Howl of Destiny: Alpha Lira's Legend novel Chapter 6

Lira's POV:

Once I left the Hidmoon Pack behind, I entered a thick, ancient forest.

Giant trees blocked out the sky. A low mist hung in the air. Under my feet, layers of dead leaves made a soft, crunching sound with every step.

As I pushed a low-hanging branch aside, I thought in my mind about where to find Kael.

Before Mom died, she only gave me his name. She didn't have time to tell me more.

I knew nothing about him.

Who was he?

Why was it so important that I find him?

I was lost in thought when Victoria's voice stirred in my mind. Lily. Do you sense any of our kind nearby?

Lily's reply was gentle and respectful. I only smell ordinary animals. No wolf scent.

No. I smell it. It's faint, but it's there. Over there. Victoria's tone was insistent. She pulled my attention to the right.

I hadn't walked far when I saw him. A man, lying in the grass less than three feet ahead.

He wore black, tactical-looking clothes, now torn in several places. His stomach and left leg were a mess of dark, dried blood. His face was pale as chalk. His eyes were shut tight. His breathing was shallow.

He doesn't even smell like a werewolf. Maybe he's human. Lily mused, curious.

Don't be ridiculous. Victoria shot back immediately. He's extremely strong. No human has that. I can catch his wolf scent—faint, but pure. His wolf spirit is sleeping, probably forced into hibernation by the wounds.

Lira. We must treat him.

I was surprised. Victoria was usually so cold, so proud. She rarely showed concern for strangers. Yet here she was, sounding almost... protective.

Even if she hadn't spoken, I would have helped. Healing was the mission of the Hidmoon Pack.

I knelt beside him. My fingers were just about to check his pulse when his eyes snapped open.

They were deep eyes. Sharp and fierce, blazing with a warning. He looked ready to attack.

"Don't move," I said softly, keeping my voice calm. "You're badly hurt. Struggling will make it worse."

He glared at me, a low growl rumbling in his throat.

I didn't flinch. Slowly, I pulled out my medical kit from the pack: disinfectant, bandages, a scalpel, healing powder. My movements were gentle but sure as I started to clean the wounds.

His eyes followed my hands. The sharp edge of his glare slowly softened. A look of questions took its place.

Once I got a clearer look, my stomach dropped.

The gashes across his abdomen were nasty, deep enough to see bone. His left leg was worse. Blood vessels and nerves were badly torn. With his wolf spirit asleep, his body couldn't heal itself. Without surgery, he'd lose the leg.

Focus. He is strong. He can endure it. Victoria's gentle but firm voice quickly calmed me down.

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