A loud knock sounded from my door when I finally zipped my suitcase close. The last night's event was exhausting and with almost no sleep at all. After the confrontation with Atlas, I drifted to restless sleep and woke up in the middle of the night because of hunger. I dare not venture outside. I don't want to meet any member of Atlas's pack. Instead, I packed all my things with difficulty.
My wrist was in an angry shade of red. The injury had worsened last night, and now I couldn't move it much. I walked in my door's direction and flung it open. The pack doctor's solemn face meets my gaze. I couldn't thank Atlas in my mind even if I wanted to, even he sent this doctor to me. My parents taught me better than this. It would be rude of me to send this doctor away, so I let him in, offering my swollen wrist.
When Hans saw it, he shook his head in dismay. It was good that he did not make his concerns heard, and gets on with his job. It did not take long. My wrist was already fixed and back in a comfortable sling.
"Please, avoid any more movements, Luna." the gentle voice of the doctor made me look at him. I almost scoffed at what he said but held it in. I assumed a blank face.
"I am not your Luna. Atlas would attest to that." checking my sling, I nodded in appreciation. It does not hurt much anymore. "Thank you," I granted Hans a fixed smile, and he bowed at me before leaving.
"You ready to go?" Kalix appeared in my door frame. The bag was already slung across his back, heavy and full. He is ready to leave without asking me about last night.
I shake my head sideways. There's something I need to do first. "Do you know where the infirmary is?" I asked him, and he nodded in affirmation.
"Do you want to go now? Are you sure about this?" it's right of Kalix to be worried since what I'm going to do is a spur of the moment thing. I haven't to Alpha Cedric about my plan. Arabella might oppose the idea of going with me back to my pack. Everything might not be in my favor, but at least I would try my best to talk to her.
"I'm sure about this Kalix. Please, let's go to the infirmary." Kalix is serious today. There's no charming smile and dramatic flairs. He is quiet just like yesterday. He leads the way to the infirmary. I silently followed him while secretly hoping not to meet any of the pack members.
My hope crashed yet again.
A couple of steps was coming our way. I steeled my nerves. I don't really have time for this. The fastest way I could leave this pack, the better. A couple of steps turned out to be a pair of ones.
"Luna," that soft voice, I whipped my head back and saw Dion's hesitant face. With the incident yesterday, I no longer know how to deal with these people properly. I was heartless with my words and intended to hurt. No one would want that.
"Don't call me Luna. I am not your Luna. Tell all of your packmates I am not going to be your Luna. Never will be."
"He is our ride today. Don't make it too hard for him." there was a little mischief in Kalix's voice. It lightened my mood a little. At the same time, it made me a little guilty.
"Let's just visit Arabella," I sighed, I'm exhausted and hungry.
"Lu--" a glaring look. "Mavis, about your plan of bringing Arabella with you back in your pack. Will you also please consider taking me with you?" it might have taken all of Dion's courage to say those words to me. Nonetheless, It doesn't matter since my jaw was all the way down to the marble floor. Even Kalix was wide-eye as he stared at Dion.
What's up with him now? "Do you mean a vacation in my pack?" I clarified, and the shy man gently shook his head.
"Stay in your pack, Luna," he explained. I didn't even correct him because my mind couldn't digest what was happening in this pack at all. Why is everyone seems eager to leave?
"I-I'm like Arabella, in a way." he set about, but he didn't need to tell me the entire thing. Tears run down my cheeks in anger without warning. I flew right into Dion's arms and hugged the life out of him.
"There's a lot of us here. If it's not a burden, please take me with you." that trembling voice tore my heart open. The more I know about this pack, is the more my dislike for Atlas grew.
"If you're sure," I mumbled into his chest. Alpha Cedric might be surprised by my move, but I know he'll understand. The problem is how I'm going to tell my Alpha about my relationship with these people. If they're going with me back to my pack, then they would be my responsibility.
"Kalix?" I turned to the once silent man. He is observing everything.
Kalix gave me a nod. "I can always use some extra hands in my shop."
A grateful smile brightened Dion's face. He also stood a little taller, like a burden lifted off of his shoulders.
~
The three of us reached the infirmary in solemn silence. Each one of us is deep into our thoughts. Before I went in, I heaved a deep sigh and opened the door.
The first thing that caught my attention was the IV line connected to the back of Arabella's hand. The woman itself is sleeping peacefully on a hospital bed. The sage-colored sheets made it looks like there was nothing wrong with her. It looked like she was home and asleep. The only gave away was the IV line and her deathly pale face.
"Why is she still lying here? She's supposed to be up and about." I murmured in worry.
The werewolf healing ability is no joke. I could recall the stories I had heard from Reggie before. Our healing ability is superior to that of humans. The government experimented on thousands of werewolves during the height of the war. They wanted to have our healing ability and our strength. Plenty of people wanted to covet our abilities, but it was for naught.
Our abilities were that outstanding. We can easily heal minor abrasions in a minute like it was nothing. So, why the hell is Arabella still lying in this bed with machines connected to her? The confusion marred my face.
"We can't leave today if Arabella's still like this." that was Kalix. He is right. I can't leave without talking to this woman first. We look at Dion for an answer. The glossy eyes tell us that he's in a link with someone. We waited.
