand as some of the luxurious mansions I’d seen in Anemond, it appeared to be the largest one here. Outside, it bore a sign with a Pack symbol on it, which told me it was likely the Pack House of the Wild Crawler Pack. The car came to a stop, and I took a long, deep breath. Two handsome men stood waiting at the gate in front of the house. As I exited the car and bid farewell to the guard who had driven me there, the nen approached me and offered me twin smiles. “Are you Becky?” the taller one asked, and for a moment, I was taken aback. He was one of the most beautiful men I’d ever seen. His hair was black with a tint of blue, and his eyes were large and dark. His slender but muscular frame was covered 1/4 in intricate tattoos. I nodded, and he extended his hand toward me.

“My name is Rayden,” he introduced himself. “I’m the Wild Crawler Pack’s new Alpha. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “And I’m Jasper,” the other one smiled at me when he finished speaking. “I’m one of the guards who works for the Alpha family.” “It’s very nice to meet you both,” I said as I smiled between them. “I don’t know how much was said about my visit, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here.” “Cas sandra didn’t say much,” Rayden admitted, and he crossed his arms against his chest. “Something about medical research?” I nodded. “Yes. We’ve been working on some research in Anemond, and I think. some of the patients here could give me insight that would be vital to my theories.” Rayden and Jasper nodded in unison. “We’ve prepared a room for you in the Pack House,” the Alpha said, and he gestured toward the house. “Do you want to take some time to rest before discussing business, Becky? I know it was a long trip for you.” I smiled. “That’s very kind of you to offer. Thank you for your hospitality. But I think I’m alright. I’m not as tired as I thought I’d be. Would it be possible for me to visit Cas sandra and Marley’s clinic first?” “Of course,” Rayden replied with no hesitation, and then he turned to a se rvant standing not too far away. “Please take Miss Becky’s luggage to her room.” The ser vant nodded and swooped in and grabbed my luggage before I could think twice about it. I held on to the bag with my medical equipment and research papers, but the rest went with the young man. “I need to attend to some Pack matters, but I will join you for lunch,” Rayden said when he turned back to me. “Jasper can escort you to the clinic.” 2/4 “Perfect,” I said. “Thank you again for your hospitality. I really appreciate you letting me stay here, Alpha Rayden.” “Of course, Becky,” he replied, and he tucked his dark hair behind his ear. “Any friend of Cas sandra and Marley’s is a friend of mine.”

His tone was incredibly kind, and for a moment, I felt a little strange. I wasn’t sure if it was jealousy, but thinking of Cas sandra and Marley living here rather than Anemond made me feel odd. I wasn’t sure of the circumstances of why Cas sandra had come to the capital, but I couldn’t imagine why someone would want to leave a peaceful place like Wild Crawler to come to live at the palace. I snapped out of it when Rayden bid us a quick farewell, and without another moment of hesitation, Jasper and I began the walk to the clinic. The guard and I were silent for the first few minutes, and then I decided to make some small talk. “So, what’s the current situation with the clinic?” I wondered. Jasper offered me a sad expression. “It’s in rough shape,” he admitted, and his eyes were weary as they met mine. “And it’s filled with patients that are in pretty poor condition. I would advise you to prepare for what you’re about to witness. It isn’t pretty.” I nodded and tried to push aside my feelings of nervousness. If I was going to be a true royal healer, I needed to steady myself and get used to things like this. After a minute, Jasper spoke again. “How… how is Marley doing in Anemond?” he wondered. “Is she alright?” I smiled. “She’s doing well. It’s been busy, but she seems to be enjoying her me in Anemond.” “Good,” he remarked, and after a second of hesitation, he glanced down at the ground. “When is she planning to return to Wild Crawler?” I noticed a slight blush on his face when he asked, and I couldn’t help but smile 3/4 to myself. “Marley will likely return when I go back,” I replied. “She was originally going to come back a few days from now, but wanted to make sure Cas sandra had some extra assistance at Keller’s while I was gone.” Jasper simply nodded. I fought back a small giggle. It was clear the guard cared about Marley. Once we reached the clinic, I was surprised to see that it was bustling with activity. People hurriedly

moved in and out, and once we reached the door, I couldn’t help but shiver. Just as Jasper had warned, this was pure chaos. The guard held the door open to me, and once he did, I immediately raised t. sleeve of my coat over my nose and mouth. There was a foul odor in the air that lingered in the air, and it was almost enough to send me to my knees. Cries and groans echoed around us, and when we entered the clinic, my jaw nearly dropped. Jasper’s warning had not been an exaggeration. This was a dire situation, one that we had all underestimated back in Anemond. The clinic was much smaller than Keller’s, and it was clear that there weren’t enough wards to accommodate the sheer amount of patients. Beds lined the corridor, and all were filled. There wasn’t a single vacancy in the place. Some patients appeared to be in excruciating pain, and their whimpers and cries were nightmare- inducing. As I glanced around and studied them, a shiver +aveled through me. Each of these sad, ailing patients had horrific black marks on their skin. BECKY

