8 – STIFF-LEGGED

REBEKKA

It had seemed like forever since I had felt the comfort of my own bed. So much had happened in such a short space of time that it felt like a very long time had passed.

As I rolled about on my small mattress, I could not help but think of all that had happened. My own share of the loot that I had been given was still hidden somewhere in my room with me.

Thinking about it just made me think about Lord Stephan, his fiery red eyes as he screamed "What the Fuck!"

I still could not place why he was so angry, it did not make sense to me, why would the son of the alpha give a hoot about a nobody like me or what I was doing?

I tried looking at it from his own perspective, but I just could not see it. I rolled again on my mattress as my fear and apprehension returned, "You are going to regret this!"

I remembered the viciousness in his voice when he said that... Why did Damon have to go as far as punching him in the face?

I was even more surprised by the fact that Lord Stephan controlled himself and let it slide for the meantime. He was well within his right to just rip our heads off for such disrespect... if his father ever found out?

I shuddered in bed as the thought crossed my mind, I didn't even want to think about what would happen if alpha Michael came about that information. It would not just be me but Doctor Purcell too that will suffer the backlash too.

Speaking of Damon... I hoped he took my suggestion and fled the pack. He seemed like a smart man, and a good kisser too.

I rolled in bed and smiled when I remembered how he put his lips against mine, taking them in with gentle ease... I caught myself smiling and then frowned suddenly, "Focus Rebekka!" I muttered to myself.

Damon looked like a smart man, surely, he would recognize the implication of what he has done and realize that there is nothing left of him in the Half-Moon pack and he would leave.

The thought of me not seeing him again made me sad, why did it make me so sad?

That was what I was wondering about when I finally fell asleep.

                                  ****

"Look who finally decided to join us, do you realize what the time is?" Kaitlin went off the minute I walked into the waiting area.

It was a slow day today in the pack clinic, there was nobody in the waiting area this morning, therefore there was no reason for Kaitlin to be on my neck.

I was stiff as I walked over to the supply closet to grab a mop and a bucket.

Any moment from now, pack guards should storm into the clinic and grab me and take me to receive whatever punishment that Lord Stephan had cooked up for me.

My life was over.

"Oh suddenly, after donating blood to our future heir, you feel too big to respond to me?"

"What?" I looked up to see Kaitlin standing over me, her face twisted in a mean frown.

"I am sorry, Miss, I didn't see you there," I replied and bowed curtly.

Kaitlin's left eye brow shot up in surprise, "You didn't see me there? Rebekka, am I so small now that you can no longer see me?"

I opened my mouth to reply but she just went on, silencing me.

"Where have you been since yesterday, daddy sent me to bring you back from the alpha pack house saying how tired you must be after donating blood to come back by yourself... Can you imagine? Me! Being sent to bring you back?"

I knew that if I just kept mute and added the occasional apology here and there, she would talk herself out.

"What has this world turned to? I swear sometimes, I think my father treats you way too well and you don't even work your own fair share to repay his good effort and grace."

"I apologize, Miss Kaitlin," I bowed curtly once more.

She stopped talking and then looked at my face, her eyes squinted in curiosity, "What is it? You don't look well?"

Before I could reply, she cut me off.

"I knew it, there was no way you were supposed to be up and moving after giving so much blood. If you know you are about to faint, do it on your own time and not while you are on the clock, is that clear?"

"Yes Miss."

The door swung open and my heart jumped to my stomach and I held my breath, this was it, they were here for me just like I thought they would be.

A balding man in his late sixties walked in and I heaved a sigh of relief.

I didn't realize how on edge I was, it was stressing me the hell out, I just kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Welcome Mr. Donovan," I greeted curtly.

The old man waved me aside and focused on Kaitlin, "Is your father in?"

"Not right now Mr. Donovan, he was called to the alpha's pack house earlier this morning." Kaitlin said.

My body stiffened when I heard that Dr Purcell was called to the alpha's pack house, that must mean only one thing... Lord Stephan summoned him to tell him what he must do concerning me, I was right to be worried all along.

"Ah, that's sad, I wanted him to take a look at something for me," Mr. Donovan said regrettably.

"That's very much okay, Mr. Donovan, he should not take too long, you can wait right here," Kaitlin ushered him to one of the waiting chairs and then cast me a curious look.

"What the hell are you still doing standing there like a pole? Do your damn job!"

But I was deep in thoughts and worry, very soon, doing my damn job would be the least of my worries!

9 - REVELATIONS

STEPHAN

"I told you, I am fine!" I snapped at the pack physician.

He jumped back in fright, "Lord Stephan please let me have a look, your father..."

"My father is worrying too much, I am perfectly okay!" I cut him off.

