"Elara, we need more herbs, there are many injured in the recent clashes of pack Shadowburn." the head of this small hospital aka healing group shouted with a worried voice.
Elara stood up from her place and went to the storage room. She searched in the glass bottles, found nothing. Strange! She was sure they had stocked enough.
Frowning, she returned to the large hall where several beds were kept and many warriors laid down injured and grooming.
Tamara raised her hand toward Elara waiting for the herbs she had asked for but she got none. Frowning, she finally looked away from the patient toward the girl standing with guilt written all over her face and she sighed.
"There is none left. Right?" Elara could only nod since she could not hide it. The woman looked disappointed as she waved her hands.
"Go and bring some. We need them." Elara did not need to be told twice. She picked up a bag full of empty vessels and vials and left the pack hospital. It was near the woods so that they could easily get herbs when needed.
The dark night was illuminated by a full moon. Elara gulped and stopped herself from looking at it.
"You have work, Elara. Focus!" she pinched herself hard and entered the woods. Her eyes knew what to look for, her feet knew where to go. Even when her mind wandered toward the whispers of the dark, she reached those trees easily.
"Glisneth tree." she murmured as she touched. The petals shone silver under her touch as if the dormant beast had come alive by the touch of their master.
She smiled and rubbed its stem. The tree swayed without wind as if it was whispering secrets to her.
"I know! I am sure I have taken enough of you." she replied back with a long sigh. "But I need more now. They are getting injured daily. And something is stopping them from healing naturally." she leaned and started plucking the leaves. Once the bottle was full enough, she reached for another herb.
The tree danced under her touch bringing a smile on her face. How she wished she could be here forever. Hidden from those who want her. She tried to hide her identity. Now she wanted to get lost here.
She pushed that thought away as she shook her head and stood up. The trees swayed again, stopping her.
"I need to go. There are too many injuries." she frowned at the thought. "When they knew they could not fight against them and their injuries were abnormal, they should have stopped." she murmured to herself as she checked the herbs again when she heard someone chuckling.
Elara froze on her spot. She was not a strong wolf. But she had never missed a scent before. Her eyes widened and fear crawled beneath her skin.
What if someone had seen her talking with the trees. She had been hiding this secret since her birth. If she was caught now, she would be doomed.
"Who.. who is there?" her voice shivered with fear.
"Oh! I didn't mean to surprise you." a man with chocolate brown eyes and light brown hair came out with a smiling face. There was something soothing about him. Elara felt herself relaxing just by looking at him.
"I am Callen. Umm, if you do not know, I am the next beta of this pack." Elara laughed amused. She had seen the beta. He was an elder with cold eyes and dark face. "I heard that an apprentice healer came alone to get herbs for us. So I followed you to make sure you do not suffer. If you do not mind." he extended his hand and took the bag of herbs from her.
She watched him amused.
"That was not heavy!"
"But I need to leave a good impression after ruining the start. No?" He bowed to her like a gentleman used to do in the past. Past they have not seen each other, but she has. Her heart raced but she ignored it.
"I have never seen you before." he asked as they started walking and her heart raced for completely different reasons.
"I am rejected. Your pack gave me a chance to survive. I am thankful." she whispered softly, hiding her unease. But the man softly smiled without asking further.
"Is that why you decided to be a healer to pay us back or you enjoy plucking leaves." he paused and she followed. He stared at her face intently and heat started to rise in her chest. Her body burnt like it had caught fire.
When his hand was extended toward her, she closed her head and stopped breathing. His fingers brushed her hair lightly. The touch was gone before it came. It was nothing, yet she felt everything.
When she opened her eyes again, he was staring at her with a leaf tucked in his fingers. His eyes had that electrifying look.
"You felt that too, right? The pull?" he asked in a low voice racing her heart. He leaned again and stared into her eyes.
"We could be mates. How old are you?" the question pulled her out of her daze. Her eyes opened wide and she stared at him. He noticed the change and frowned.
"I am a legit warrior, you know." he misunderstood her but she was glad that he did.
"Alright, I will woo you slowly until you feel the bond too. For now, may I escort you back, my lady." she nodded and started walking hurriedly feeling torn.
She wanted to spend time with him but at the same time she was afraid she would give more than she should.
Callen noticed her unease and smiled.
"You know I am a good warrior. I did not get injured while fighting and I killed one of his betas." he had pride in his voice. "That man is not a wolf but a monster. He wants to overthrow the balance and rule every pack. His greed had killed so many of us."