Howl's Parting

Chapter 13

The next morning, Leanna's entire day was engulfed at the unit. She spent the day taking care of patients, and the time passed quickly than she imagined.

By the time she was done, the sun had already dropped down the horizon and the peaks of twilight were shedding. It was already nighttime.

Currently, Leanna was making her way to Maverick's office. He had told her to meet him after her work done at the pharmacy, and she couldn't help the whispers of curiousity curling down her shoulders.

She entered his office after a soft knock, and Maverick immeidietly graced her with a smile. He beckoned Leanna to come closer, gesturing her to take a seat infront of him.

He started small conversation with her, asking her how her first day went at the infirmary. They had a lighthearted conversation until Maverick leaned back in his chair, his expression turning slightly solemn.

"There's something I need to ask you." Maverick said carefully, fingers tracing patterns against the surface of his desk. Leanna immediately realized that this was gonna be something important.

"Don't you want your wolf to come back?" Leanna's eyes widened at the unexpected question, her body tensing at it's beat. She stirred, unease sliding over her face.

It wasn't a conversation that she envisioned, but she knew how much she needed to have it.

"I want that more than anything else." She replied, tightness hampering her stocked tone. Sage; her wolf has been a hard topic for her for as long as she could remember.

"And I want to help you get her back." Maverick paused for a second, casting a glance over the clock before he continued. "But the only way she can come back is if she wants to."

"Why doesn't she want to come back? Can't she feel how much I miss her? How much I need her?" Leanna said, a small crack shattering her steady voice. She lost a part of herself when she lost Sage. Her life will never be the same without her.

"Leanna, I believe that we must force Sage to come out. And the only way that's possible is if Sage's emotion become so strong that she would want to come out." Leanna carefully sucked up Maverick's review, a tangible look touching her framework.

She knows quite well that being branded hurted Sage dozen times more than it ever did to her. And she never blamed Sage for hiding.

"What do you suggest I should do?" She asked, a placid expression on her face which was in contrast to the roaring of anxiety pumping inside of her blood. There has to be a solution, something that can work.

"Give yourself exposure. Go to places that meant something to you and Sage. Do things that Sage would want to do." Leanna attentively listened to Maverick's advice, her nails silently digging into her palm.

Things Sage would like? Leanna's eyebrows narrow down as she gives herself time to think, deeply engaged with the thought. Suddenly, a memory brightened her head as the butterfly garden popped up.

That's right— Butterfly garden was Sage's favourite spot. In the past, Leanna wasn't given many opportunities to visit the garden. However when she did visit, she couldn't forget it's beauty. She would mostly tour it during the chores regarding her job. But she was able to make two very special trips to the place after Ace found out she was his mate, giving her a privilege of the royal family.

Unfortunately that privilege lasted only for seven days. One week later Emma was found dead, and Leanna was kicked out.

Emma; just the mere thought of her wretched  Leanna's heart with heavy sorrow, reminding her of the good times of her life. Leanna gets rid of the old memories, a fire replacing her eyes. She was more determined than ever to get Sage back.