Annette.

SIX YEARS LATER.

I sat at the corner, watching as others were walking around, gisting and doing all sorts of things with their friends. I'd stayed in this clan for six years, yet hardly made a friend, because every one of them could backstab me like my sister, Isobel, always did.

It was better I stayed alone, without a male or female friend and just focused on my career.

The whole recently graduated healers of the Summit Clan had just gathered for a get-together before each of us left for the various clans that we would work in. In these six years, I had already made a name for myself and was well known all over the Summit Clan.

Aunt Penelope was like a parent to me. She had trained me singlehandedly until I graduated as she had promised, and being famous among the others also made it possible for her to get so much attention from people who hadn't neared her club for once.

While I was studying, I was already a healer, and my patients came to my home to take treatments. Aunt Penelope rented an apartment for me once she was sure of what I was capable of, and since then, I had made more money than I thought, yet she didn't let me spend a dime to train myself in school.

I grabbed the glass of juice I had poured for myself, which I emptied, would go home because I needed a rest. But two ladies walked to where I sat and took a seat too, yet chatting all to themselves.

I pretended not to even see them, not knowing that they really wanted to be seen by me.

"Hey, I'm talking to you..." came the voice of the first lady, drawing my attention away from the couples dancing. When I met her eyes, I made an expression that asked what it was. I do not make a show amid them, because I was a werewolf and don't even have a wolf. "Aren't you the one hitting on Prince Dylan?"

My brows drew together. Are they being serious or what?

"Prince Dylan is finally ignoring his mate because of you. So why do all the high-ranking men not get their eyes off you once they see you? Care to share the kinda spell you're using on them?" the other lady said, and with her looks, it really tasted funny on her tongue.

I stared at them for so long and looked away, pretending I didn't hear any of them.

But as I got my hand on the glass again, it was snatched away from me...and the next was a liquid rushing down my face, down to my body.

"Why should a wolfless thing like you ignore a beta lycan like me? Are you nuts? You think being a healer makes us of the same rank?" the first lady burst, her eyes shining with rage. "Oh, I even forgot that the lycan king had just appointed you the healer personally for the royal family. So with that, you think no one is of your grade in this clan, huh?"

I didn't even find my words and simply stood up after I had dried up the juices the way I could.

"Trying to leave because I just mentioned how you are using spells in treating patients? There's no way a wolfless thing like you will have that ability, so you're probably using some spells to make a living. But could you just let go of Prince Dylan? Thats the lycan prince of this clan and should have nothing to do with you." Her voice rose so high that the attention of others was drawn to us, which was what I was avoiding.

I had gotten tired of explaining that I had nothing to do with Prince Dylan and had even warned the prince to reconcile with his mate instead of using me as a refugee and confusing people.

A lot of people thought we were dating, and even though his family heard of it, they didn't care.

"It takes years for one to be capable of seeing the lycan king as a healer, yet you did that after a year of stepping your feet into this clan. What exactly are you if not a witch?"

I got fed up and wanted to leave, so I stretched my hand to take my handbag from the table...but the lady was fast enough to grab it, and she flung it against my face, causing me to lose balance.

"You fool! Want to leave when I'm not done talking to you?" she cussed and threw my handbag at me. "I will make you regret ever stepping your feet into this clan at first if you don't let the clan know how you spellbound men, including the prince...and must let him go now."

I squatted and picked up my handbag from the ground. Only the moon goddess knew how long they had been planning to do this, because I did well to dodge such a thing happening, even though I knew how much they gossiped behind me.

At that moment, I noticed how the others were beginning to gather around us. I was so scared of what they would do to me, because aside from my healing power, I had no other strength for a werewolf.

"Start talking already!! Olivia had always been in tears because of you diverting her mate's attention, and here you are flaunting your fake skills. I swear you won't bewitch me like you did others who believed that your ability is real. How many lycans have such, that a wolfless thing like you have one?" The lady kept ranting, and the others picked up interest to hear me speak, which was the last thing I would do.

One of the men said from the crowd, "If she doesn't, then she will learn her lessons here and have no reason to stay behind in this clan. My dad's a healer, and now I am. Neither of us is as famous as you are, and you're the one who stole my dad's spotlight," the man said, pointing fingers at my face.

