EVELARA
The day in the capital of Valtherion was way different than Shadowfang. The way people were treated was noticeably colder and more severe than what I had grown used to within the Silverfang Pack.
I didn't mind though. Even if my start was scratchy and bumpy, it's still my dream and I am living it. I am part of the Royal Healing Program and I hope, in the end, I could become a permanent member as well.
'Yeah, no need to think about any junk!' Dravara growled proudly. 'We're meant to heal and we'll do so.'
'We have survived worse than classrooms and hospitals'
"True," I quietly expressed my thoughts as I approached the imposing structure of Valtherion Central Hospital.
It was truly magnificent, with columns of white stone, gilded doors shimmering in the morning light, and banners bearing the royal crest waving above. It all exuded authority and perfection, serving as a constant reminder that I was far removed from the familiar life I had once known.
"There you are!" A voice broke through my thoughts, forcing my eyes upward.
It was Carolina, my auburn-haired roommate. She hurried toward me, arms full of books, her brown eyes bright despite the dark circles under them-lack of sleep.
"Wow, you're out faster than I imagined." She whispered, watching me with slightly worried eyes. "Is everything alright? I mean, how was Alpha Supreme?"
I chuckled softly, although the mention of the title ruined my mood again. "Everything's fine," I answered shortly.
I wanted to avoid him and his topic. I didn't want to remember the sharpness of his eyes, the weight of his judgment trying to corner me like I was nothing.
But, Carolina didn't let me off the hook. "Honestly, Evelara, the way you spoke to him? If it were me, I would have fainted the moment I was summoned."
"I didn't feel brave," I admitted, staring at my feet. "I just-couldn't stay silent. He treated me like dirt when I only wanted to save a child."
"Besides, I didn't even know who he was."
"Wait-" Her eyes widened. "You mean, you didn't realise he was the Alpha Supreme?" She gasped out. "Did you not even feel the pressure of his presence and your wolf's urge for submission?"
I blinked, "umm-not really."
"Probably because I was too overwhelmed and concentrating on the child, so." I gave a small smile.
I glanced at Dravara, who was sitting in her place in my mind. She was quiet, not reacting to Carolina's words. And honestly, it's not new. Dravara has an attitude like Alpha herself, and she's different from other regular wolves as well.
We never really shifted either. She always says, 'When the time comes.' I don't know exactly when, though.
"Still, you impressed me." Carolina's words snapped me out of my thoughts again. "You don't even know how much." Her hand brushed my arm assuringly.
Her words evoked a warm feeling within me. For the first time since departing Silverfang, I experienced a sense of belonging.
__________
Inside the hospital, chaos hummed like a living being. The scent of antiseptics mixed with bitter wolfsbane and medicinal herbs. Nurses and healers in pristine coats hurried past with trays and files, their voices overlapping in brief, urgent exchanges.
We gathered in the lobby with the other candidates, Kieran, Dahlia, and Rowan. Each one carried themselves differently, but all of us had the same tight set to our jaws. We were chosen, yes, but chosen only meant we would be tested harder.
Dean Halden's presence was quite imposing, with her silver-streaked hair and piercing gaze seemingly capable of quieting any whisper.
"You were selected because you have promising qualities," she said without any appreciation lingering in her voice. "But quality doesn't save lives; precision does. Calm does. Today, you'll prove you have them, or you'll be discarded."
She didn't wait for a response though, she turned around and hurried her steps. We followed her straight into the Emergency Wing.
The moment the doors opened, sound crashed into me. Shouts, groans, the metallic tang of blood, the harsh crackle of cauterizing spells. Stretchers rolled in one after another, wolves half-dead, some missing limbs, some coughing up blood. Well, nothing new to me, but Shadowfang wasn't this aggressive either.
"Rogue ambush," a nurse muttered as she passed. "Border Patrol. We're swamped-move!" She bit out.
Dean Halden's eyes landed on me and Carolina. "Station three with me."
And my pulse throbbed into a pace I never knew existed. Because 'section three' in the emergency wing was always a section full of dread and trauma.
And I was right. The section had high-class warriors with traumatic injuries. His thigh looked shredded, the torn flesh barely clinging to the broken bone. His breathing rattled, eyes red, and almost giving up.
"Pressure now!" I snapped before I thought, already reaching for gauze.
Carolina was startled but soon obliged. I worked faster. Cleaning his wounds, I stitched and then wrapped and sealed them with a poultice. The blood was everywhere, soaking my sleeves, stinging my nose, but my hands didn't tremble.
Dravara steadied me, her calmness was radiating, mixing with my own experiences.
Another patient followed immediately with shattered ribs, almost losing their life. Then another, and another. Each one bleeding, gasping, and broken severely.
We proceeded without delay. My stitches seemed to merge, and my voice was hoarse from giving directions, without caring if it was my first day or under someone. At the moment I'm just a healer.
Carolina matched my steps as well, her hands steady, her breathing sharp and quick. We found a rhythm, two strangers working as though we had been trained together for years.
In the midst of the chaos, I even felt Dean Halden's gaze burning into my back as I worked on a wound dangerously close to a lung. She didn't say a word, only tilted her chin, barely a nod. She was watching me, us, and judging. And for once, I didn't feel small because I didn't really care.
By the time the rush ended, I was covered in sweat and blood. My arms were sore, my body screamed for rest, but my chest was full. I hadn't wavered. I hadn't failed, not at least in my eyes.
'You did great. I am proud of you.' Dravara nodded.
"Well done," Carolina whispered later, rinsing her hands beside me. "The dean may not say it out loud, but her eyes kept following you everywhere without interruption. She looked impressed, believe me."
"Well, you did great as well." I patted her shoulder as we both smiled tiredly.
