Chapter 1: Werewolves' Cure: Benji's Second Chance

Follow up to The Dark Alpha's Pet 

Benji’s POV

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I groan to myself as I try to ignore the annoying screeching sound of the alarm clock going off for the third time this morning. I slap my hand down on top of the metal demon of mornings and roll back into my warm comfy comforter.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Slam! Scratch that… Fourth time. I turn my head enough to look out the window. The sun is beginning its peak-a-boo game over the tops of the surrounding trees which makes me scowl. Damn sun ruining what little sleep I get.

To say I am a morning person would be the lie of the century. Mornings just mean I am waking up to another day without… Him… My mate is gone, and my heart still doesn’t believe it. Gregory was the Head warrior of the Blue Eclipse Pack and my biggest cheerleader for my medical career. He was strong, funny, handsome, and very kinky! Everything about him was the key to my reason for living. His death nearly killed me and… I close my eyes, willing my tears to remain unshed. Thoughts of that night only bring sadness, and I can’t allow myself to go back to those memories.

I look over at my bedside table and see the picture we took together at the Summer Moon Festival, a couple days after we met. The black frame slightly covered in dust reminds me it’s been over five years, and I am here but he’s not. Our smiling faces are frozen in time that I was the happiest. His Metal of Valiant Honor clipped to the frame is all that remains of my brave, brave warrior.

‘Dahlia… Are you there?’ I reach out to my wolf through our link like I do every morning, but like always, it’s silent. Since the night at the Winter Moon Ball, the night of Gregory’s murder, she has gone dormant. It isn’t unheard of for a wolf to fall silent during a tragedy, but for over five years, it’s definitely cause for concern. I am beginning to doubt she will ever return. She misses her mate just as I miss Gregory.

The sound of “Mr. Blue Sky” By Electric Light Orchestra vibrates from my phone. That ringtone always helps put a little pep in my somber mood. I accept the call and tap the speaker.

“Good morning, Gray.” I say groggily, sitting up in the bed to place my feet onto the wooden floors.

“Hey boss lady! I got the results back from Luna Lia’s labs.” Gray says with a cheery tone. “You were right, there were traces of magic residue in her skin cells. To think dandruff gave her away!” He continues with a chuckle.

I knew it. “We need to tell the Beta about the findings since he is the one who asked for our help. Without evidence, the Alpha won’t believe his chosen mate is manipulating him with magic.”

“Already on it! We already called the Beta this morning to warn him, and he is going to have some warriors search her room for any magical devices or potions while she is out shopping.” Gray says when a scuffle Is heard in the background.

“Don’t say WE! I CALLED HIM!” A female voice calls out. “Hey Dr. Mason!” Ashley’s voice comes through the speaker. A muffled argument of it doesn’t matter who did what makes me chuckle. Those two, I swear….

“Good morning, Ashley, good work. Gray, I am texting you a list of additional tests I want to run, and I want the results as quickly as possible. I want this case solved by the end of the day. Also, I want the list of the packs that are part of the wolfsbane trials on my desk as well. Ashley, tell Dr. Bennet, we need to double check the blood results of the warriors to make sure they are healthy for the third round of trials. I will see you in about an hour or so in the lab. I have to run over to the hospital to check on some patients this morning.”

The wolfsbane trials were what put me on my medical path to being the top werewolf doctor in the states. I had invented a vaccine to help warriors build an immunity to wolfsbane as my final thesis project in school. But that is not what gave me the title of “Sherlock of Medicine.” I have always been a fan of medical mysteries and solving unexplained medical and magical problems that plague the werewolf community came naturally to me. When the original Alpha King unexpectedly died, I was the one who was able to sift through the clues and find he was killed by the Dark Alpha using human poison. Since then packs have been coming to me for help.

I hang up the phone and do my morning routine. After my shower, I decide to just let my long hair dry naturally. ‘I miss the pink’ I think to myself as I stare at my reflection in the mirror above my bathroom vanity. The shoulder length pink and blonde has long grown out, leaving my natural caramel color blonde hair in its wake. I apply a little bit of makeup to cover up the dark circles under my emerald eyes. My tired and sore eyes need a break, so I opt for my glasses instead of contacts. My emerald eyes no longer sparkle as I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose but seem lifeless and dull.

Once dressed in my hospital scrubs and ready to tackle my day, I make my way down to the kitchen for some much-needed sustenance of life – Coffee. My housekeeper sees me and nods her head with a good morning greeting before making her way around me with cleaning supplies in hand. I smile at her warmly and return the greeting before entering the kitchen. While waiting for the coffee machine to warm up, I scroll through my phone; making mental notes of each text and email I need to respond back too and their order of importance.

Text: Nurse Amy – The patient is doing fine after the surgery. The surgery you performed yesterday was remarkable. He mentioned some pain in his repaired hip. Would you like me to administer some pain medication? Can’t believe this 85-yr old wolf is already talking about getting back on the ladder to finish painting his barn. Isn’t that how he fell in the first place?

Text: Nurse Rita – Just a reminder about your appointment this morning with warrior Ryse to discuss the repair to his ACL.

Text: Patrick – Luna Ciara, Beta Freya and I are having lunch in the garden, would you like to join us?

I quickly respond to the hospital text messages, giving full instructions to the nurses and politely decline lunch with my friends. Today is not the day because I am so busy, but lately today never seems to be the day for me to spend time with my friends. I really am a crappy friend, but I find I am better with solitude then trying to pretend I am ok in front of those I love. Shaking away my intrusive thoughts, I move on to the emails.

Email: Dr. Mason, My name is Trish Rose, I am a reporter from the Daily Magical Gazette. I would like to schedule an interview with you. The public wants to know why you are called “the Sherlock of Medicine!”  To me you seem like a scam, and I think the public needs to know the truth about how you are taking advantage of packs with little to no money! I bet you even charge for fake results! I think it’s time to expose your lies! Here is my contact information, contact me. If you don’t then I will know that what I have discovered about you is all true and it will go to print!

Email: Dr. Mason, have you considered my proposal about collaborating together on a research project? I attached the proposal again. There are big profits if we collaborate! I know you said no twice already, but you need to reconsider. If you don’t reconsider than I will take my grievances to the Magical Creature council and have your license revoked for stealing my discoveries.

I take a sip of the hot silky goodness of my dark roast coffee with caramel creamer. The warmth fills me with some sort of residual of life then I roll my eyes while scanning the emails. On and on, the emails are all pretty much the same. People hating on me or trying to use my success for their own gain for profit. Then I receive one email that makes all the negative nonsense go away. I smile at the sweet words.

Email: Dr. Mason – You are truly remarkable. My husband has finally made a full recovery because of your treatments. The pack has their Alpha back and it’s all thanks to you! Please have your Alpha send us an invoice for your services, I just don’t feel right not to pay for what you did for our pack. I know you said you will never accept payment for helping packs in need, but I must do something to show my appreciation. Please tell me what I owe you. Sincerely Luna Amy.

I quickly respond by suggesting for compensation for my services, she donate to her pack’s school for a new science lab or donate new books to her pack’s library. I also offer to match her donation so that future generations can benefit. I explain our pups are what our packs are built on and having more kids in science and reading will lead to packs flourishing beyond our wildest dreams.

Once I hit send, I place my empty coffee cup into the dish washer and grab my keys to make my way to the hospital for my morning rounds. My 1965 Volkswagen beetle is parked in front of the two-story cabin that Gregory built.

Outside the air is cool and crisp from the beginning signs of spring. But there’s something in the air causing me to feel uneasy about today. Could it just be the beginning of spring or something more?