*The name at the top of each chapter is the point of view the chapter is based on. Bold is inner wolf voices, italic text is mental links*
Sylvia:
My wolf was pushing over and over, trying to break through. I kept the wall in place, ignoring the calls from behind it and letting the headache build. The only way to drop that wall was to accept my mate, and that could not happen. I said a silent apology and let my mind focus on the pup. The pain from my wolf was constant, but that pain was nothing compared to the pain rushing through me each time they strapped another chord around Marshall's leg to straighten it out.
"He's good enough to move." I heard the voice that had called the word I hoped to never hear. The voice was deep, focused, and in command. One that was clearly used to giving orders and not being questioned.
"Thank you!" A man gave me his hand and shook it quickly. He was thin but seemed strong. "I'm his Alpha, Michael of Harvest Moon. Please let me know if there is any way I can repay you!"
This was the man responsible for the young pup being out, but the second I heard his clan I felt some of my anger disappear. Harvest wasn't exactly known for having a strong leadership line, they were rebuilding and chances are this was an Omega who finally grew into his wolf and earned his rank.
He was here because he was finally allowed by the laws, but he should have been more careful and should have been watched more carefully. I shook his hand, already pulling my energy back to bay but letting the connection to Marshall linger. "Get him to bed, my pain relief will last until he is asleep and I'd appreciate that being as soon as possible. Also, please let my boss know how he heals, if he needs another resetting just have them connect us so I can be there. He's a young pup, I don't want him to have to suffer."
"Will do! Thank you again." He waved over a few other wolves, probably the rest of his circle, and they carried Marshall and his make-shift splint out through the tent opening.
"Well, that was entertaining, but back to the party." I said sending a strong wave of relief and relaxation over the room to encourage people to go back to mingling. The music was turned back on and the circle began to close up as other employees quickly cleaned up the mess. I turned and headed for the tent exit, not wanting to talk to the wolf from earlier. He had walked with the others to put Marshall into a car, and I wanted to be gone before he got back.
POV Shift to Sinlan:
I had recognized her when she walked by, at least I thought I did, but it could just be wishful thinking. The energy read as a mortal which wouldn't make sense. The hair was so unique though, could it really be a coincidence? The scent from the elevator and earlier in the night was filling the room as she moved through it. I felt it diminish and let my eyes adjust, allowing myself to see the energy and not just the physical plane.
She was being led by the worker who had gone to get help. I watched from a distance, as she neared Sie and the young wolf. Sie was watching her intently, what had his focus? I couldn't ask him right now, the pup was in pain, and he and the woman both needed to be able to focus. I would have to be patient, I wasn't even sure she was her.
"Mate!" My wolf was telling me, he wasn't prone to being wrong. I watched her as she kept her head down, examining Marshall and then instructing Sie to move. I couldn't quite hear what was said between them over the screams and chatting going on around us. Too much interference, and from my distance lip reading was out because of people in the way. He listened to her though, and he never listened to anyone. The pup must be really hurt for him to be taking orders from someone else, especially someone we don't know.
I could see her energy beginning to expand, she was masking it before. Hiding it, but why? Once the energy grew out I could smell her scent much more intensely. It smelled like a bed of flowers caught in the bend of a river, the scent erupting in waves as the water flowed, her scent flowed with her energy rushing through me as it spread. "Mate." I whispered to myself. My wolf was right, she was my mate.
"We should go to her now!" I felt my wolf pushing to take over. I grit my teeth as I pushed to hold him back.
"Not yet, she's busy. We'll wait by the worker's tent. She'll be there soon." My wolf wasn't happy about being patient but he couldn't argue. The pup needed her help, whatever she was doing was working and the splint was being set, the pup no longer screamed.
What kind of healing gifts did she have? Was it related to why she hid her energy like that? Who was she? So many questions, patience would be my friend here. I had to have patience. I let myself out of the tent, knowing the situation was handled and would be settled without me at this point.
I walked to the employee tent and noticed her scent lingering along the way, she was the one going in between the tents. That was why I kept getting traces of her scent all evening. It was coming in with every tray of refilled drinks or food. Would Sie be okay with this? I had found my mate, he had been so sure he would find his soon. Would it upset him that I found mine tonight? He couldn't possibly forbid her from coming back with us, but what would he say? I was overanalyzing.
"Yes you are, he will be happy for us." My wolf was right, he would. I know I would have been happy for him if he'd found his mate first. I am sure he'd react the same.
POV Shift to Sylvia:
I was outside the tent and tried to take a calming breath. Instead I was hit with the first scent from the main tent again. That dew kissed early morning with a chill so distinct I could almost feel it. I wanted to stop walking, but where would I go? If he had already left Marshall's group to find me I wasn't getting rid of him easily. I'd have to officially reject him, and deal with the pain it causes after. I had no choice if he wouldn't even let me run off. "Look I know what you want, and sorry to disappoint but you won't like what I have to say."
I took the last few steps and realized the form was different, it was still tall but not quite as broad in the shoulders. His hair was different as well, it wasn't down and flowing over his arms but in a braid that was neatly tucked behind his shoulder. In the time it took me to realize that I was now within just over an arm's length of another man my mind was racing and my heart began to match its pace.
My wolf was banging on the wall, the headache forming and the pain blending in with the erupting pain most likely from Marshall being sat down in a car or truck somewhere. The man from before was probably still with him. The man from before had called me his mate, his scent had already told me that much. So what was this one doing here? Why was his scent alluring to me and making my wolf try and wake up?
He stepped into the light and I saw he had deep green eyes, much more rounded features, and caramel color to his skin clearly darkened a bit more. He wasn't the same man as before, but his scent, that dew-filled grass, cool and crisp air, refreshing and peaceful. It was different than the other man's, but it was still calling me. What was this? "Mate." He said the word I was thinking, and my heart stopped.
"No." That was all I said as I turned to walk into the employee tent absolutely refusing to deal with this right now.
"Wait!" Perfect! Just what I needed! I heard the voice from earlier calling from behind. "Sinlan, what are you doing here?"
"Silas? What are you doing here?" So now they had names, well that would make rejecting them easier.
The two stood for a moment, I was stuck between them, a few steps from the employee tent with the one called Sinlan right beside the opening and the one called Silas just a few steps behind me. They both looked at me and for the second time each called to me, "Mate." Their eyes went wide as they both looked between each other and back to me.
I put my hands up on either side of them, "No!" With that I turned and walked into the tent, leaving them both outside to deal with each other.