SONIA’S POV
I was awoken by the sound of a screaming cub. The high-pitched cry cut through the quiet of the early morning, sharp and desperate. It pulled from a restless sleep, my body still heavy from the long day before.
Hurrying out of the room Carl had shown to rest, after sneaking out of Ramon’s room, I saw so of the pack doctors’ helpers also rushing to where the noise was coming from. Their footsteps echoed down the hallway, hurried and concerned.
There was a little girl crying hysterically when I arrived. Her small body shook with sobs, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. The second she saw , she jumped from her mother’s lap and ran to hug . Her tiny arms wrapped tightly around my waist, clinging with surprising strength. A rush jolted , and my wolf jumped. She was sick. I could feel her transferring part of her illness to .
The sensation hit like a wave—hot and heavy, settling deep in my chest and making my stomach twist.
Getting over the initial shock, I stood still and allowed her to continue. She was just a child. There wasn’t any reason she should have to bear that much pain. Her instincts had to be great to be able to seek comfort in my body.
In a few moons, she would get her wolf. I knew for a fact her wolf would be powerful. The connection humd between us, her small fra trembling against mine as I took on the burden.
"Amanda, that’s okay," her mother said when she didn’t let go. The woman’s voice was tired but filled with worry, her hands hovering uncertainly.
"Leave her alone," I said, and smiled to show I wasn’t mad at her. My voice ca out gentle, even as the sickness settled deeper inside .
After a while, she finally let go. "I feel better, mama," she said, returning to her mother. Her steps were lighter now, the color returning to her cheeks.
"Do you really? There’s no pain any longer?" The mother asked in shock, as she inspected her entire body. Her hands moved quickly over the girl’s arms and face, checking for any lingering signs of illness.
The helpers around stared at like I was a strange creature. Their eyes were wide with disbelief, whispers passing between them. If only they knew I couldn’t explain it either. I just knew I could take a little of other people’s pain. The ability had always been there, quiet and instinctive, but using it so often left drained.
"Can I check her now?" I directed at her mother. The woman nodded eagerly, stepping back to give space.
She jumped from the bed and ca straight to . "Thank you so much. She could barely sleep last night. I didn’t want to be an inconvenience, so I told myself I’ll bring her to the pack doctor this morning. Thank you!" She repeated, grabbing my clothes and even almost breaking into a wail. Her hands trembled against the fabric of my dress, gratitude pouring out of her in waves.
"Could you please hold her for ? I still need to check the child," I said to the helpers. They hurriedly agreed, their hands gentle as they supported the little girl.
I continued toward her, bending until I was level with her bright eyes. "Hey," I began, smiling softly. "I’m Sonia," I said, stretching out my hand for a handshake. Her small palm felt warm and trusting in mine.
"You’re so pretty!" She replied, and went in for a hug again. Her arms wrapped around my neck, squeezing tight.
I took away more of her illness, and it caused a small quake in . The sickness was not in relation with the common recent the. She was sick from her brain. I wondered if the mother knew about this. Maybe Carl would have ntioned it before. The heaviness settled deeper, making my head throb faintly.
That was all I needed to know. I turned to her mother, who was looking at with a heavy expectation in her twinkling eyes. Tears of relief already glistened on her lashes.
"I’ll talk to the pack doctor, and get back to you. She should be fine for a few days though," I said. My voice stayed steady, even as fatigue tugged at the edges of my vision.
"Thank you, Sonia. You’re straight from the moon goddess." She blew a kiss, her smile bright and grateful.
I smiled, and walked out of the room. As I took a step in the corridors, my eyes began to spin. It was exactly like last night. Spinning around in circles, as if I was going to collapse.
The walls blurred, the floor tilting beneath my feet. I held on to a wall, and began to count. I couldn’t bla my wolf for not healing . It was fighting for space with my healing abilities. They were clashing terribly. I had taken on so much in such a short ti. This was the consequences. My breathing grew shallow, sweat beading on my forehead despite the cool morning air.
