Chapter 206

Amber’s POV

The next morning, Julian, Rafael, Alice, and I returned to the rogue town. I’d received some kickback from Rafael and from Julian about bringing Alice this time, but I didn’t feel like she would be in any danger this time, especially since we were delivering such good news.

In addition, Rafael had already begun having clean water and goods delivered to the town, so they weren’t as closed off as they once had been. Rafael also told me that he had some groups working on cleaning the water.

Besides, I wanted Alice to meet Matthew, for them to learn about each other and not feel so alone in the world. Plus, since Alice knew the potion worked, she might be able to help convince the nervous Matthew to take it himself.

When we arrived at the town, the road was being repaired. It still wasn’t safe enough to travel on with a car, but in a few days’ time, it seemed like it might be reconnected to the rest of the world.

For now, some strong werewolves were hauling large boxes of supplies down the road.

We followed along their trail toward the town.

As we reached the edge of the city, previously where the guards had been, the guards had dispersed. Bill was still there, watching over things, but the guns were well hidden, if not entirely gone.

Jessica was with him too, and she froze in shock when she saw us coming – Rafael, especially.

“What is this?” she asked. “I didn’t expect you to show your face here again.”

“My sister made a cure for little Matthew,” Rafael said, matter-of-factly. “We are here to deliver it.”

That quieted Jessica for a moment, but then, glancing at me like she wasn’t quite sure what to think. “I’ll go with you to make sure you aren’t going to try anything.”

“Jessica,” Bill said.

“I’ll be fine, Billy. Just make sure the rest of this all goes smoothly.”

Bill looked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he just nodded. “You can rely on me.”

“I know that,” Jessica told him. To the rest of us, she said, “Come on.”

We followed her in silence, with Rafael walking almost beside her and the rest of us behind. Things were tense for a little while, while Alice looked all around, taking in the sights. People didn’t seem as afraid of us as they had been before. Now they were coming out of their houses to stare, curious.

Almost to the house, Jessica told Rafael, “You surprised me with all of this. I truly did not believe that you cared that much about us.”

“My sister and her mate are an unfortunate good influence on me,” Rafael explained. “I’m not the same man I was all those years ago. I wouldn’t make the same mistakes today.”

“That remains to be seen,” Jessica said sharply. But then, after a moment, she said more softly, “Thank you. You are helping these people, and saving this town. I’m not sure how much longer we could have held out without this help.”

“We’ll see how things evolve in the future,” Rafael said.

“You’d be open to something else?” Jessica said.

“We’ll see,” Rafael said, committing to nothing. But from where I was standing, how I could see it, it seemed like he was leaving the door open for more. Whether that meant more relations between the pack and the rogue town, or more relations between the two of them personally, I wasn’t sure.

Either way, it felt like a solid step forward.

When we reached the house and Florence opened the door, she seemed overwhelmingly surprised to see us, especially so soon.

“I have the cure,” I told her.

“I need to sit down,” she said in reply. “I think I’m going to faint.”

We helped her back inside and to her rocking chair. Matthew met us there. His eyes were wide with fright seeing so many of us, but when he looked at Alice, he calmed a little.

“Who are you?” he asked her.

“I’m Alice,” she said. “Who are you?”

“Matthew.”

“Oh. The one like me?”

“Do you…?” Matthew touched the necklace around his neck. “Does your wolf sometimes come to you to?”

“She used to,” Alice said. “I used to hear her crying all the time. But not since Mommy gave me this medicine. Now it’s quiet in my head. They say my wolf will come back, but it will be when I’m older and ready for it. And my wolf will be ready for me then too.”

Matthew listened carefully and then nodded critically. “And the medicine works?”

“I think so.”

“Does it taste bad?”

“Yes,” Alice said plainly. “But I think it’s worth it.”

Matthew looked at Alice a minute more, like he was trying to figure out if she was lying or not. But Alice was a very earnest girl, so he must have been able to tell she wasn’t lying.

Looking away from her, he focused on me. “I’d like the medicine please.”

“Of course,” I said at once, and immediately retrieved it from my bag. Holding it in hand, I walked toward him and then gave it to him.

His dosage was slightly more than Alice’s, as he was older, but it was otherwise exactly the same.

At this point he didn’t hesitate. He simply opened the bottle and downed the whole thing, without even needing me to tell him how to do it.

When he finished, he put the cap back on the bottle and handed the entire thing to me.

“How do you feel?” I asked him.

He was quiet for a moment, considering.

“Matthew?” Florence asked him, also concerned. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” he said then.

“Do you feel better?” Florence asked him.

“Yeah,” he said.

“You don’t need that necklace anymore,” I told him.

Carefully, he lifted the necklace up and over his neck. Then he handed it to me.

“Still good?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said. Truly a man of few words. But he didn’t seem in distress so I trusted him.

“Thank you, Healer Amber,” Florence said. “Truly. I didn’t know this was possible…” Tears started to well in her eyes. “I’m so sorry for doubting you. We’ve been hurt before, and I…”

“It’s alright,” I said. “I’m just glad I could help. And none of this would have been possible without you and Matthew. So I should be the one thanking you.”

“Your visit has been something of a surprise,” Jessica added. “I don’t think any of us expected good to come from the Alpha being here.”

“Glad to know that we helped open your mind a little,” Rafael said.

Jessica hummed. “I need to go. I trust you can find your own way out of town.” She didn’t wait for our reply. She just turned and left.

When she was gone, Florence looked at Rafael more closely. “Be careful, young man,” she said. “Jessica has a strong heart, but that doesn’t mean it will not be broken a second time.”

“I want nothing to do with her heart,” Rafael said and left the room, almost as quickly as Jessica.

Julian and I glanced at each other.

Rafael didn’t tell us anything. He barely spoke at all, even after we arrived home.

I wondered if his previous relationship with Jessica would remain a mystery forever. Maybe that was for the best. Whatever it had been, it was in the past, and it seemed better to not stir up old troubles and wounds once more.

Julian and I were content in letting this go. In fact, all we really wanted to do now was eat some ice cream and crawl into bed.

Yet, before that could happen, Anna met us in the hallway. “You have to see the news.”

Stomach sinking, we followed her to the living room and to the television that was already blaring, with Tony there, standing in front of a slew of microphones, giving a makeshift interview.

“All of this is why I fully intend to take over as Alpha…”