Chapter 15

Harper’s POV

Early the next morning, I quickly dress and pull on the new white lab coat that was waiting in a small box outside my door.

Dr. Harper Lewis is embroidered on the front left pocket, over my heart, and a little sensation of happiness fills me. I’ll have to remember to thank Nora when I see her. She’s always thoughtful and does what she can to make me feel better, and this definitely worked.

I was dreading the day since I know I’ll see the idiot doctors, but as I run my fingers over the doctors white coat, I smile.

Leaving my room, I head toward Alpha Lucas’s office in the pack house while I make a mental to-do list. I need to check on the Alpha to make sure he’s healing well from the poison and injuries, then I need to check the pack hospital to see what I can do to help the current patients.

There seems to have been some trouble recently, so I’m sure there are patients waiting to be treated.

First, I head toward Alpha Lucas’s office. Before I can reach my destination, and as I move past the hospital wing, several men block my path. They’re the doctors from yesterday, and none of them looks happy to see me.

“How dare you come here?” One man with dark hair sneers.

“Trying to plead for mercy from the Alpha?” Another laughs, smacking his friend on the arm like he’s funny.

The third man chuckles, then looks me over, his nose scrunching like he smelled something bad, “Don’t expect us to put in a good word for you. You’re not welcomed here.”

Honestly, I don’t give a damn about them or their opinions of me. I look past them, at the hallway that would lead me up to the Alpha’s office. If I can just get past them, I could get to work. So, I try to go around them, but an arm flies up and stops me.

“No way we’re letting a rogue bitch see the Alpha again.”

Sighing, I step back to make sure no one of them can touch me as I say, “The Alpha told me to come back.”

Loud, disbelieving laughter fills the hallway, and I sigh again. They just continue pushing my buttons, and I can’t hold back my response.

“Do you really think that I’d be here otherwise?” I ask, and their laughter dies down. “I’m not stupid enough to hang around where I’m not wanted, like the three of you do.”

The dark haired man lunges at me. He’s faster and grabs me by the shoulder, shoves me back, and snarls in my face. Pain burns through the mark from his touch, and even though I try to push him off, he doesn’t budge.

“I could tear you apart anytime I wanted to, rogue bitch. You’ve been thrown out of the pack twice, don’t think you have any power here,” he growls. I try to hold in the whimper of pain, but it slips past my lips, making the men chuckle. He releases me, and I take a deep breath as I move several steps away.

“Who are you going to rip apart?”

Every head whips up, and I breathe a sigh of relief when Lucas moves to stand in front of the men. Peeking around Lucas’s form, I notice all the doctors stiffen and freeze. The man who grabbed me turns beat red and steps back.

“I told Harper to stay on as a healer,” Alpha Lucas announces pointedly.

“Because you’re no use to the Alpha,” I can’t help but add. Lucas glances at me over his shoulder, and I notice the little smirk pulling at his lips.

None of them dare to talk back with Alpha Lucas here.

With the doctors watching us silently, I follow the Alpha down the hall and to his office. When he closes the door behind me, he sighs.

“I don’t know if that was brave or foolish.”

“I couldn’t let them think I would just hide behind you,” I say, setting my medical bag down. “I may be weak, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let them push me around.”

Lucas hums and perches on the edge of his desk, watching me closely.

“I came to check your wound,” I tell him.

“No need.” He pushes off his desk and shakes his head. “It’s healed.”

“I came to check your wound,” I repeat, watching him. Soon, he’ll realize I don’t play around where my patients are concerned.

When he notices I’m pointing at his shirt, he lifts his eyes, “Is it your duty as a doctor again? Or are you trying to see me shirtless again?”

“Oh, please,” I grumble, rolling my eyes. He chuckles under his breath and unbuttons his shirt, revealing strong muscles. The pale, sweaty form from the other day is gone. Now, his skin is a plane of solid bronze muscle. Again, I must force my eyes away from his abs.

“You healed quickly,” I say softly, pressing the nearly healed pink scar. It’s faded, almost blending into his tanned skin, which means it’s almost fully healed. I’d give it another day before it’s gone completely.

“Of course. I’m an Alpha,” Lucas says, shrugging his shirt back on and buttoning it up. “Instead of wasting your time here, I want you to go to the medical wing and treat the injuries of the wounded warriors.”

“I’ll head there now.”

It’s quiet enough this close to the pack house, but what trouble is happening further out that would result in the Alpha being poisoned and multiple warriors in the infirmary?

The only explanation that I could think of would be that the pack isn’t as stable as it once was. War between two or multiple packs isn’t uncommon. Is that what’s going on now?

This time, it doesn’t take long to reach the medical wing, and I get straight to work. I don’t want to use my healing abilities too much, so I focus on regular medical methods most of the time.

However, I slip a little magic in when I find a man’s severed artery having a hard time healing with his werewolf abilities. I give him a little boost with my powers and sigh in relief when he begins to heal faster.

“Thank you, Healer Harper.”

Smiling at the man, I feel eyes on me, and when I look up, it’s Lucas. He watches me, and I look away quickly. An uncomfortable feeling bubbles up within me, and when I finish treating the last warrior, I quickly leave.

I’m not sure why Alpha Lucas is watching me, but I don’t stick around to find out.

My phone beeps when I get back to my room, and I find a message from the house staff: Due to your wolfless nature, your participation in the mating ball is prohibited.

Annoyed, I immediately know Sierra is to blame for this rejection. No one else is out to get me like she is, so I make a plan of my own. After changing into a clean outfit, I leave my room and head toward the suite on the top floor.

I knock, and moments later, the former Luna opens the door, “How can I… Harper!” In seconds, I’m pulled into a warm embrace. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“Me too,” I whisper. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

The former Luna pulls back and looks me over, her bottom lip quivering as her eyes fill with tears. My eyes sting as well, and I smile. She’s the kindest woman in the pack and always treated me well when I was near her.

“I came to ask you a favor,” I tell her once we’ve moved inside and settled on the couch.

“What’s wrong, dear?”

“Sierra has forbidden me to attend the ball.”

The former Luna’s smile fades and she sighs, “Ah. That girl is always up to something.” The way her eyes soften at me as she says this speaks volumes, especially when she adds, “If only you were my daughter-in-law… I’ve always liked you.”

“Thank you, Luna,” I say, hugging her again.

“You’re welcome. I wish I could’ve helped you sooner,” she says, looking me in the eye. “Your father’s decision was too rushed back then that I didn’t hear the news until it was too late.”

“The news…”

I realize she means my banishment.

“Harper, I believe you’re innocent.”

Her words are like a soothing balm, and everything I’ve been through over the last year surface. Tears well in my eyes and I squeeze them closed, burying myself in her comforting arms.

“I’ll take care of your participation in the mating ball, so don’t worry.” I hug her tighter, and she soothingly brushes her hand up and down my back. “By the way,” she says, pulling back. “Do you have a dress?”

I shake my head.

“I have just the dress for you.”