It was a relief to wake up without any body pains, but I found my movements restricted and the scent of unfamiliar herbs overwhelming my senses.
While I was familiar with some herbs for survival, these seemed different and more potent than any I had encountered before. Why was I seeing images of the Crimson Moon pack?
How did I end up back there? The memory of the brazen bull filled me with dread, as the thought of facing it again was unbearable.
The idea of a slow, painful death from burns was not something I was prepared to face again.
A soothing voice interrupted my thoughts, urging me to wake up and share my fears. "Wake up dear, tell me what scares you."
As I opened my eyes, I found myself in a strange wooden environment, attended to by a middle-aged woman who exuded a sense of calm. "Where am I?" I asked anxiously, adding, "please don't harm me."
Could this be the healing house of the Crimson Moon tribe? I recalled glimpses of Alpha Zach before losing consciousness.
That warrior deceived me by promising safety at the Luna Echoes tribe, but it was all a ploy to bring me back to his master. I had believed he was different.
The middle-aged woman, Dina, seemed to be communicating with someone through mindlink, which made me uneasy. "I'm Dina, and this is the Lunar Echoes tribe. What's your name?" she asked, putting me at ease.
"The Lunar Echoes tribe?" I mused, wondering if I had seen Alpha Zach in a dream. It felt unreal.
Despite my fear, Dina's gentle demeanor reminded me of my mother. "My name is Annabelle, please don't hurt me," I pleaded, feeling broken by the ordeal with the brazen bull.
Surviving it was unheard of, and the experience was not shared. As the first survivor, I wondered if I would ever be able to forget. Dina's voice softened even more.
"No one will hurt you, but the Alpha is on his way," she said, fear gripping me, making me wonder what the Alpha would think of me.
Will he turn me back over to Alpha Zack? The best thing would be to escape, but as I tried to get off the bed, my body was stiff with all the bandages.
Not long after, the monster walked in, but it turns out it wasn't what I feared. When he mentioned his name and said they were twins, I momentarily relaxed before another fear took over.
Why did I never hear about this at the Crimson Moon tribe? Could it be that Alpha Zack and his twin brother aren't on good terms?
Maybe that was the reason why that warrior told me to come here. I would never forget his kindness.
Alpha Zion Ziglar, as he introduced himself, was rather gentle, but like the others, he found it hard to believe me. Then again, who would? This was his sister in question, and the whole thing was difficult for even me to understand what they meant to achieve by the suicide.
"It's alright, I believe you, but if you have to live here, it has to be on my terms," he suggested. I had a feeling that this was not going to go completely well.
"What are your terms?" I asked, but he looked at the healer and sighed. "We shall talk about it after you get better. What is your name?"
There was something about him that made me cautious, yet another part of me urged me to seek his help. If they were family, what could have caused the strife between them?
If there was none, he might just send me away. The longer he delayed sharing information, the more anxious I became. Truth be told, his presence scared me as it only reminded me of my tormentor.
Their resemblance was striking, with Alpha Zion wearing no gloves, unlike Alpha Zach whose fingers were always covered. Everything about him made me angry, especially Kari.
My anger was not only directed at them but also at the whole tribe, who insisted on my execution. "As you wish," I finally complied. He turned to the healer and asked, "How long is she supposed to stay here?"
"In a week she will be fine," she replied. Alpha Zion stared at me and instructed, "As soon as you are done with her treatment, send her to my chamber." He left after giving the instruction, leaving me feeling scared.
Omegas were never allowed close to the main pack except for work, so he might be inviting me because he had no idea of my rank. What if he finds out?
Still, the fact that he left lifted the unease his presence brought, making me heave a sigh of relief.
The following days were filled with herbal treatments, and as much as I hated them, I couldn't refuse because they made me feel better. Even the strange headaches were gone.
Dina might be one of the best healers among all the tribes because her methods were painless. Thank you for taking such good care of me," I expressed my gratitude to her, realizing it was a rare occurrence for me to receive attention from a healer.
Throughout my life, I have been constantly on the move, captured, and passed between different packs. To survive, I had to mature quickly, unlike Kari.
Recalling how Kari had numerous healers tending to her when she was the antagonist, I lost hope for justice in any form.
"It's just part of my job," Dina responded with a slight smile. She attended to a few other patients, treating some inside and others outside.
During her trips to gather herbs, patients and their accompanying family members would engage in gossip, assuming I was a pack member due to the bandages covering my face.
"Beta Madai has returned. He found his mate, and she's so beautiful, but I can't help feeling jealous. I was hoping he would choose a she-wolf from our pack," one of them remarked, her face obscured from my view.
"More like you wanted to be his mate," another she-wolf responded, adding, "You've been crushing on him forever."
From their conversation, I deduced that she-wolves were the same everywhere, harboring crushes on their leaders.
To my shame, I was one of them, crushing on Alpha Zach, but not anymore. All I feel for him now is pure hate.
"It doesn't matter anymore, but have you heard that the wanted prisoner from the Crimson Moon Tribe is here? I wonder where the Alpha is hiding her and why he'd defy Alpha Zach..." she was saying, and I felt my body stiffen.