Chapter 2 #2
We only had to wait five minutes for our pack’s healer to join us.
Maria’s presence was like a welcome breeze.
I’d always found her aura calming. She’d been a friend of my mother’s, and as her deep-set hazel eyes met mine, I felt reassured by her presence.
Her hair was pulled back in a neat braid.
Dressed in gray chinos and a white blouse, she looked as smart and neat as ever.
As I waited for Mark’s return, I asked the healer about the uses of the herb confiscated from Leah.
“It’s commonly used for treating infection and bringing down inflammation,” Maria answered easily.
With the herb’s uses corroborating Leah’s story, I wasn’t surprised when Mark returned a few moments later, and his wide face was serious. “Mary, the Blood Moon, is unconscious and burning up.”
I tried to ignore the tremor of Leah’s hands, but a surge of protectiveness fired through me. Only then did I realize that my gaze seemed to have a will of its own and had wandered to her.
I turned to our healer. “Maria, I’d like you to treat the Blood Moon,” I commanded. “And from now on, all injured Blood Moons are to receive treatment.” I addressed Maria primarily. Healing was her domain. Her eyebrows rose in surprise, but she nodded.
“Kyle!” Sam snapped, his eyes wide with disbelief. The sharp edge of his tone riled me. “You can’t be serious. We can’t set this kind of precedent.”
“Not treating the sick isn’t a cost-effective strategy for maintaining an efficient workforce,” I explained matter-of-factly, forcing restraint into my tone. I was determined to prove this wasn’t an emotionally motivated decision, but a rational one.
“Maria,” I instructed, “Mark will take you to the patient.” I felt the tension coiling around us, thick and palpable, with each passing second stretching out and making the council chamber feel crowded.
As the healer and my assistant left, the council only seemed to feel more crowded even though only we three seated Moonlights, the two patrol soldiers, and Leah remained.
Irritation flared through me as I noticed that the Moonlight soldier still had his hand around Leah’s upper arm. The urge to snap at him to unhand her seared through me, but I smothered it.
“The Blood Moons will think they can do whatever they want after this,” Sam grumbled, his frustration radiating in waves.
Beside me, Emily narrowed her eyes, nodding her head. “This doesn’t clear her of wrongdoing. Leah still has to answer for stealing.” Her tone sliced through the tension, and my heart thumped hurriedly.
“You’re right,” Sam readily agreed, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes at Leah. “The council can’t let theft go unpunished. We have to oversee Igaluk’s justice.”
Anger rushed through me as I sat there, feeling torn between the past and the new feelings that burbled within me.
The Blood Moons had been proved treacherous.
Didn’t the hollow loss that beat through me as I thought of my mother prove that?
But Leah had told the truth. My wolf rose up within me, urging me, in a primal and raw growl, “Protect Leah.”
I made a snap decision. “I will oversee Leah’s punishment. She will serve as my personal maid.”
Sam’s face flushed with indignation as he leaned forward, gripping the table. “This is madness, Kyle. She’s a potential threat, and now you want her to stay under your roof?”
My heart raced as I forced my palms flat on the table, curbing the anger at having my command questioned again. “If she’s a threat, it’s better that I keep an eye on her, isn’t it?” I countered, my voice steady but laced with rising tension.
Before either Elder Sam or Emily could protest again, I turned my gaze to the Moonlight soldiers.
“Escort Leah back to her cabin.” I allowed my eyes to meet Leah’s.
“You’re to pack your belongings, and the patrol will bring you to my house shortly.
” I congratulated myself on my clipped and clear instructions.
Although, I could feel the heat rising within me beneath Leah’s stare. It was as if she were summoning something elemental from deep within me. Her eyes were storm clouds, while my blood was the sea, roiling and wanting nothing more than to rise up to meet her.
As the soldiers flanked her out of the room, I watched her retreating figure and felt my resolve settle more confidently.
This was the right course of action. After all, here was a Blood Moon who had made me doubt that she had evil intent.
What I’d said to Sam hadn’t been incorrect.
I would be better positioned to root out Leah’s long-term schemes and designs if she were under my observation.
But as Leah disappeared and something within me started to prowl at her loss, I wondered whether it was suspicion or something else urging me to bring her closer.
“Yes, you don’t want to expose her so much as make her yours,” my wolf rumbled.
I clenched my jaw, burying the absurd taunt from my beast.