Chapter 13

Clay’s P.O.V

The fogs cleared from my mind, but not completely. But after a long time, I could finally stand on two feet.

How long has it been? How many days? Weeks? Years? The fact that I now had the knowledge of time was a good thing.

I looked up at the woman who had given me this chance…and watched her eyes roll back into her head as she fell to the ground.

Moving fast, I caught her in my arms before she could hit the floor. The stench of blood coming from her momentarily threw me off-guard.

She was a healer, she was good. We did not harm healers.

I looked at the wolves gathered around us, their eyes all glowing red as they looked at me in astonishment. I bare my teeth at them in a growl and they immediately bow their head.

Good, I think to myself as relief comes to me. I am still the Alpha. They still obey me. But then, how am I in human form now?

A small movement from the woman in my arms snapped my attention to her. She was bleeding from her ears, her eyes and her nose. I used one of my hands to wipe the blood, but it only smeared it all on her face.

But what should I do? She needs a healer fast.

The castle!

The idea came to me suddenly and even though I wanted to reject it right away, I knew it was the only place she would be safe.

My thoughts were getting more and more clear as time went by, the fog pushing back little by little. But there was so much I didn’t know yet. Who was I? This woman called me Clay before she fell…then was that my name?

Picking her up, I held her tightly in my arms and made my way through the pack and out of the building. I might be seeing this for the first time through the human’s eyes, but the wolf knew its way. My wolf also knew the woman in my arms, but I couldn’t place it yet.

She had a scent to her, under all the blood, the scent of earth and flowers. It was captivating and I felt myself nuzzle close to her to get that scent. Her head was on my shoulders and even though she was covered in a cloak, her warmth reached my body and heated me from the inside out.

Lightning flashed in the sky, making me jump. I growled up at the sky and then, rain began to fall heavily.

Another growl left my throat and I took shelter under a tree to keep her from getting wet.

I looked down at the woman again, unable to keep my eyes off her. I felt like I knew her. There was something about her that I couldn’t name, but I could feel.

I felt a strange pain in my chest, not the pain I was feeling when I was shot…no this pain was different. It was intense and it hurt different. If only I knew what this pain was…

Another lightning and the rain slowed, but I felt the woman shiver in my arms.

I wrapped my arms around her tighter, but she didn’t stop shivering.

I had to go to the castle. The people there wanted to harm us but they won’t harm her…she was a healer. So I started walking again, holding her as close as possible.

The castle came into view after a while. I didn’t know how long I walked or in which direction, but I let the memories of my wolf guide me.

I stopped a bit far from the castle, not wanting to get injured again. She had healed me, this woman…this wolf. And her scent called to me.

But when it came time to let her go…I couldn’t.

I couldn’t place her on the ground and walk away. I couldn’t leave her.

The blood had been washed away by the rain and her face looked like an angel, even in the darkness. I couldn’t even look away from her beautiful face.

Slowly, I knelt on the ground and placed her down gently, shielding her face with my body. The rain wasn’t heavy but it would hurt her when it hit. I didn’t want her to get hurt.

I hated this fog clouding my mind. Hated that I couldn’t remember anything. I could think; I could understand, but I couldn’t do much else. Why? Why was I like this? What happened to me that made me like this?

A sharp pain in my head had me growling deep in my throat. What was happening?

“So you can turn back to your human form now?”

My head snapped up to look at the man who had appeared without a sound. How had I not heard him come? I jumped in front of the woman to protect her from the threat, ready to rip them to shreds, but when I looked up at the male; I didn’t want to fight him anymore.

He had long white hair and blue eyes and he seemed familiar too. He was wearing a grey cloak to save him from the rain and most of his body was covered, but I could tell he was strong. Moreover, he had the scent of an Alpha.

“It’s alright, Clay.” He held up his hands to me. “I do not want to harm you or Flora. I’m here to take her to a healer.”

Flora…

I knew that name! I turned to look back at the woman. Yes, it fit her. Flora…Flora…

I liked that name.

I turned back to the white haired Alpha. “Help?”

My voice sounded rough and almost inaudible, but he heard it.

“Yes.” He nodded his head and crouched down to my level. “I will take her to a healer. Will you let me do that?”

I nodded and stood up. He rose too, but took Flora in his arms. A growl came from my throat then, my nails extending to claws. I didn’t like other man touching her!

“It’s alright. It’s alright.” The Alpha spoke, trying to calm me. “I’m her Alpha, her guardian. I’ll take her to the healer.”

I looked at Flora, balling my hands into fists as the pain in my chest returned. I didn’t want to let her go. I didn’t want to lose her…

Not after I just found her again.

The voice came from inside my head; it was the voice of the wolf and it was certain that it knew her.

“You can come see her again.” The Alpha smiled. “But I’m sure she’ll go running back to you as soon as she’s awake.”

I frowned, but didn’t say anything. The Alpha turned to leave and I had to stop myself from following him. No! He wasn’t a friend! He tried to kill us!

But he suddenly stopped and turned back. “I have some clean clothes in a bag. It’s behind that tree. Wear some and take the rest with you. You’ll need them from now on.”

With that, he turned and walked inside the gates of the castle and the doors closed behind him and Flora.

I stood there for a long time, but the guards outside didn’t come after me. They didn’t attack. So I went in the direction the Alpha had pointed at before and got the clothes. It was a big bag and had many clothes and other things. I dressed quickly and slung the bag on my back.

It was now time to face my pack again…and find out what was going on with me.