Chapter 006

Leo

“I'm fine,” I swallowed, the burn of whiskey still clinging to my throat and the metallic taste of blood still lingering.

My mother stood from alpha Matthews' side and walked towards me with concern and maternal instincts written all over her face.

Then she stopped midstep, she flared her nose as her eyes shifted immediately.

“ You've been drinking?” She uttered in a disappointed voice. It's more like a rhetorical question.

I don't dare to answer, I just look at her blankly. This was not what I was expecting on my way back, I didn't want her to see me like this.

Her eyes moved over my face — the split lip, the purple blooming beneath my eye, the way I’m holding my side just a little too stiff.

“Who did this?” she asks softly, but her voice trembles beneath it.

“I handled it,” I murmured.

She steps closer now, her fingers brushing my jaw. I don’t pull away, I just stand there.

Her hand stills.

“These should have healed already,” she whispers.

She’s right, they should have, but my wolf Curtis was restless, he had disappeared on me when I needed him the most, the alcohol didn't help either.

“We’re going to the healer,” she decides immediately.

Before I could respond, Alpha Mathews speaks from the head of the table, he had been watching the scene in front of him unfold quietly.

“There’s no need for all that trouble.”he says in a calm voice.

“That's a bit far, and it will take you a lot of time,” his voice was controlled, and commanding without effort.

“There’s a healer near the northern border. Nathan will take him.”

Nathan doesn’t react outwardly, but I see the way his shoulders square.

That was not a request but a command, he nods a second later , “ yes father.”

My mother hesitates, then adds, “he’s not healing properly.” as her eyes hovered over my bruised face.

“He will,” Alpha Mathews replies. “And if he doesn’t, we’ll see what we can do about it .” he says with finality.

I nod at his words,“Okay, I’ll go.”

Alpha Matthews looks towards my direction and says nothing, Nathan stands from his chair and walks past me towards the door without a word.

I follow right behind him.

The car ride was silent, the kind is silent that felt empty but also loaded

On the way, streetlights cut across Nathan's serious face as he drives, his hands were steady on the steering wheel, I could scent the defiance radiating from him, it was obvious he didn't want to do this, but a command is a command and he couldn't defy his father because of our so called hockey beef.

“You smell like a bar,” he says finally.

I leaned my head back against the seat slightly, a faint curve forming at the corner of my lips, “You notice everything, don’t you?”

He tilts his head a little bit then adds, “With you it's hard not to.” There’s no judgment in his tone. Just observation.

“You fight better sober,” he adds, “ I thought you knew that, why would you pick up a fight while you're intoxicated,”

I threw a glance at him, then with impatience I added “Were you there?”

“No.”

“Then don’t critique my technique.”

I could see his jaw tighten slightly, from the lights.

“You’re slower when you’re drunk.”

“And you’re insufferable when you’re right.”

That almost pulled a smirk from him.

Almost, but he stayed serious.

We pulled up to a small house tucked behind old trees. Warm yellow light glowed from the windows.

Nathan stepped out of the car first, then turned to open the door for me, he walked to the door as I followed right behind him, my ribs protesting.

He knocked at the door once and it is opened quickly, like she had been waiting for us.

The healer is an old woman with sharp silver eyes and short grey hair, she bowed her head slightly when she saw Nathan.

“Nathan. Son of the Alpha.”

“Good evening, Mara,” he replies respectfully.

She stepped aside leaving room for us to enter, then her gaze landed on me.

“And this must be the other one,” the other one, why would she identify me like that? I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

“This is Leo,” Nathan says evenly. “He needs assistance. His wounds are delayed.”

Mara studied me for a long moment, then gestured for us to go inside.

“Come in,” she said.

The moment we stepped inside, the air changed.

It was thick with the scent of crushed herbs, smoke, and something older, something ancient and metallic beneath it all. The room was small but crowded, not with furniture, but with presence. Shelves lined the stone walls from floor to ceiling, stacked with glass jars filled with dried leaves, dark liquids, powdered roots, and things I couldn’t name. Some of them glowed faintly in the low light.

Bundles of herbs hung from wooden beams overhead, brushing slightly against each other whenever the door moved. A fire crackled in a shallow hearth, casting flickering shadows that made the carvings on the walls look alive, carvings of wolves, moons and claw marks etched deep into the stone.