They found it all fun, some laughing while the others whispered.

The gathering that was supposed to be merry was one they turned into bullying.

I was trembling deep down, holding myself together with my head lowered. If I weren't present, they would tag me proud. But now that I did, I regretted not being tagged as proud instead of this.

Someone yanked my hair from the back, sending chills down my spine as I screamed out in pain. "Talk already and stop wasting our time..." the lady growled and pushed me to my knees.

My chest was on the verge of exploding. I felt as though my soul had already left my body.

"What's going on here?" I heard someone ask, but my head was beginning to throb already to recognise who the person was.

When I tried to look up, I saw that the circle formed by them had been ditched to both sides, and walking towards me was the lycan prince.

I should have rejected his help, too, but I was so weak and helpless at that moment that I needed someone to take me away.

"My prince, you shouldn't be here when Olivia is hospitalised," I heard the voice of that first lady, sounding all sweet, that one wouldn't believe she started all those. "We were just trying to help the clan by exposing her...

"What right do you have to tell me where to be?" Prince Dylan scolded her while helping me stand. "And do you all realise you could lose your five years of intensive training because of this?"

They all got to their knees, all heads lowered.

He turned around to me, "An emergency just came up in the clan's infirmary, and the whole healers there are all useless. He's an alpha king and would give up if you don't follow me now."

I bit my lower lip. Why would he call healers useless? They must have tried their best, too.

So I could become useless too if the alpha was just destined not to be saved, huh?

"My prince...

"Just follow me!" he ordered and began leaving, so I had no choice but to trail behind him.

Once I was out in the compound, the prince's beta opened the door for me, and I stepped in. The prince entered as well, and the door was slammed shut. "Your Highness, what about your mate?" I asked him because that was the sole cause of my issue back there.

He made a long face and still responded, "Is there an issue? She's in the hospital for what she caused herself."

"She really didn't cause that herself. If you've truly been away from her, then she could be broken by your actions. Why not draw closer to her? Did she commit an unforgivable crime? Then you two should sort it out so people will stop misunderstanding me." I said further, but he didn't even spare me a glance.

If he had feelings for me, he should have said it out already.

He hadn't been in the clan until two years ago, when his father appointed me the royal healer. That was when I came to be close to them, and also knew that he went to the Academy of Alpha Elites for his training as the future lycan king of the clan.

When the car had ridden far away from the clubhouse where I had been, he finally turned around and whispered to me, "Let's not talk about my mate. We look forward to that alpha king getting better."

I sighed and nodded, then averted my gaze through the window.

We reached the clan's infirmary and alighted, then I was taken straight to the ICU, which was locked up as they said surgeons were in there.

One of the healers I was familiar with passed by, and I called for his attention, "What is wrong with the alpha? Any idea?"

He knitted his brows and shook his head, "The clan councils are even pondering on sending them out of the clan, as a werewolf has no reason to be given intensive care in the clan....even though several healers had tried, but there was no positive result." he explained and patted my shoulder, leaving already before I could find my words.

Why would they want to send away the alpha when it was their pride to treat him?

The prince's beta came forward soon and announced that the clan councils were seeking an audience with me because of the issue at hand. It seemed that because of the alpha, the healer's attentions were all shifted from other patients. Then it meant that his condition was so terrible to be overlooked.

I reached the room where they were and took a seat, "Greetings, councils..." I bowed to them and crossed my legs together.

"We are discussing that you begin leaving, as the alpha should be taken away from here. The werewolves are too proud of themselves and wouldn't obey the lycans, so they should have nothing to earn from us," the chief council chairman said, and I didn't understand if they wanted me to discard a werewolf when I was one.

Another cleared his throat, "All the healers in this infirmary have tried their best, and even the surgeons in there are trying their best. We don't need such, because they would still pay us back with a war. If we had known that the lycan prince was going to pick you up, we wouldn't have allowed that."

"I have to do it..." I said to them, and they all glanced at themselves. "I'm very sorry, but if I don't save that life, I would be taunted by the moon goddess who gave me the ability. You could stop such from happening again, but that is after this time."

