"Who.."
"We are here!" Elara looked back. She did not realize they had already reached the hospital until he returned her bag to her. She smiled as she held it and entered the room.
The healer was running around worried.
"Their injuries are getting worse. Must I really continue it?" Elara noticed the head beta and went to mix the herbs in the dark room.
She checked the door twice. When she was sure it would not open easily, they all were busy. She touched the leaves. They grew silver for a second before going to their normal color. She smiled as she poured the herbs in the bottle and walked out.
The beta was gone and so was the healer. She started rubbing the herbs on their wounds slowly. Their wounds responded to the medicine at once. They were healing with the speed of a naked eye.
The healer returned and gasped.
"Oh goodness, they are finally improving." She looked relieved but Elara looked guilty when the healer patted her shoulders. "You are the best at this work, Elara. I can retire without worry if you would handle the hospital after me."
The thought of having a place to live all her life made Elara smile and for a second, she imagined it. Belonging somewhere, living with someone.
She shook her head and slowly went to other patients. The healer left again but this time she returned with someone beside her.
"Elara, this is Callen. He had volunteered to help." Elara turned to look at the wolf she had met in the dark. He smiled watching her winked at her with their eyes. Her heart skipped a beat and she smiled.
"He needs time to explain to the warriors how to fight. So he decided to be here until the next clash started. You can ask for his help and do not worry about his presence. He is a friend." The woman looked at Callen and chuckled. "Elara gets scared easily. She jumps from the slightest sound and looks at everyone vigilantly. The girl had suffered a lot in the woods before coming here so be patient and kind with her." heat rose to her cheeks. As the healer whispered words like she was sharing a secret with motherly warmth in her eyes.
It felt like she was giving Elara to Callen. The thought made her heart erratic. She forgot that warriors were trained to hear the heartbeats. Callen looked at her amused, interested and something she could not understand but feel in her heart.
"I.. I need to go."
—--
A week had passed. Callen follows her to the woods and brings her back. He gives her privacy when she asks for it but she never feels his absence.
The other volunteers in the hospital had started teasing her and the warriors looked at her with respect.
"Hey, callen's girl is here." one tugged the other when she entered the room. Her cheeks flushed instantly.
Callen who was beside her looked smug. He laughed and held her by her waist. Elara gasped and looked at him but he only grinned.
"It is time we make it official Elara. Or you want another wolf to come and claim me before you?" he smirked looking proud when her eyes widened with fear.
Elara could hear the laughter but they were not laughing at her. They were not mocking her. No one was hunting her. A man who could love her was proposing to her. She could feel the warmth and the peace. Something she had never imagined in her life.
She had always been a loner after the death of her mother. She had warned to never have a mate. The thought still lurch in her chest and pain her. She was afraid till the end. And though Elara did not understand why she was so afraid of Elara having a mate, Callen is a good man. He would never hurt her.
She raised her head to accept only to see him looking behind her. She paused and turned to see beta standing there with cold grim eyes. The lively atmosphere in the room shifted to something serious. His grip was gone from her waist and she inhaled a deep breath.
"Beta!" She bowed and took a step back. She wanted to leave this oppressive air but the wolf did not dismiss her. He watched her like a hawk watching its prey. Callen took a step forward but his cold eyes stopped Callen in his tracks.
Elara lowered her head worried.
"I heard from Tamara that you took great care of my warriors." he titled his head to watch her closely, "she gives all the credit of their fast healing to you. Is it true?" anyone would have been overjoyed by the credit. Getting credits meant she could be a permanent member of the pack while she was just a refugee now. Yet, she never dared to accept it.
What if they asked further and realized what she did! Hybrids are haunted by witches and wolves alike. They deemed a threat for both of them since they were too powerful to overthrow covens and packs.
Elara never felt herself as a threat. She could do nothing except healing. Yet the fear never left her bones.
"I… I did nothing special." she whispered, making the man nod as if he had never thought otherwise.
"Callen, since everyone is better now. Collect them. We have received another summon. They could not sit silently." Callen cursed and no one needed another word to stand up and get ready.
She watched them leaving for another war with a grim face and her heart slowly dropped. The beta did not like her. But just as worry and self depreciation was enveloping her in their embrace, Callen turned to look at her and smiled.
"I will come back." he lapsed without a voice but she heard it well in his velvety voice and soon she was embraced by the warmth of love.
Perhaps, she could finally have a family.