Chapter 45

Claire POV

My days at the clinic passed quickly, as usual. There were always more patients to see, to talk with and help. And the joy that work brought me was hard to describe.

Becoming a healer truly had given my life shape, meaning and purpose.

I wasn’t just a wolfless Omega anymore, someone to be looked down on. Pitied at best, mistreated at worst.

No, I was a doctor, a talented healer, a respected member of the clinic.

And yet…

An underlying sadness had crept into my days.

I hadn’t heard back from Andy about the letter I sent him, and wrestled with both disappointment and wondering what his silence might mean.

Did he not believe me? It must have been a shock, being told that I was his mother like that, seeing the words spelled out so starkly. Maybe he just didn’t think I was telling the truth.

Or he did believe me, and just didn’t care. Maybe he truly didn’t want me in his life anymore, especially now that he had Sabrina. With the Princess engaged to Nathan, Andy now had a real mother figure in his life.

Not just some nanny who’d been too scared to reveal the truth, and so lied to him for years.

Either way, the silence hurt.

And yet, while I regretted not telling my son in person that I was his real mother, I also wondered if this way was better. Having him reject me in person would have been even harder to handle.

It might have been too much for me to bear.

Amelia tried to raise my spirits whenever she could, especially during our lunch or coffee breaks. She’d started jokingly referring to me as “Princess” or “Your Highness,” since the Royal Alpha had seemed so sure I was somehow a missing member of the royal family.

Her jokes amused me at first, and I played along. But they, too, added to my sadness.

While I hadn’t really had any hope that the Royal Alpha would somehow find proof of a long lost Royal heritage, the thought of living a different life brought the life I’d actually lived here in the Silverfang pack into stark contrast.

As a Royal, I would have lived a life of safety, comfort and acceptance. I’d have gone to all the best schools, and been able to focus on a career in medicine and healing so much sooner.

I would have had family, friends. A life, a purpose.

As an orphaned and wolfless Omega, my life had instead been cold, harsh and lonely.

I’d been at the bottom of the pecking order for my entire life, suffering day after day of cruelties both large and small. And no one did anything to help me, or to stop the mistreatment.

It wasn’t until I came to the clinic disguised as “Dr. Green” that I finally experienced the acceptance and respect.

Part of my sadness lately had been about leaving Silverfang territory, and people like Amelia who truly loved me. But I longed to start over somewhere, some place I could have a chance at a life untouched by my Omega past.

I began to think about leaving every single day.

But the fact that I still had no idea where to go added to my depression.

And then an unexpected visitor arrived at the clinic, asking to speak with me specifically.

Amelia burst into my office, her eyes wide. Startled, I looked up from the paperwork I almost had finished for the day. At first I was alarmed, wondering if something was wrong.

“What is it?” I said, standing quickly. “What’s happened?”

“Claire, there’s…someone here, asking to see you. He’s a giant! I - I think he’s an Alpha!”

An Alpha, here to see me??

Before I could think, another knock tapped on my door. Amelia opened it, then took a startled step back.

And I could see why.

A massive man stood in the doorway, his shoulders almost as wide as the frame. Taking Amelia’s step back as an invitation, he stepped into the room, ducking his head to avoid knocking it against the top of the door.

And the room immediately felt smaller.

“Dr. Green, I presume?” he said, smiling at me politely.

“My name is Alpha Soren, leader of the Bloodclaw pack. I’d like to speak with you. Privately, if I may.”

I exchanged looks with Amelia, both of us in shock. We’d heard of Alpha Soren. Both he and his pack had a reputation for being strong, cunning and particularly ruthless.

So what did he want with me??

After a moment I nodded at Amelia, who excused herself and hurried out of the room.

As soon as the door shut behind her, leaving us alone, Alpha Soren’s smile widened, showing his sharp incisors.

“That’s better.” He stepped forward, extending his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Green.”

I shook his hand, a little stunned by the way my hand disappeared inside his. The heat from his hand was searing.

“It-it’s nice to meet you as well, Alpha,” I stammered. “Please, have a seat.”

He seemed amused by my nervousness, and watched me as he sat in the chair across from my desk.

I sat down as well, taking a breath and trying to get my bearings. A visit from a strange Alpha was a shock, and I had no idea why he might be here. Or what he wanted with me.

“What can I do for you, Alpha Soren?”

“Actually, it might be better to think of it as what I can do for you, Dr. Green.”

At his ease, Alpha Soren leaned back in the seat and propped his ankle up on his knee. He looked like he was settled in for a comfortable chat with a friend.

So why did I feel like a prey animal, being watched and studied? About to be pounced on.

It was his eyes. Everything else about him seemed relaxed - but his eyes were dark and sharp, and I had no doubt that they didn’t miss a single detail.

Amusement passed over his face again, while he watched me study him. He seemed to be enjoying the mix of interest and caution I was feeling.

“I’ll speak plainly, Dr. Green. I’ve heard about your recent troubles here, as well as your…let’s say ‘unusual’ position within the pack.”

I blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

“It means I am well aware that an Omega serving as a pack doctor isn’t something some people would easily accept. And that you were nearly arrested as a result.”

My eyes widened. “You heard about that? How?”

He gave a casual half shrug. “I keep my ear to the ground. It pays to know what’s going on in other packs. You never know what useful information may turn up.

“Including the fact that a miraculous healer has suddenly emerged, almost out of nowhere.”

Once again I felt his eyes zero in on me, and I kept my face as blank as possible. I still didn’t know what this man wanted, and I was determined not to give him any information about who I really was, where I’d been before I came to the clinic - or who I’d been with.

After a moment I responded carefully. “It’s true, my powers did manifest quite unexpectedly. And because I am an Omega there has been some…difficulty in getting some people to trust that I am a capable healer.”

He tsked and shook his head. “The Silverfang pack should be ashamed of its treatment of you. Dr. Green, your powers are incredible, and by all accounts you are not just a gifted healer. You’re a kind person.

“And you deserve better.”

He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward in his seat. “Which is why I’m here to offer you a position at my own clinic.

“I want you to become a member of the Bloodclaw pack.”

Stunned, I stared at Alpha Soren.

He was offering me not only a job but also pack membership??

Despite the unexpectedness of this sudden visit, a spark of hope lit up inside me.

This could finally be what I’d been hoping for.

This could be my way out of the Silverfang pack, once and for all.