Saving Grace

Chapter 2

   Beeping. Why the hell is there beeping? I thought to my self as I lay on a very uncomfortable bed with my eyes squeezed shut. I could smell something unfamiliar as I let myself be overtaken by what I assumed was the smell of a vanilla scented candle. The one thing that I still had, even without the strength or shifting of a normal wolf, was my smell. Why? I have no idea.

   The sound of voices brought me out of my thoughts as I kept my eyes closed, eaves dropping on the conversation.

   "She should be okay, I believe your daughter is more ill than you originally thought her to be." A masculine voice sounded throughout the otherwise quiet room.

   "What do you mean doctor?" My mother sounded as if she was on the verge of hysteria.

   "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if the spell isn't lifted off of her soon, then I don't think she will live past her twentieth birthday." The doctor replied, seemingly distressed and deep in thought.

  My mother's sobs were quiet as she tried to keep them in as much as possible.

   "Is there any way that you know of to help her?" This time it was my father who spoke.

   "Your best bet is to take the Alpha's offer and join the pack. That way you will have access to more werewolf sources, as well as, the pack's library. There is over fifty thousand books here." The doctor informed my parents.

   "I'll do anything to help my daughter." My father stated, sounding tired and in need of sleep.

   "I will tell the Alpha, and we can set up the coronation for all three of you as soon as your daughter is well enough." The doctor replied.

   I heard a door shut and I slowly opened my eyes. Looks of concern and worry covered both my parents' faces.

   "Sweetheart!" My mother exclaimed as she hugged me gently. "I'm so glad you're awake."

  "How long was I out mom?" I asked when she finally let go of me.

  My mom looked up to my dad, not sure if she should tell me or not.

   "You were out for thirteen hours. It was longer than most other times. It's starting to get worse according to your parents' information." I was startled when the same masculine voice that was talking to my parents, spoke again.

   There was a certain smell that traveled through the air, and to my nostrils. It was very intriguing and it left me wanting more. The smell consisted of pine trees and campfires. It was an absolutely amazing smell, and it reminded me of back when I was a little child. My parents and I used to have campfires every weekend we could, and the smell had become oddly comforting to me.

    I started to get up off the bed to follow the smell, when a hand shot out to push me back.

   "What are you doing?" I asked on the verge of tears. I wanted the smell as close to me as possible. It was seeming to give me a small ray of hope in my life of angst.

   "You need to stay here and rest." The doctor told me, whose name I yet had to learn.

   As if reading my mind the doctor excused himself. "My apologies, I am the doctor and Beta of this pack, Dr. Richard Peterson. You can call me Rich." Rich stuck out his hand, a gesture for me to shake it. I did so and then eyed him warily.

   "Where exactly am I?" I questioned Rich, while taking in his appearance. He stood about 5'11" and had blonde hair that was spiked up. He was wearing a doctor's coat and scrubs. He also had brown eyes that somehow stuck out against his olive complexion. He was fit, as most werewolves, but gave off a sort of sense that meant he was a fighter, as well as Beta.

   "You are in the Scarlet Summit pack house's hospital wing." The doctor replied. Before anything else was said, the wonderful smell of pine and campfires hit my nose again.

   I tried getting up once more but was again pushed back down onto the uncomfortable bed. I glared at Rich who seemed oblivious to it. Probably because he was Beta, he thinks he's all high power and crap.

  "Can't I just go home?" I whined to my mother.

   "No, sweetie." My mother said.

   "And why not?" I questioned grumpily.

  "You need to stay here so that Dr. Peterson can keep an eye on you. Now stop pestering your mother, you're staying here until you are cleared to go home." My father responded.

   "Actually, once you become part of the pack, you'll either move in here, or move into a house on the pack's territory." Rich informed my parents and I.

   There was a slight knock on the door, and my mother went to answer it. Voices could be heard as my mother returned to the room, followed by the Alpha and Luna of Scarlet Summit Pack.

   "How are you Grace?" The Alpha asked me.

   "I feel fine. I just want to go back home now." I replied testily.

   "How would you like to move into the newly built house on the edge of the territory. It will seem just like the one you are in now. It's further away from other houses, it's surrounded by woods, and no one will bother you there. Does that seem like a good deal?" The Alpha's offer did interest me. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad if it was similar to our home now.

   "Alpha Camus, that sounds like a wonderful offer." My mother agreed all too easily.

   "What about school, and interaction with werewolves of her age?" My father replied in a protective manner.

   "My wife Lorena and I will make sure that no harm will come to your daughter at the hands of any werewolf within our pack." Alpha Camus replied. I became lost in thought as I ogled at the beauty of Lorena's name. It wasn't until I heard my name being called that I once again realized I had zoned out.

   "Yes?" I responded to the Luna.

   "Would you like to meet and become a part of the pack today?" I thought over Lorena's question until I was sure of whether or not I was ready for such a big change to happen in my life.

   "Yes Luna, if you and Alpha Camus are willing to take on a burden as big as myself." I replied with my head slightly bowed.

   "You are not a burden my dear child." Alpha Camus informed me. "You are a blessing to have."

   "Thank you Alpha." I responded to his kindness.

   "You should all go and get ready, we will inform the pack of you joining us, and have the coronation at six tonight." Lorena said warmly.

   I suddenly became nervous when I realized that this would be my first time meeting and interacting with other werewolves besides my parents. I immediately wondered what they would think of me. I wondered if they would treat me as equal, or if they would treat me as a reject that would die within the next three years. The other thing running through my mind was the scent that had  had my nose going wild just a few minutes earlier. Would I be able to catch it again tonight and hopefully meet the person attached to it?

   I was praying that I would.