They kept whispering to themselves, and I still added, "You know, I was having my time with others when the prince brought me out. I shouldn't be here in vain, please. This isn't a matter of being a werewolf or not, I just have to save his life...even if his treatments will continue elsewhere."

While they were still murmuring among themselves, the lycan prince walked into the room and took his seats.

"The surgeons are out, and nothing has changed. He has a limited time, and I will feel so guilty if he dies here. So even if it isn't allowed, they are already here and were let in by the border warriors," the prince stated and then shifted his gaze to me. "We have to go in there, Annette. There's not much time left. We could discuss this again when you are done, and my father must be there."

I stood, and looking at their faces, they didn't seem to have any choice as I walked out with the prince.

Before we entered the ICU, one of the surgeons pulled out his mask and asked me, "Are you the famous healer they talked about here? I'd like to speak with you..."

I bowed lightly to him, "If that's the case, then it should be after I am done."

"No problem!" He watched until I locked the door of the room.

The prince went closer to the bed and raised the surgical drape, "Do you need any help? He's so unconscious..."

I walked closer to see where the patient had been wounded, and it wasn't a small one. His thighs were almost shattered with a weapon, and the side of his belly was still bleeding.

"He's an alpha, or he would have died already from the position of this," I muttered and reached closer to where the prince was, wanting to catch a glimpse of his face.

I narrowed my gaze once I turned his head to face the ceiling. I couldn't be dreaming, right?

"Is everything okay? He isn't dead, right?" The prince drew my attention, and I quickly checked his pulse to see how faint it was. "He's the alpha king of the Infinite Pride Pack..."

I turned around to him, "What happened to him? This is so brutal..."

"Their pack was attacked unexpectedly by rogues, and so while trying to save his people, ended up this way. The pack healers couldn't save him, and neither could all the healers in the werewolves' pack. I think they heard of the famous healer here and decided to bring him forth, so please save him."

Tears already gathered in my eyes. I just didn't like how I was feeling for someone who didn't care about me.

Who could believe he would be my patient one day?

I sniffed and said to the prince, "I will try my best. But could you try to awaken his wolf?"

He walked closer and touched his forehead, "Without his wolf...

"His wolf would help a lot. I think he's also unconscious." I said, and he nodded and then bit his index finger, which he began dropping his blood into his mouth.

This is my calling, and I would just walk away like in the past once I was done with him.

Alpha Samson did me dirty, but I couldn't watch him die because of the past.

"His wolf is awakened..." the prince said to me, and I nodded. "Would he help keep him alive?"

I nodded, "I'll have to change up." I said and left the ICU.

While I was putting on my surgical scrubs, the tears I'd held for a long time rolled down my cheek, and I quickly wiped them off. I shouldn't be doing this when I have already gotten rid of him from my life. I was still wolfless, so he wouldn't even regard me if he woke up...and I would have no reason to even give him my time.

I tied my hair into a knot, slid my gloves into my palms and then put on my mask.

For the last six years, I was his wolfless mate, and now, I was the famous healer he came for. I hoped he wouldn't cuss himself when he realised that I saved his life. So help me, moon goddess!

So many healers refuse to work with me because they think I would use their glory and they wouldn't be known for, or credited with, the healing of a patient. So, because of this, I hardly called on them for help, which was why I preferred the prince's presence over any of them.

With his help, I had his wolf stitch up his wound and stop the bleeding. I bandaged his wounds and decided to see the prince privately, as I wouldn't take laws into my hands because I knew who he was.

Standing in the hallway, I said to the prince, "His injuries aren't that simple. I only stopped the bleeding with the help of his wolf and you, who communicated with him, and stitched it up. Normally, it was supposed to start healing since it's been stitched up, and also with the help of medicines administered to him. But, his injuries were poisoned with a rogue venom, and unless gotten rid of, he will keep being unconscious." I explained, and his happiness at the little solution given faded away.

I knew from the onset that what I did was just first aid compared to the kind of injury he had.

"So what are we going to do? Why didn't the other healers notice the poison?" he asked, looking so helpless, making me wonder if it was just hospitality or there was another reason for him to care so much for Alpha Samson.

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, "The poison isn't that ordinary, so it would take someone who could spot poison without a technique to find out. What matters now is that he will remain that way until it's resolved, so something must be done."

