Wolf #2: The Beast Within [COMPLETED]

Chapter 53

Chapter 53

"Congrats," I wave as the couple walks out of the clinic.

"Thanks, Amelia," The pregnant female smiles back at me before taking her mate's hand.

"Hey Amelia!" Addison comes running up beside me. Kiana and Eamonn are next to her.

Eamonn sprints into me and wraps his arms around my legs, "Amelia!"

"Hey, nene."

Addison looks at me with hopeful eyes, "Can you play with us?"

"What are you playing?"

"I was going to show Addison how to throw a rugby ball!" Eamonn bounces up and down, "Please come! I want to show you too!"

"He's really good," Kiana squeezes him tightly in her arms, "Taught by the best, obviously."

"Yeah, Mac," Eamonn teases her.

"You little shite! Who do you think taught Mac, huh?" She grows quiet and glances up at me. I don't smile back at her and she cringes.

"I have a couple more things I need to do. But when I'm done, I'll come out for a little," I smile at the two pups. They cheer and run off together, but Kiana lingers, "Kiana...I'm not angry with you so please stop looking—"

"I encouraged you to do something you weren't ready for," She cuts me off, "And it was completely out of self-interest...we can't afford to have Adrian make ripples with the other packs. Not while you have no power or sway over them—it'll look like we're manipulating you."

The irony in that statement isn't lost on me. Still, Kiana meant well for the both of us. And I can't afford to have bad blood with her—not when she clearly has quite a sway on Adrian.

But she's no longer someone I can trust. Not entirely, at least.

"Your loyalties are with your pack," Which I'm not a part of. "I get it, Kiana..."

"Jace is back in Breccia. And you're going to Ameku soon...how are you feeling?"

"A whole bunch of things, but there's no point—"

"Don't say that," She wraps her arms around my waist and looks back at the kids. Both of us slowly look up at Adrian's office, who's watching his son too. "You've haven't had an easy year...it's okay to reach out for help."

It's been a week since Jace and I had that terrible fight. After Iphigenia had given my body back, neither of them stayed. Rachel packed her things and stayed with Olivia. Jace went back to Breccia.

I feel guilty and ashamed for using Jace the way I had during my Heat. It hadn't been right—but it had also been something I was partially unaware of. I didn't know that my feelings for him would vanish the moment my Heat was complete. Up until that moment, I really thought I could give him another chance.

Part of me feels uncomfortable in my skin when I think about it. The other part of me believes that we're even—both hurting the other just as badly. Now, we can move on.

For the first time since my parents had died...I'm beginning to feel more like myself. Stronger, wiser, and more capable.

Later in the clinic, Nancy glances up at from her work, "You have come a long way since you came here to me."

I smile as I wrap a pup's shin up with a clean bandage, "Learnt from the best."

"You have learnt all the medicinal and practical uses of these herbs. The parts of your training that bleed into the same training as the Healers. But as a Prophet, you will need to know more than just how to use your tools. You need to know why they exist—their significance to The Goddesses," She looks up through the oculus window as she spoke, "You will have to interpret their meanings from your visions and in the world around us. They will be become more than your tools—they will become your compass."