I didn't have time to sit still and be poked and prodded like I was a guinea pig, I had things to do... people to find.

"Lord please, just let your poor servant do his job so I can have a good report for your father."

I looked at Dr Purcell, he had been our family physician as well as the pack physician for as long as I could remember, "Fine, make it snappy."

His face brightened up and he dabbed his forehead to clean the bead of sweat that had started to form there. "Thank you Lord, please take off your shirt."

I grunted in frustration but I obliged him.

"Remarkable, not even the trace of a scar!" His voice was high pitched and excited.

I looked at him with some curiosity, "You are making it sound like such a big deal, we high borns heal fast and completely, it is nothing new."

"No my lord, it isn't but your case is different and special."

I narrowed my eyes, "How so?"

"Lord, you were poisoned with wolfsbane. That thing is deadly to all wolves, high born or not. It was the grace of the goddess that we were able to find someone with the same rare blood type as you to do a total blood transfusion."

"Wait!" my eyes widened, "Did you just say total blood transfusion?"

Dr Purcell nodded emphatically.

"That would be me that..."

"Yes, your blood donor was supposed to die."

I stroked my jaw with my left hand, this was getting interesting.

"Given that that was what it was, it was supposed to leave a scar mi Lord, one hell of a scar... but there is nothing, it is remarkable!"

All the while I was thinking that it was no big deal, the fact I wasn't scared made me underestimate how close I came to dying or being disfigured for the rest of my life.

So it was this much of a big deal, "Rebekka Kent!" I muttered.

"Yes mi Lord, she saved your life, I could not be prouder!" Dr Purcell said with an air of smugness.

I gave him a sharp look as my eyes widened in surprise, "You know of her?"

"Know of her?" he chuckled, "Mi Lord, I raised that mutt since she was a pup!"

Okay now, things were getting more and more interesting. So the girl that saved my life was Dr Purcell's step daughter?

"So she is like a daughter to you?" I asked.

Dr Purcell smiled sheepishly, "When my Lord puts it like that, I cannot disagree."

Apparently, she had survived something that was meant to kill her and knowing that she could die she still chose to save my life. I was speechless, I was now starting to see her in a different light.

"How is she doing?" I asked.

"Mi Lord, we are thankful to the goddess for seeing it fit to keep her life. Two miracles happened yesterday and we are grateful for it."

"Indeed, indeed, doctor." I nodded agreeing with him.

I needed to know more about Rebekka but I was not going to press the good doctor.

The door opened and Claude came in and flopped on the couch, "Hey doc, how's the birthday boy?"

"In perfect health, sir Claude, we are thankful to the goddess!"

"Damn! It really didn't leave a scar, though I was hallucinating yesterday," Claude was peering at me.

I frowned at him and drew down my shirt, "Are we done here?"

"Yes, mi Lord."

"Good, now run along to my dad and tell him not to bother me with more tests, I am fine!"

Dr Purcell bowed and then left the room.

I leaned forward in my seat staring at Claude, "Anything?"

He made a face and leaned back on the couch, "You are not even going to offer me a drink? No, thank you Claude for getting back so quickly, here, have a drink?"

I sighed, "Fine, pour yourself a cup!"

He leaned forward with a smile to get the bottle.

"... After you are done telling me what you found out!"

The smile froze on his face and he paused with the bottle inches away from his grasp, then he plopped back on the couch, "You are no fun sometimes!"

"Just get on with it," I snapped impatiently.

"Do you realize how crazy I sounded asking all of my dad's informants if they knew anybody with blue eyes? Next time if you want information, you should at least do better than... blue eyes!"

I sighed, this dude was frustrating me but then again, he always did, "Yeah, yeah now, on with it!"

"His name is Damon Chase and he is a member of the Elite Guards!"

My eyes widened and I leaned forward in my chair, "The Elite Guards?"

"Mm-hmm," Claude nodded and then reached for the bottle.

I gnashed my teeth, the elite guards were the best of the pack warriors that answered directly to the alpha, my father.

Was that why he was able to hurt me with a sucker punch?

No, that didn't track, although they may be more skilled than me, I was supposed to be stronger.

Claude was watching me like a thief, "What did this Chase guy do to warrant your attention?"

I got up quickly, breathing heavily as I remembered the incident from yesterday. "I have to go see him!"

Claude laughed nervously, "I don't know what is going on but I don't think that is a good idea!"

I snapped at him, "You don't understand, someone like him has no business being anywhere close to someone like her!"

"Who? Who are we talking about here? Who is getting you all worked up?"

"I can't let this happen," I said, ignoring Claude and storming towards the door.