Shortly, my breathing beca heavy. The world still went in circles around . And lastly, I was sweating. The dress clung uncomfortably to my skin, wet and restrictive. I couldn’t react when a warm hand grabbed , and pulled into a room. The touch was firm and familiar, steadying before I could fall.
Before I could figure out what was happening, my lips beca trapped in another’s lips. The kiss was sudden and deep, sending a rush of renewed energy through my veins. Strength flooded back into my limbs, clearing the dizziness like sunlight breaking through fog. My eyes instantly shot open, as a wave of renewed energy went through .
"Ramon?" I whispered, on seeing his eyes. They were dark and intense, close enough that I could see the faint lines of exhaustion in them too.
"Why are you trying to kill yourself? Isn’t that my job?" He scolded. His voice was rough, but there was an undercurrent of concern that surprised .
I blinked, adjusting to the brightness of my vision after the blurriness had been cured by his kiss. The room felt steadier now, the walls no longer spinning.
"I wasn’t trying to kill myself. The little girl was in pain. I only helped her," I explained. My voice ca out steadier, the dizziness fading completely.
"Well next ti, help less. Your job is to assist the pack doctor. If you can’t even remain healthy enough to help, what’s the point?" His tone carried a warning, but his hand stayed on my arm, warm and grounding.
It felt like he was scolding . I couldn’t help the plethora of emotions barraging in . Tears started to rush down my face, and I couldn’t stop it no matter how hard I tried. The exhaustion, the relief, and the confusing mix of his concern and harshness overwheld all at once.
"Why are you crying?" He asked, scrunching his face. His thumb brushed lightly against my cheek, wiping away a tear before he seed to realize what he was doing.
"I don’t know either," I said, wiping off the tears with the back of my hand. My voice trembled, the emotions too raw to hide completely.
"Do you want to stop working in the clinic? If it’s too much for you, just say sothing." His offer caught off guard, the gentleness in it clashing with everything I expected from him.
I blinked again, and my ears twitched. Surely, I wasn’t hearing clearly. Why did it sound like Ramon actually gave a toss about ? The thought sent a confusing warmth through my chest, mixing with the lingering tears.
"It’s too much because she’s allowing too much virtue to leave her," the pack doctor said, and entered the room even before I could reply. His voice was calm and knowing, carrying the weight of experience.
"Are you eavesdropping on your Alpha, Carl?" Ramon questioned. His tone held a hint of amusent despite the situation.
"Your words drifted into my ear. I couldn’t help but offer an explanation."
"Then be more clear. What is wrong with her?" Ramon’s hand stayed on my arm, steady and warm.
"She’s a healer, Alpha Ramon. It’s not sothing learnt with her. Her abilities are inbuilt. It ans there’s always a risk of hurting herself, because her natural instinct is to take away other people’s pain. It doesn’t matter if it’s detrintal to her." Carl’s explanation was patient, his eyes kind as they rested on .
I was listening to these two n talk about as if I wasn’t also present in the room.
Nothing was wrong with . The girl’s sickness was heavy. Hence, my reaction. My wolf stirred weakly inside, still recovering but no longer on the edge of collapse.
"She said I renewed her strength with my kisses. Why’s that?" He bluntly asked. The casualness of the question made heat flood my cheeks.
I almost died from embarrassnt. How could he be so casual about sothing like this? My face burned as I looked anywhere but at them.
"It’s a given, alpha. She’s your fated mate," Carl replied simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Allow oblige in the wishes of the moon goddess then," he said, and turned to . "As long as you’re working in the clinic, find every ti you get weak."
"But—" I tried to argue, but his heavy voice stopped .
"I wasn’t making a request, Sonia. It’s an order." His eyes held mine, firm and unyielding, yet carrying that strange softness underneath.
"An order," I echoed in a whisper. The words settled over , heavy yet strangely comforting in the quiet room.
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