Chapter 145 Mess in the clinic I stood there in shock for a moment as I tried to comprehend it all. The marks… the deep black marks… they stood out in the sea of pale skin, and I knew the image of so many people painted with those terrifying lines would haunt me forever. It was like something out of a nightmare. Why hadn’t Marley or Cas sandra talked about them? An old woman in the corner waved her hands above her head and I refocused after a moment of fear. “Help,” she called out, but no one around her seemed to notice amidst the clinic’s noisy commotion. I wasn’t sure who she was trying to reach, but I was here now, so I rushed over to her and Jasper followed suit. When we arrived at her bedside, I noticed at once that the old woman was having difficulty breathing. The sounds that escaped her mouth sounded pained, and her chest heaved a little as she whimpered. “Young lady, where’s the healer?” the woman asked as her cloudy brown eyes stared into mine with distress. I turned to Jasper, and the guard began to scan the area. “I’ll be right back,” he murmured, and then he ran over to one of the rooms. When he returned, a young man was with him.

He appeared to be around my age, with wavy reddish blonde hair, sky-blue eyes, and a freckled complexion. He wore a pair of thick dark glasses, and a labcoat and gloves. “Becky, this is Dic kson,” Jasper introduced us. “He was one of the healers sent by the Alpha King after Cas s andra was taken to Anemond. He’s currently in charge 1/4 of the clinic. Dic kson, this is Becky. She’s a healer from Anemond.” “Nice to meet you,” I nodded at the man. Despite him being from Anemond, I’d never seen him before. At first, Dic kson’s expression seemed neutral enough, but from the way his eyebrows creased

together, it was clear he was a little irritated. “Nice to meet you,” he managed, and then he turned to Jasper. “What’s going on? What’s the matter?” “This woman is having difficulty breathing,” I explained as I gestured at the older lady. “She needs a ventilator.” I then glanced around at the clinic full of people, and an agitated statement burst out of me. “Why are so many patients going without proper care?” Dic kson’s eyes darkened and trailed over me. “There’s a shortage of ventilators,” he huffed. “And healers for that matter. If your want to find a spare ventilator, you’re going to have to search for one yourself. If you think the patients need an additional healer, be my guest. I’m too tied up to deal with this right now.” Before I could even open my mouth to argue, Dic kson turned on his heels and left the room. As anger swelled in my belly, I contemplated pursuing him, but Jasper intervened and placed a hand gently on my arm to stop me. “Don’t,” he said quietly as he shook his head. “I know, trust me. But Dic kson was the only one willing to stay, and he’s exhausted and overworked. Pay him no mind. I can lead you to the device room to look for a ventilator.” Jasper’s eyes were kind and his expression was apologetic. I was still irritated with the way Dic kson had spoken to me, but at the end of the day, I wasn’t here to be his friend. I was here to help with patients. So, I nodded and followed Jasper down the corridor. The device room was in shambles. It was clear that Dic kson really was exhausted and that the Pack was short on medical supplies. Empty boxes were everywhere. Shelves were completely bare, and what little remained was admittedly pathetic. Jasper and I searched the room for a little while until finally, I discovered a ventilator in an old, dusty box tucked away in a supply closet. I cleaned it up using a spare rag near the sink in the corner of the room, and once it was at least passable, Jasper and I went back into the corridor and brought it over to

the old woman. As I got it set up, her cloudy eyes turned grateful. “Thank you, miss,” she thanked me. “Your kindness means the world to me.” “It’s the least I can do,” I assured her. I got her h ooked up to the device, and after a little while, her breathing started to grow normal. I lingered at her bedside until I knew that everything was working properly, and then glanced around the room. As I surveyed the patients, I couldn’t quite articulate my feelings. The situation was much worse than I’d expected. “How is the clinic even functioning with so few healers?” I asked Jasper. The guard sighed. “Occasionally, I come to assist and some other guards and ser vants from the Pack House do as well. We offer as much support as we can. But these days… it’s getting harder and harder. We need more help.” “What about the other healers from Anemond?” I wondered. “You mentioned Dic kson was from there, but didn’t the Alpha King send others in Cas sandra’s stead?” Jasper sighed again and shook his head. “They left,” he explained dejectedly. “The disease is now widespread and affecting an increasing number of villagers. The healers from Anemond couldn’t handle it and didn’t want to risk getting infected.” I nodded as I soaked it all in. How cowardly. Though, I couldn’t blame them. 3/4