10 - CONFRONTATION

DAMON

"You know, the people really think that shit was some sort of hunting accident," Tyrell, the chief of the Elite Guards was talking.

I yawned in boredom, couldn't wait for the old man to get this over with so I can go about my business.

"To the general public, our beloved heir, Lord Stephan was unlucky during a hunting expedition and got severely injured but thank the goddess, he was saved. The truth however is more sinister than that..." Tyrell continued.

"Under our very noses, our heir was attacked by warlocks!"

My eyes widened with surprise, this was the first time I was hearing of this. I too, like the general public, thought that Stephan's misfortune stemmed from a hunting expedition gone wrong.

It sounded silly, the supposed heir to the throne almost dying after embarking on a hunting expedition, it just made Stephan look impotent in my eyes.

Now this? This was a surprise.

"With all due respect chief, what happens to the heir to the alpha is not any concern of ours," Vane replied.

He was considered as the left hand of the chief, one of the two people likely to become the leader once the chief retired, I was the second person.

"Preposterous!" Tyrell exclaimed, "How can you say something like that?"

"Our job is solely to worry about the alpha himself!" Vane fired back, maintaining his stance.

"And you don't think his son almost dying worried the alpha? What worries the alpha worries us. It is our job to make sure he has no worries!" Tyrell shot back too.

I yawned, it was back to being boring again, I didn't care about what bothered the alpha or didn't bother the alpha, I just wanted to leave and take a bite.

"Damon, you are awfully quiet about something of such great importance," Tyrell said suddenly, catching my attention.

Damn the old man, he just wanted to get me involved by all means, I sighed, "If the alpha says we jump, we jump. If he says we hunt the bastards who hurt his beloved son, we'll do that. We answer to him and him alone so we should wait for his command!"

"Seconded!" Vane screamed loudly and patted me heavily on my shoulder, "Spoken like a true Elite Guard."

"So you want to wait until another attempt is made on the heir's life before we act?" Tyrell raised his voice, staring at me intently.

My blue eyes matched his gaze and then I sneered, "Acting without the alpha's word is treason... is that what you are suggesting, chief?"

Tyrell swallowed and jerked back as if he was hit in the face, his eyes darted from side to side and he seemed unsure of himself again.

A smirk escaped my lips, that's right old man... stay quiet.

He cleared his throat loudly, "This meeting is adjourned but stay available, the alpha may call on us at any time!"

I left the hall yawning more widely than before, this time around from hunger as I made a left turn outside the gate, I came to a complete stop.

Standing a few feet in front of me was none other than Stephan.

His hands were crossed in front of his chest and he was leaning on a bleach tree staring right at me.

A small smile spread across my lips as I regained my composure, "Look who is here!"

I began to walk towards him as calmly as possible. "You back for round two?"

Stephan pushed away from the tree and stood straight, his legs spread out in front of him. "Damon Chase, right hand of the chief of the Elite Guards."

My smile got wider, "Daddy's boy knows how to do research!" I kept closing the distance in a way that looked nonchalant but I was cautious.

"I know exactly what type of a person you are!" Stephan continued holding his ground.

"Yeah? What type of a person are you?" I was up in his face now. "The type that runs to daddy when he is in trouble?" I suddenly gave him a powerful shove.

Stephen was ready this time around, he screeched backwards only a few inches, his eyes were smoldering like heated coal, "I didn't come to fight you," he said tightly.

I closed the distance between us again, "Yeah, what did you come to do then? Go on, let's hear it."

I could see him gnashing his teeth as he stared me in the face, "Stay away from Rebekka! She doesn't need your likes in her life!" he growled.

I scoffed in his face, "You mean the same Rebekka you rejected? The one that tried to kill herself for a scumbag like you... that Rebekka?"

Stephan's resolve seemed to break for a split when he heard that but he regained his composure and his anger far too quickly.

"Listen to me–"

"No, you listen to me, Rebekka is with a real man now, okay?" I scoffed, "So you," I stuck out a finger and poked his chest, "Can run back to daddy now!"

Stephen's reaction was unexpected, he grabbed me by my shirt suddenly and shoved me into the trunk of the bleach tree.

There was a loud thud as my back slammed into it forcibly.

He held me there, his right fist was balled up and he was holding it above his head, ready to throw a punch.

I grinned widely and spread out my hands, "Go on then, boy, have at it... I will even let you have the first hit for free."

His eyes were staring me down but I refused to back down.

"Stay away from her," he growled much more slowly in a deep guttural voice and then as suddenly as he had reacted, he let go of me and brought down his hand.

I scoffed, "That's what I thought." I straightened the fabric of my shirt and looked at him.

"There will be consequences if you defy me!" he growled.