3
Wesley
Apounding painthrobbed in my skull. I groaned as the sensation hit me and clenched my eyes shut. I was aware of a pale fluorescent light coming from somewhere above my head and it was making my headache worse, but when I tried to move my arm to block it, I found my limbs heavy andalmostnumb.
All I could do was lay there, dazed and confused, wondering where I was and what wasgoingon.
Then I heard voices. Despite the overwhelming brightness, I forced myself to open my eyes. With some difficulty, I blinked until I was used to the lights. Aside from that, I had no clue to indicate my surroundings. The ceiling was white and blank, and there was almost no scent in the air at all. A prickle of discomfort ran overmyskin.
Fluorescent lights and no scent… WhereamI?
The voices came closer, and then I heard a door open. Despite the full-body ache, I turned my head and saw people filling into the room. My heart beat faster. Were these the alphas thatbeatme?
No, I realized that couldn’t be right. I remembered it now - they had left me on the border of Scarlet Ridge and Indigo Mountain, to either die or be picked up by theenemy…
I shifted uncomfortably where I lay as the menapproached.
“Hang on,” the one in front said, holding up a hand to the others. He had a gentle voice. “He’ll be overwhelmed if we all go in at once. Wait outside,please.”
The other murmured in agreement, and all left the room until it was only the man with the gentle voiceandI.
“Hello,” he said, taking a seat in the corner. “How are youfeeling?”
Wary, I only stared at him. But then I noticed the white coat around his shoulders. Was he adoctor?
“Can you speak?” he askedagain.
I tried using my voice. It was hoarse and scratchy, but itworked. “Yes.”
He smiled. “Good. I’ll introduce myself. I’m Ken Hart, of IndigoMountainpack.”
So I did manage to infiltrate the enemy pack, after all,I thought. I briefly wondered if this was the same unmated doctor Gunner had told me about, but then realized there was no way I would be that lucky. There must have been multiple doctors in this pack, and I didn’t even know if this man had a mate or not. Right now, I just had to take one step atatime.
“Can you tell me your name?” heasked.
“Wesley Fawkes,” Icroaked.
He nodded and then casually wrote something down on a clipboard on the counter. “It’s nice to meet you, Wesley. Do you know how yougothere?”
My head throbbed and I really wished this man would stop asking me questions, but I knew I had to play it nice - at least for now. But what should I tell him? Obviously not the truth, but there was only so much I could fabricate. I had to know what he knew,first.
“Did you find me?” I askedweakly.
He nodded. “Yes. Me and my packmates - the ones just waiting outside - found you injured and alone in the woods. You were unconscious, so we carried you back to town. You’re in my clinic now, and I’ve been treating you for the past few days.” He smiled gently. “It’s almost been a week since we found you. I was starting to worry you would neverwakeup.”
A week? Have I really been passed out forthatlong?
“Thank you,”Isaid.
He nodded. “Of course. It’s my job to heal the sick andinjured.”
So he found me in the woods, alone… I can make up a storyfromhere.
“Were… any of my packmates there?” I askedcautiously.
Ken frowned. “No. There was no sign of anyone else with you.” He lowered his voice seriously. “Wesley, if you’re from a different pack, you can tell me. It won’t change anything about the way I treat you, Ipromise.”
He already suspected I was from a different pack, so there was no use in hiding it now. I could use that as fuel for my story. Yes, I could see it falling into place inmymind…