"Like what? Do you have any idea?"

I breathed out and nodded.

"I'd like to ask you why his wolf reacts instinctively to your presence. Have you met before?" the prince asked, and that was one question I didn't ever want to get.

Reminding me of the past I had forgotten was so traumatising. But I was lucky as his beta approached and picked up his attention from me.

I leaned on the wall and folded my arms. What kind of rogue attack did they face that he ended up that way? That's so painful for him.

If there was a healer capable of taking up his treatment from me, I would have preferred that, because seeing him all the time was making me develop a soft spot for him after how he hurt me years ago.

He didn't look remorseful when he overlooked me in the presence of the pack, so I could just insist not to treat him, but that wouldn't make me a healer again.

"Annette, I will be back," the lycan prince said to me and left.

I walked back into the ICU, where he was still lying lifeless. I stared at his pale face, the past resonating in my mind, until I was fed up and turned around.

The door creaked, and I turned to see his beta standing there. He walked in and his gaze pinned on me with so much shock boldly written on his forehead. But I didn't stare at him so long and looked away, leaving him to battle with himself.

"Healer, how's he doing?" he asked, still standing far away from me.

I spared him a glance and responded, "You need to meet the lycan prince for that explanation. And my name is Annette." I said and looked away.

Time passed, and when the prince showed up, explained to the beta how his alpha was and what was at hand.

"I feel he was actually the target and not even the pack members," the beta said to the prince. "They couldn't have planned to poison the whole pack, right?"

"What about his family and Luna? I've not seen any of them..." the prince asked, and I noticed how the beta breathed out. "Are they also in crisis?"

I finally turned to meet the beta, shaking his head, "It's not something I can say to you as I have no right to talk about his family. But the other guards and I are here to look after him."

"Then who's taking care of the pack?"

"The other guards and armies," the beta answered and then turned to me. "Thank you for doing your best up till now. We lost hope already."

I pretended I didn't hear him and said to the prince, "What next?"

He turned around, "The council is against you going further, so they are going to take him from here and do the rest. At least, there's a hope to have him restored."

I nodded, "Then I should be leaving. I hope they revive him."

"Wait! I'll need to drop you off."

"You don't have to, my prince. Could you stay with Olivia for the night?" I said with a smile and started leaving.

My heart was so heavy. I wanted to go against their order and come to the end of his poison, but that wouldn't sit right with me. Besides, I already tried, and I shouldn't kill myself over someone like him who dumped me.

What was I even thinking? Was I supposed to be told that he shouldn't get full attention from me?

This was the lycan clan, and they made me stand out among the rest. So there was no way he would use his authority to have me do a thing I felt conflicted in.

I changed up and left the hospital that night, but while I was waiting for the cab I boarded to arrive, the ambulance passed by, rushing towards the infirmary. I couldn't stand it and decided to check what was going on, thinking that it was a patient being brought into the hospital.

As I reached the ambulance, I heard the stretcher being pushed towards the van and shifted to the side.

My lips moved, but I couldn't say a thing.

The nurses were about to fold the stretcher when I stopped them and raised the cotton covering the body. My cell phone slipped through my fingers when I saw who it was. "What happened? His pulse was becoming stable when I left..." I asked them, my voice shaking.

"He's almost dead, and that shouldn't happen here. So he must be taken out instantly." I heard the prince's voice and slowly faced him. "You have to get some rest."

I shook my head and checked his pulse, and truly, it was fading slowly.

No! I truly disliked him. I didn't want to have anything to do with him, but watching him die could also pull me to my grave, too, because of the matebond that wasn't severed.

I turned to the nurse beside me and said to her, "You're going to perform CPR on him until I return." She nodded and took over instantly with the help of others.

As I was about to get into the hospital, the prince pulled me back. "Don't do it further. Let him go."

The care I'd seen in his eyes wasn't there any longer, and he didn't seem to want him alive any longer.

"Can we talk later? I must save him...."

"I'm not letting him take you out of this clan, Annette. So it's better to let him go," he muttered, and his words sent chills all over me.

Did he find out we were mates? Even at that, should that lead to his death?

I slowly took my hand away from him, "It's okay not to leave your clan, but I must save a life." I said and began heading to the hospital building.