A large wooden table stood at the center of the room, scarred by years of blades and mortar strikes. Bowls of freshly crushed plants sat beside stained cloths and small silver tools.

It wasn’t luxurious, or warm, but it felt powerful.

Like the room itself was watching.

“Sit.” she gestured to a small wooden stool.

I sat down with difficulty.

She began crushing herbs with deliberate movements. The scent filled the room; it was a mixture bitter, earthy, and powerful.

“You’ve poisoned your system,” she says without looking at me.

“Whiskey isn’t poison.” I protest slightly.

“It is to healing.”

Nathan crosses his arms on his chest but says nothing.

Mara applied the paste to my ribs first, I winced as it burned through my skin sharply.

I sucked in a breath.

“Hold still,” she commands.

I glared at the wall, looking at the carvings to disrupt my attention from what she was doing.

“You wince too much,” Nathan says mildly.

“I bet you’re enjoying this.” I said while wincing some more.

“A little.” he said flatly.

Mara's hands move to my jaw, pressing it firmly. My wolf growls low in my chest, now is when it decided to show up, but when I needed it, it abandoned me.

“Control it,” she warned, she had felt it too.

I swallow it down, after what felt like forever, she stepped back.

“Theirs no poison or wolfsbane in your system, I think you intoxicated your body so much that's why you're taking time to heal, you’ll heal by morning,” she said. “And please refrain from drinking like a reckless human.” she warned as she arranged her bowls.

Nathan nodded “Thank you Mara .”

I stood up carefully, my hand holding my side.

“Try not to bleed on the seats,” Nathan muttered as we walked to the car, I elbowed him lightly.

“Drive.” I told him as we settled in the car, he frowned but didn't say anything.

Back home, the house was quiet. It seems alpha Matthews had convinced my mum not to worry so much, so she went to bed.

Nathan walked beside me up the stairs, halfway down the hallway, my vision blurred slightly, he noticed quickly.

He stretches his hand and grips my arm firmly and steadies me. “Don’t collapse now,” he says.

“I’m fine.” I protest.

“You’re always fine.” he jokes

He helped me into my room anyway, despite my protest, he led me to the side of my bed and I sat at the edge.

For a second, neither of us moved.

The hallway light casted shadows across his face. His sharp cheekbones, and his blue eyes focused on me. He exhibited controlled strength.

He looked at me differently for a second then masked it like it was never there, like he was assessing and comparing, he thinks I didn't notice but I did.

“Get some sleep,” he says quietly.

He turned and walked out the door, closing it behind him.

The next morning. I woke up before the sun fully rose,my ribs didn't hurt, and my jaw felt normal. I flexed my fingers, no pain, I felt rejuvenated, I was completely healed.

Good.

I headed downstairs. Nathan was already seated at the dining table munching on a sandwich, he looked up at me and raises an eyebrow, his eyes dropped to my face, then he scanned me for a second.

“You’re healed.” he observed.

“That is what the healer said, and yes I am.”

His eyes studied me a second longer.

“Well then next time don't be reckless.” I rolled my eyes then reached out to grab a piece of toast.

“Still alive.” I muttered.

Before he could respond, the front door opened and Luca stepped in.

His gaze landed on us sitting at the same table. Something dark flickered across his face.

“Nate,” he says. “Ready?” ignoring my presence, which was expected.

“Yeah.” Nathan says as he stands up.

Luca’s cold eyes shifted to me, I grabbed my bag and we stepped outside.

“You should keep your distance,” Luca mutters once we’re near the car.

“Distance… from what?” I ask calmly.

“From him.” I tilt my head slightly.

“Does Nathan know his beta has feelings for him?” He went silent, seems I had struck a nerve.

“ I don't know what the hell you're spouting about,”

My lips curve into a thin line, “ ooh you do, the way you look at him, and how you're acting right now like a jealous little bitch,” he stiffens then his fists curls into balls in his sides.

I don’t move, I look at him daringly.

“Go on,” I say softly. “Hit me.” His arm trembles slightly.

Lucas' words sparked interest in me. I wanted to find out what he would do if I get close to Nathan. Doesn't he know I love a challenge, I curled my lips.