Saving Her Broken Alpha

Chapter 5

“Aarrrrggghhhh,”

April screamed in a bloodcurdling voice. Her right shoulder and neck felt like it was literarily on fire as she fell to the floor. The pain she felt was unlike any she had ever felt before, and her wolf, Cierra, was howling as she writhed in pain. She tried to crawl to the bathroom to grab a cold towel but could not. Instead, she stayed coiled up on the floor, wondering what was happening to her. Excruciating pain radiated from the root of her hair to the very last nerves on her feet. When it became unbearable, she closed her eyes and slipped into blissful darkness.

When next she opened her eyes, it was to her alarm clock going off. She tried to stand up, but the jolt of pain on her shoulder reminded her why she had passed out on the floor. Gently pulling herself up, she sat down on her bed and tried to rally herself mentally.

“This pain can not be coming from alpha Duncan, because that would have hit me differently.” She thought.

Taking light steps, she made her way to the bathroom and muffled her scream when she saw her own reflection. Angry veins stood out prominently around the area, the flesh in that area was discoloured and swollen.

“Cierra, are you there? Do you know what this?”

Her wolf was silent. She tried to reach her again, but still no response. Feeling worried, she stepped out to look for her parents and was worried to find out that she was all alone in the house. She tried to reach them through mind link but they were out of range. Sure that someone must have poisoned her, April made her way to the clinic so that Mrs Smith could check her.

“Is everything alright with you?” Mrs smith asked as soon as she saw her.

“No,” April crocked in reply.

The older woman took her into the examination room but reeled back in shock when April took off her shirt. In all her years of practice, she had never come across such a nasty bruise. She knew exactly what it was. This is one of those things your predecessor tells you about but prays you never get to actually see. In fact, she never expected to see this during the cause of her career. She knew she had to let the young lady know what it was.

“Is your mate a member of this pack?” Mrs smith asked in a voice that could barely hide her anger.

“Talia promised not to tell anyone,” April said in a disappointed voice.

“No she did not, but the bruise on the spot where your mate's mark should be says it all.”

April’s eyes grew wide at what Mrs Smith just said.

“The pain and bruise on your shoulder say it all. The i***t did not have decency to reject you before marking another girl?”

The older woman sat down on the examination bed with April and gave her an affectionate hug. She explained that the pain and the bruise was as a result of another female wearing her mark.

“Will the bruise ever fade away?”

“Yes, it will. The moon goddess just put all these in place so that you can know what your fated mate is up to.”

Mrs Smith talked with April until her pains reduced, because there was no medication that could help her in her condition.

          ******

April left the clinic after the pain receded to a hardly noticeable dull ache and went back home. Her heart panted so hard as she looked around her room to make sure she has packed everything that she needed for her journey. There was really no need to stay back here, she thought. Especially when everyone else was so busy with their lives. From her parents to her brother, everyone was engaged with one form of assignment or the other, except for her. Even right now, her brother was at the palace with the other watchers to consult with the oracle.

After packing her things, her mind went back to the offer from the king just a little over a week ago. The summons from the king had been to offer her the position to become one of his very first emissaries. The king wanted to always have his eyes on all packs to avoid a repetition of what happened to packs such as alpha Duncan's.

She had felt honoured with that offer, especially when the king gave her a grace period to think about it. She could either accept or reject it after two weeks of giving it a thought. Thankful that her parents have given her the liberty to decide on her own, April decided to accept the position. The palace will offer her a fresh start, and she can put her sordid past behind her.

Aware that her wolf had been silent since she felt the pain, she reached out to her and was relieved when Cierra responded.

“We are going to be alright. Come tomorrow, we will leave for the palace.” April said to her counterpart as she drifted off to sleep.

          ********

Meanwhile, the next morning, things were going downhill at the crescent moon pack. Duncan paced back and forth; his hair dishevelled from running his hands through it.

“What do you mean? How can you say she will not wake up till evening? You mean she will be unconscious for a whole day?” He asked the doctor.

The young doctor who took over the clinic after his father was killed looked at his alpha and swallowed his anger.

“You marked a female that is not fated to you after meeting your mate. The least you could have done was to reject your fated mate before pursuing your chosen.”

“Do you think your alpha to be stupid?” Duncan asked, as he pulled the doctor off his feet.

The doctor apologised in a choking voice as his feet dangled. Alpha Duncan dropped him with a thud and stared back at his helpless girlfriend. The doctor took that time to straighten out the material around his collar.

“I gave her strong medication that should keep her asleep till evening. The first twenty-four hours after such a thing happen is usually the most painful for the female. She will wake up but will remain weak as long as your venom remains in her. The only way she can make full recovery is if you get your fated to reject you.”

“But I have already done that.”

“If that is the case, then she would not be here.” The doctor said, keeping his distance.

Alpha Duncan sat down on the chair beside Lily’s bed and took her pale, dainty hand in his. He felt more hurt than angry at this point. “Why is life always messing with me, can’t things just work out for me?” He thought to himself.

His eyes remained on Lily’s unresponsive body.

“I am so sorry that you are passing through all this Li. All I wanted was to make you mine, and I promise to fix this. You will be fine soon.”

Feeling restless, he stood up and left the clinic. He knew the only place that could calm him at the moment was the forest, he shifted into his wolf and took off at top speed. He ignored the branches that snagged at his fur, and ran for miles without any destination in mind.

After about an hour, he stopped and threw his head back. A sorrowful howl tore from his soul as he mourned for his past, his present and his uncertain future.

Lost in his grief, he did not notice the pair of eyes watching him from a distance.