Dion, still hesitant, glances at us after he linked someone. "What is it?" I demanded. The poor man looks alarmed from the sternness of my voice.
"She took a concoction to slow down her healing," Dion answered quietly.
I clenched my fist in dread. What Dion said answered my question back in the forest. I stared at Arabella's peaceful face. She must have been desperate. All those years of pain and pretentions must have taken a toll.
"Did they know what concoction she took?" I softly asked, but Dion shook his head. Arabella made a concoction that would be lethal to the werewolf kind. If this news got out of hand, then the other packs would be clamoring for an explanation. They would have to investigate everything. No one wants to be reminded of the reason why they made the concoction in desperation themselves.
"This information should not be relayed outside. I need to talk to Atlas. We can't leave Arabella here." I turned to Dion. "Do you know where he is?"
"Around this time, he is still in his office. Let me lead you to him, Luna." I give him a reprimanding look. "Mavis," he mumbled.
"Please," I replied.
"I'll go back to your room to drop my bag. I'd probably wait there. I'll get us breakfast too." Kalix takes the initiative, and I thank him for it. I want to avoid bumping with more werewolves at this time, if possible.
"Thank you," and Dion led me to wherever Atlas's office was. I walked beside Dion, staring up at his face.
"Do you mind if I asked where your mate is?" I saw how Dion's blank eyes were tinge with illuminating pain. It disappears in a flash. I thought he would not answer it, but his voice broke the silence after a few moments.
"She lives here. She's married." A series of expletives that appeared in my mind was all for Atlas. I get it. I get it that he wanted to be happy. I get that he wanted to make sure his pack got the freedom to choose whomever they wanted to spend their lives with. I get it.
"Why did you not leave this place long before?" I added.
"I was being stupid and waited for her. She told me to wait and that it's not going to take forever." Dion's voice was laced with pain. I grasp his hand. I hope it soothes him a little. I couldn't fathom how these people were able to get on with their days while they playhouse with their lovers.
"Did she reject you? Did you tell anyone?" I softly asked, gripping his big tight. My left hand couldn't hold his hand tighter, but I hope it reached him, my sincerity.
A subtle shake of Dion's head made me grit my teeth, "I couldn't bother anyone when they're also busy with their lives. She's a werewolf, Luna. She wanted to reject me first, but I begged her. Carly was already in a relationship at that time. I begged her to give me a chance," His distressed voice crumpled my heart.
"She did give me a chance, but she planned her wedding. I respected it and agreed to the rejection. This time she is the one who doesn't want the rejection. She told me to wait," I stopped walking and envelope the shy man in a hug. I felt his shoulders shake.
I flung one of the doors in the hallway and was lucky that the room was empty. From the cushions and tables strewn about, it's a lounge area.
I push Dion to sit on one of the long couches. The poor man hides his face in his hands. Muffled cries were mingled with silent tears as it wettens his scrunched face. I let him cry it out while I murmur words of acknowledgment and praises. It seems like the emotions from yesterday didn't completely die out.
I keep stroking his hair as he whimpers in his hands. Witnessing grown men cry their hearts out was weakening. How long did he bottle these emotions? They're close to losing it.
"I waited for years, Luna. She would visit me for days and disappear for weeks. One time she disappeared for more than a month. She came back married and pregnant." the silence following Dion's statement was deafening.
"Where was Atlas when all of this happened?" I wiped his tear-stained face. He looks so pitiful with his lashes wet and eyes rimmed red. How could someone hurt this kind man?
"Alpha was busy with making sure that Luke was accepted by the pack, Luna. She rejected me, and I gave her the Assent after she gave birth." that fucking woman.
A pause.
"You stay here, link your Alpha to meet me outside of his office," I said with my voice, unforgiving.
"Are you sure, Luna? You'll just have to walk straight from here. I'll let Alpha know right away," he waited for my signal before his eyes appeared glossy. He nods at me after. I patted his hair.
"I'll be back for you, but you need to stop calling me Luna back at my pack Dion." with these words, I left him alone and closed the door after me.
I don't want to confront Atlas again, but he was right. He was right when he told me that it wasn't over yet. We fought yesterday about his negligence and his priority. Now, we need to get down to business.
Ahead of me, I saw Atlas standing in the hallway. His gorgeous face was marked with exhaustion. Like me, he didn't get a good night's sleep.
"Mavis--"
"Inside," I flipped his office's door opened.
The office is massive and stylish. There's a beautiful piece of a bookshelf on the right side of the office. I'm sure Kalix would love this piece. It's filled with a variety of books and pictures. One of the pictures caught my gaze. I scoff yet again. It's a picture of him with his hair long, back-hugging a beaming Luke looking at the camera like the world was under his feet.
"Mavis--" I glance at the table in the center of the office and find Luke comfortably sitting on Atlas's chair.
"Get out," my hard voice resonated in the silent office room. Luke's mouth open and close in astonishment.
"Mavis--" the warning in Atlas voice went unheard.
"Don't make me repeat myself," Atlas grabbed my arm to reprimand me. I shook his hand off my person. Thank heavens, Luke stood up and slowly walked out of the office. Right after Luke stepped out of the room, I called him.
"Oh, and Luke, our deals over." I shut the door on his terrified face.