The Healer

Chapter Five: The Prophecy

Zane stood in the hallway shell-shocked. She'd slammed the door hard, wind whipping in his direction. Asa's floral scent hit him hard, overtaking his senses, awakening his wolf and claiming possession. Mine. His wolf growled protectively.

He couldn't contain his physical reaction. He could feel the rush of energy, the same adrenaline that pulsed through his body before a fight, goosebumps erupting across his skin and his heart racing hard in his chest as though he'd just gone for a run. Breathing heavily, it took all of his control to turn away from her door.

"Zane?" Ryker inquired, placing his hand on Zane's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Later," He snarled, moving just out of Ryker's reach. He threw him an apologetic look over his shoulder, not having the strength to speak again before heading back to his room. His whole body was twitching with pent up energy.

All of Zane's thoughts were conflicting. He wanted to run, to fight, to break something. This was not how he ever expected to meet his mate. He'd spent decades building relationships, traveling the world. He never expected to find his mate so close to home and to find that she had started building a family without him. The thought made him so angry, so jealous, he wanted to rip apart his room, piece by piece. He wanted to confront her and demand an explanation. Something, anything to have it all make sense.

I can't think about this right now. It will have to wait. We are on the brink of a war.

He pushed thoughts of Asa out of his mind, feeling his wolf resist him as never before. Outraged, he stormed out of the house as quietly as he could manage, shifting as soon as he was out halfway across the lawn. Already knowing, feeling her eyes, he paused, turned and looked up. Asa was standing at the window watching him, but before he could turn away, she did.

It outraged him even more.

Growling, he turned away, and took off. With the motions of an expert, he was past the underbrush in three large strides.

In wolf form, his body felt different. His senses were heightened. His mind was open, free of inhibition, his eyesight sharp and focused. He could sense others in his pack who were close to him, he could smell everything. Even the smallest creatures gave off an aroma, all of which he loved. This was when he felt most true to himself, when he could be wild and free.

Zane's ears perked up, he could hear pack members nearby, mostly omegas and deltas patrolling and hunting. Ryker was also in wolf form somewhere close.

Turning away from them all, Zane headed to a more private area before deciding to let his wolf take over. With a celebratory howl, he was running faster, on the hunt, ready for whatever dared to cross his path.

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Asa couldn't get the image of the black wolf out of her head, the way his eyes had met hers. It was the same man she had seen in the hallway talking to Ryker, she realized suddenly. She'd watched him run from the house to the edge of the forest, she hadn't seen his face, but she remembered the long hair. He'd shifted mid-run as if anxious to get away...

And in wolf form, he was so large! His fur was midnight black, but his pelt was far from perfect. She could see his battle scars, his little imperfections like the niche in his right ear. He's the Alpha, she realized suddenly. I was rude to the Alpha...

Asa pressed her fingers into her temple hard. She was supposed to blend in and now, because she couldn't control her tongue, she'd captured the attention of the Alpha and not in a good way. Her induction into the pack was sure to be interesting.