𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑾𝒂𝒓 | ✓

𝑭 𝑶 𝑼 𝑹

"My dear, your pack is infected with Moonsbane," Nadia revealed as she snapped the worn book close with a cough as the dust rose. She turned her honey eyes to Esmeray. "We've ran into it once many years ago, back when my great grandmother was the pack doctor. Nasty disease, if you ask me."

A spark of hope lit Esmeray's eyes. She bit her lip, hugging herself and watching Nadia with curiosity. "Is there a cure?"

Nadia set the book down on the table and nodded. "There is, but it's a herb that's hard to get. I have just a little here. I'll have to give your whole pack some so I don't have enough. I'm afraid we'll need to gather more."

"Could what you have be sent to my brother now? I'm unsure how many could survive the wait." Esmeray's gaze trailed to the baby that was waving her little hands in the air. Her head titled and she walked over to the crib, her mother instincts reaching for this vulnerable wolf.

"Of course! It will be sent at once," Nadia assured, a smile spreading across her face as she watched the tiny hands of the baby wrap around Esmeray's finger. "That's my daughter Myra. She's partially blind."

Esmeray looked down into Myra's pale blue eyes with wonder. She felt the tight grip of the baby's tiny fingers and a soft smile curled her lips. "She's beautiful. May I hold her?"

"But of course," Nadia answered, her heart warming at the sight of the young female and her curiosity with her baby.

Esmeray gently lifted Myra into her arms and cradled her close, feeling her small warm body against her own. She giggled softly and looked to Nadia as Myra began suckling along her shirt. She ran her hand slowly along Myra's back, feeling the softness of the pink onesie. Her face grew warm with happiness as Myra cooed and a soft purr-like sound rumbled from her tiny chest.

The door opened creakily and in stepped Tobias, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his leather jacket. The moment his gaze met Esmeray's he stopped in his tracks, frozen in time. It was as if no one in the world existed but him and her. Just as his inner wolf raised his head, he snapped out of his momentary immobile state and tore his eyes from Esmeray. He forced his attention to Nadia and took a deep breath. "Any news? Gabriel hasn't brought word so I thought I'd see how things were myself."

"The Blackfang are having a bout of Moonsbane," Nadia answered,her head tilting as she sensed the connection between her alpha and Esmeray.

"Damn." Tobias's gaze strayed to Esmeray and for a few moments he watched her with the baby. He inwardly kicked himself for giving into the desire that pulled at him. He didn't care what his wolf said, he wasn't ready for anyone else, nor did he want anyone else. Or did he?

"Nadia said the herb that would heal my pack has to be gathered," Esmeray spoke up, unsure how to approach Tobias. He hadn't publicly rejected her, but wasn't his actions enough? She wrangled her feelings and gave Myra a gentle kiss to the head and laid the baby back in the crib. "She assured me what little she has now will to be sent to my pack now."

"Nadia, ready it and I'll send it with a messenger to the Blackfang," Tobias commanded and crossed his arms. He teased his canines with his teeth as he thought for a moment. "Do you know where this herb grows?"

Nadia nodded. "Yes in the pack neutral zone."

"A three days journey," Esmeray spoke aloud, turning her mesmerizing gaze to Tobias. "When do we leave?"

"We?" Tobias echoed, his eyebrows slightly rising at this brazen female. "Who said you were going?"

Esmeray lifted her chin, a bright glint showing in her eyes. "I did."

Nadia's eyes widened as her attention snapped to the young female. She saw her boldness, but behind that, lay a desperation,a wild determination to win Tobias's favor. She couldn't blame Esmeray, she could see how he didn't respond to their obvious bond. Whether Tobias like it or not, Esmeray was his Luna. She hoped he would acknowledge it before too late.

Esmeray kept Tobias's gaze with a determined set of her jaw. "It it involves my pack, it involves me."

"Alright, fine. You will accompany me and Nadia. I'll go gather a few warriors for protection," Tobias stated, turning to leave the building and he on his way.

Esmeray let her boldness get the best of her and she let her gaze follow Tobias. Just when he hand reached for the doorknob, she opened her mouth to speak, "Shouldn't you ask your alpha first before you go making orders?"

Tobias stopped instantly, his grip on the nob tightening. He looked over his shoulder at Esmeray, his eyes glinting red. "I'm the alpha now."

As the door closed behind Tobias, Nadia placed her hand on Esmeray's shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry, love. He will come to."

"Think so?" Esmeray ask softly, unsure of herself or anything. After all the dreams she'd had, she had expected to find her mate and it would be peaches and cream. However she'd gotten rejection, and that was a pain unlike any other.

Nadia smiled softly, her tanned face wrinkling with the gesture. "I know so."

Esmeray closed her eyes, her inner wolf searching for a mate that didn't want her. The longing in her chest grew with each passing moment, and in that moment, she wasn't sure she could wait much longer.