The day passed in a blink. Didn't even realise when night fell.
Back in our small dorm room, I collapsed onto my bed heavily. Carolina groaned beside me, burying her face in her pillow.
"If every day was like this, I'd have gray hair by twenty-five!"
"You'll survive," I teased, though my own bones screamed in protest.
After washing away the day's blood, I needed air. The walls felt too close, too heavy, unlike what I was used to. So I slipped out into the night.
The moonlight felt different here, but still good. The streets were lit with LEDs, and shadows were all over the place. Vendors were yelling over their food, and the smell of bread and meat was everywhere. I took a deep breath and felt free for the first time since I left the hospital.
I bought skewered moonfruit, its juices dripping down my fingers, and a hot, cheesy burger. For a moment, I was no healer, no wolf, no girl judged and dismissed by a king. I was just Evelara. A simple, independent girl, living her dreams.
I took one bite of my burger and I melted like cheese. It's so delicious!
However, just as I took the second bite, suddenly, a sleek black Maybach pulled up.
I didn't bother at first, enjoying my burger, but then the door opened and a guard stepped out. His broad shoulders and sharp eyes fell on me, pausing my enjoyment.
I remembered him from yesterday! He's the Alpha Supreme's man!
'What now!?' Drave growled within me and I thought the same.
"Miss Stormrune," he said smoothly, his voice was polished yet sharp. "You're needed."
And-urgent?
I tightened my grip on the food in my hands. "I'm not on duty," I said.
His gaze cut into me, his tone lowering until it was almost a growl. "It is not a request, ma'am. It's an order from the Alpha Supreme."
My throat dried. But Drave was furious. 'He dares summon us again? After humiliating us twice?'
But resistance wasn't an option. Not with the weight of authority pressing on me like a blade at my throat.
I was guided-no, forced! I was silently forced into the car.
"Why does he need to see me again?" I asked.
No answer.
"Didn't he talk to me this morning? Everything was cleared."
No answer.
"Hello? I am talking to you."
And again-no answer.
This is stupid!
'I swear that man was growing in my head!' Drave muttered furiously.
I stayed quiet though, trying to understand the situation. Alpha Supreme's words kept gnawing at my soul- 'Let us see if that boldness serves you, or ruins you.'
As my thoughts were spiralling the car pulled into the huge palace. In another situation, I would have gawked at the place but now, I couldn't.
That palace looked like a shadowy monster in the night, with its spires reaching for the moon.
The moment we stepped out, the rush hit me, and something stirred within. Dravara stood straight, eyes sharp, 'trouble-something has happened.' She warned me.
And before I realized, I saw guards rushing past, their voices sharp, the faint iron smell of blood heavy in the air.
My chest tightened, twisting to something ominous. 'Emergency.' both Drave and I muttered.
"Follow me." The guard said urgently.
"What happened?" I demanded as we hurried through the corridors.
Again, no answer. But, I didn't need it either the moment I stepped into a hall, equipped with medical instruments.
Then-I saw him.
Lucien Virek. The Alpha Supreme.
He was lying across a divan, his armour damaged, with blood seeping into the fabric of his chest. He looked really pale, and his lips were pressed tight.
'He's injured.' I murmured.
A shiver ran down my spine, mixed with fear, anxiety, and something unnamed as I watched the man who didn't look untouchable now. He looked like a regular wolf. Fragile and breakable.
"He was ambushed on his return from the council," the guard's voice rang in my ears, breaking the daze I fell into.
"Then why is he here? Why didn't you transfer him to the hospital?!" I almost barked at him. Do these guys want him dead? What the hell!?
"He declined." The bodyguard remained calm. "The Supreme's life is at stake and enemies could be everywhere. Even his personal healer for years had betrayed him."
"What!?" I gasped out.
"Yes, now we need you to treat him." The guard turned to me. His eyes are as cold as an iceberg. "Though I am not sure why he would trust you-remember one thing, one wrong move and you are." He didn't finish the sentence, only gazed at me and it was enough for me to understand the meaning.
But that didn't bother me more than the words-wwhy would he trust you'-itself. I slowly turned to the almost lifeless man, so, he trusted me? But why?
The man who insulted me and threatened me just this morning, now I suddenly become his trusted one?
Funny, isn't it?
Dravara's eyes sharpened, 'we don't have much time, we must hurry.'
'Well then, let's get into it.' Muttering, I moved toward him.
My hands moved before my mind settled. I pressed cloth to the wound, cleaned it, stitched it, basically poured everything I had into sealing the torn flesh. not because of the threat but because this is my duty.
The Alpha Supreme stirred once, a muffled groan leaving his throat. His hand twitched, almost resisting me in his unconscious state.
"Stay still," I whispered, my tone was as soft as cotton.
Dravara came to the edge as I kept my palm on his forehead. Something rushed within me, something strange, yet I didn't bother at the moment.
Dravara's eyes glowed for a while, helping to take some of his pain without making it visible. My teeth clenched, and I closed my eyes so the change of my eyes wasn't noticeable to the guards standing right over my head.
It worked, his resistance toned down, and I again started working.
Hours dragged like years. Sweat soaked my temples, my strength draining with every drop of energy I poured into him.
His condition was very critical, yet I refused to stop, even when my vision blurred.
When his breathing finally steadied, when the color returned faintly to his pale skin, my hands fell to my sides, shaking.
I declined him. I pitied him, and I hated his arrogance and ego, but as I looked at him at the moment-strong even in such weakness, untouchable even in his most vulnerable moment-I knew why this man was sitting on his throne.
Lucien Virek might not be a likable character, but he is perhaps a worthy ruler.
A dangerous spark lit in my chest, stirring something deep within me. I didn't understand what it was, but it surely didn't feel pleasing at all.
