Chapter 8: Ancient Healer

Aria's POV:

The pack healer was not at all like I expected them to be. Back at Nightfang, the pack healer was an ancient woman. I wasn't sure of her age, but she seemed generations old.

The pack healer in front of me was a man, and a young one at that. He looked no older than me.

"Yes, you are poisoned." He announced, after a few minutes of checking my body.

"You seem really young," I stated.

"I recently took over." He said it with a soft smile. "But I can assure you, that doesn't make me any less qualified." He finished off, turning to Anthony.

"What can be done about it?" Anthony asked.

The healer shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure. This poison is very ancient. I haven't seen anything like it before."

An ancient poison? Wow. My life just got even better. This was the first time I'd heard of ancient poisons.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It's a hundred, maybe even more, years old. "And I'm afraid I have no cure for this poison."

"You mean you can't help her?" Anthony questioned. He was on the verge of glaring at the healer.

"I didn't say that," the Healer sighed. "With your permission, of course, we can send for more healers. I'm sure one of my kind will be able to take care of the poison."

"You're truly useless." Anthony gasped in exasperation. "I shouldn't have let your grandmother retire. Jonathan, you are a sad excuse for a healer."

I thought Anthony's words were harsh until I saw that Jonathan was smiling. "I'm so glad you think of me so highly," he replied, a bright smile on his face. "And, oh, my poor grandma." I'm sure she's tired of being a healer. I'm helping her."

I sighed softly. This wasn't what I was expecting to hear at all. "Will I die?" I interrupted the argument. Both of them looked at me. "If there is no cure for this poison, will I die?"

"Why would you be having such thoughts?" Anthony asked with a low voice. "You're not going to die."

"She could die." Jonathan interjected. Anthony glared hotly at him. "What I mean to say is that, if I'm correct, the poison is suppressing her wolf." There's only so many years we can live without being in touch with our wolves. "

"Then start sending out the invitations already!" Anthony yelled at him.

Jonathan flinched. "I will do that! It's just a lot of paperwork. There are tens of packs out there; do you know how long it will take to start sending out invitations? Plus, our reputation with them isn't exactly the best right now, and..."

Anthony stormed up to him and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, lifting him off the ground. "Is that a problem?" He hissed. I saw his eyes turn red again.

Jonathan shook his head. "N-not at all!"

"I'll get started right away!"

"That's much better."

"Alpha Anthony, please stop."

Anthony turned to me. He sighed, letting go of Jonathan. The healer quickly got to his feet, brushing himself off.

"I'll be taking my leave now." He said with a rushed bow. Before I could thank him, he had rushed out of the room.

Just as he was walking out, a man walked into the room. He bowed to Anthony then me.

"You sent for me?" The man asked facing Anthony.

"Alpha Aria, this is Elijah, my beta." Anthony introduced the man. "Elijah, this is Alpha Aria of Nightfang."

Elijah smiled, a warm gesture that didn't reach his dark brown eyes. "A pleasure to meet you, alpha Aria."

"And you too "

"Jonathan will meet with you in a few minutes." Anthony started to say. "Work with him to send out invitations to healers. As many as possible."

"Yes, my Lord." Elijah replied. "Is there anything else?"

"That would be all. You may leave."

Elijah walked out of the room, leaving behind a heavy silence. I turned my gaze to Anthony.

"You didn't have to do that."

"Do what in particular?"

"Send for the healers. You don't have to do that. "

He crossed the space between us. He crouched down to my eye level, his gaze burning into mine. "Alpha Aria, you have your pack to recover. Right?"

I nodded.

"And you can't do such if you're weak. The first thing on our list is to regain your strength."

"Our list?"

"Yes. I gave you my word to help you. And I will do just that. Even if that means sending for the entire healers on the planet. I will do that."

I felt my heart skip a beat. "But why? Why are you doing all this?"

"Because I can, and because I want to." He smiled, his eyes lighting up. "It's not that deep."

I laughed. "It's not that deep..."

I can't help but feel nervous about his help. I know he means no harm, but I still feel uneasy deep down.

"You asked about Cordelia." Anthony leaned back, taking seat opposite the bed.

Ah yes. At breakfast, I had asked about her. It skipped my mind just now with the whole drama about healers and ancient poison. But now I wasn't so curious anyway.

"Don't bother about it." I said with a wave. "It's nothing serious. Not too deep."

A knock sounded on the door and Elijah walked in. "My Lord, lady Cordelia has requested audience with you."

Oh. Here comes my curiosity right back.