HANNI POV
I felt him watching me long before he approached us, but I dismissed the thought as just my imagination.
Maybe because I missed him. Strangely….. maybe it's the mate's bond.. but when I caught the scent of oud, I immediately knew…he was close by, I wasn't hallucinating, he was here.
I turned back immediately and this time, I saw him, approaching us slowly, taking his time with his steps with his eyes glued at me.
"Alpha" we both said in unison when he came close enough to hear us
"Simone, how are you today?" He said, while sparing her a glance and typical Simone gave him a sharp reply, that made him twitch for a second.
I struggled to keep my face unreadable as I watched them…but inside, I was dying of laughter.
"Ok..that's my cue. I need to go check on my mate…and Hanni, if there's anything you need, send a maid to my chambers" I heard Simone say as she stood up.
"Thank you Simone" I replied, touched by her kindness for she has been nice to me.
She nodded and left, leaving me with Alfred, alone in the garden…and I sensed discomfort under his facade. But then he asked;
"How's your first shift?"
My first shift? How did he know? And then realization hit me, when I had thought I was imagining him watching me all these while—I was right. He had been watching me.
But I smiled and replied, "wanna see?"
And I ran without a care in the world with my hair loose and flying in the wind and soon he was running right beside me and then he shifted…
Wait what!? While in motion? I can't do that. I panicked and had to stop running and stood watching him leap in his wolf form—a black wolf, a huge black wolf and I immediately closed my eyes and reached out to Betty, who came out like she been waiting for this moment.
I ran towards him with my white fur flying in the wind and suddenly I saw an emotion flicker in his eyes, then he shifts back to his human form and beckons me to do the same, which I did effortlessly..
Later Betty…I said inwardly and she purred with satisfaction, having ran enough since daylight…now she needs to rest.
"Let's return back to the castle" he said, stretching out his hand to my direction and I took it hurriedly, falling in step beside him and then suddenly he asked, "how's your aunt? Have you gotten any word from her yet?"
Moon goddess!
I totally forgot about the lie! I bowed my head and fell silent wondering how he will feel if he finds out I lied to him…well I'm not ready to find out now…
"N..no" I replied in a weak voice, hoping he won't sense anything and be inquisitive, but he kept quiet and I let out a small sigh of relief wishing things will continue this way.
*******************
I was so tired by the time we entered his chambers and I prayed to the moon goddess silently, for him not to ask anymore questions but I was let down because….
"So Hanni, what do you like doing for fun?" He asked as he sat on the sofa watching me sprawled on the bed—his bed.
And then suddenly, I remembered my passion…my first love..
"I'm a physician" I said, "I enjoy healing injured or sick wolves and nursing them back to health."
I can't wait to see their healing ward, I thought excitedly..I bet it will be big and luxurious like other buildings in this park and I jotted it down in my head for it will be the first place I will see when I wake up in the morning.
But the alpha, seeing right through me said;
"We have an emergency in the clinic right now, so it's not safe for you to visit there, but we are sorting out the issue so you will be able to visit there soon."
"Emergency?" I asked, shocked "what emergency?"
And he told me…
What poison can kill a warewolf within hours? Except for wolfsbane, which is very deadly to wolves, but not in an hour?!
I remember treating a young boy back home, he suddenly fell ill and his health was deteriorating and making him gasp for air.
No symptoms, no vomit, no color change…nothing.. and it was prescribed as a poison, the poison which can kill a ware wolf in minute and it's called…"
Thee was a knock on the door and a maid walked In gingerly, with her hands hooked behind her, bowed and said;
"The council woman requests your presence, my king."
"Bring her up here" he commanded and she turned and left leaving me alone with him again.
And then turned to me and smiled.
"I'm sorry sweetling, I would have heard from you first before making that decision, I hope it's ok?" He asked, making me feel flushed.
But before I could answer, the council woman announced her presence at the hallway, making me jump out of my skin and immediately scurried into the covers and pretended I was asleep.
I heard Alfred snicker and called out for her to come in , which she does and I immediately sensed fear and worry in her features.
"Alpha" she said in greetings with her head bowed and he waved for her signaling her to continue.
"I believe the attacks are spreading to the upper region, my king" she said, "my squad confirmed a winery so close to the palace, contaminated with their drums of wine laced with poison."
I gasped silently with my eyes closed, terrified of what I had just hear. There is a poison outbreak in the city?
"Why don't we know anything about these rogues Michelle? Don't you think it's suspicious?" he asked in a deadly tone laced with anger and council woman Michelle must have known because
soon she began to shiver on her feet.
"I don't know the answer my king, for I m just a council woman and a trader" she replied, stretching out her arms helplessly.
They went silent for a minute and then he gave her instructions on what to do and he dismissed her.
I opened my eyes immediately I heard the door slam shut and I sat down, staring at him…wishing I can take away some of his pain.
"Are you ok?" I asked.
I watched him smile sadly and I felt a sharp pain in my chest for I wish I can relieve him from his troubles a little…
Then I remembered.
"I think the only poison that's deadly than wolfsbane, in fact wolfsbane is nothing compared to it because it can kill a warewolf in minutes is….crystal salt."