Chapter 286
Chapter 287
Amber’s POV
+25 BONUS
“Wait!” I shouted, pushing at Julian to try to get around him. He was persistent in his protection of me, constantly trying to make sure he was in front. It was endearing but also frustrating. Right now, growling and posturing wasn’t going to get us what we wanted. “My name is Amber, I’m a Healer, and I’ve come here to try to get help for my daughter p>
“Amber,” Rafael scolded, but I was beyond listening to him. Someone had to do something or a serious fight was going to break out. One that could result in casualties.
I couldn’t allow that. No one was going to get hurt because of my plans, not if I could help it.
The man paused as he looked at me more closely. “The Healer Amber p>
“Yes,” I said. “You’ve heard of me p>
“Everyone has heard of you,” the man replied. He looked at the guards around him, who were also glancing at me now with some curiosity. Then he paused a moment, as if thinking things over.
The rest of us waiting, anticipating an attack. Everything felt like it was balancing on the edge of a knife.
Finally, the man said, “We will let our leader decide p>
“You are letting us through?” Rafael asked.
“Healer Amber only p>
“No,” Julian snapped. “She doesn’t go anywhere without me p>
“And me,” Rafael insisted.
The enforcers seemed concerned that their Alpha was offering himself to go into a dangerous town under armed guard without taking them with him.
“Fine,” the man said. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to allow Healer Amber two bodyguards. But that’s it. Two. And you will be under guard the whole time, and these bullets are made of silver, understand p>
“Yes,” Julian said instantly. Gods, he was brave. I was also going to go but not nearly as boldly.
“Yes,” I said.
Rafael was the last holdout. With gritted teeth, he swallowed hard and said, “Fine p>
Together, the three of us stepped forward.
“But, Sir,” said one of the enforcers.
“Stay here,” Rafael said. “Prepare for our return.” He glanced back at the guards. “If you hear any gunfire, raze this town to the ground p>
The guard appeared unalarmed. He waved his hand and from the shadows of the trees and buildings, I could
1/4
Chapter 287
now see the sparkle of sniper scopes.
“You can try,” the man said confidently.
At that, Julian, Rafael, and I stepped forward and then walked past the line of guards. Only a few followed us as we followed the man.
We walked straight down the central main street. Most of the buildings were somewhat dilapidated, and there was evidence of the battle that had once taken place here, even if rudimentary repairs had been made in some places.
“This used to be a quaint fishing town,” Rafael said. “A lot of cityfolk would escape out here on the weekends and holidays because it was so peaceful and serene. I think, in the end, they made more from tourism than from actual fishing p>
“There’s nothing alive in that water anymore,” the man said flatly.
Rafael hummed with disgust. “The rogues have ruined the place p>
“The war ruined it,” the man said. “We are the only ones keeping it alive p>
I looked around, at the tarps over some sunken in roofs, and the way some crude wooden beams had replaced certain spots on the houses. They did seem to be trying to fix this place, even if they had to do it without access to the resources other towns might have had.
There were no working cars, it seemed, with those on the street rusty and abandoned.
Then, surprisingly, I saw some children running around.
I nearly tripped on the uneven sidewalk in my surprise. Julian clutched my arm, holding me upright as we continued to walk.
Rogue encampments were always talked about housing the worst of the worst. No one ever said there might be children.
As I was looking at them, worried family members ducked out of houses, grabbed their curious kids and hid them away. My heart ached for them, hiding. Were they worried we came here to hurt them?
We continued following the man to the center of town and the city hall building. Despite the state of some of the other buildings, this one had held up fairly well, with only minor issues. Like some bullet holes in the concrete stairs.
I tried to ignore them as we walked up and inside.
We were led to a large office where a stern looking woman stood behind a wooden desk. The wood was worn and missing one of the legs, so the whole desk was somewhat lopsided. That took nothing away from the woman’s sharp features.
At first, I saw her only in profile, as she had her back to the door. But when the man we had followed walked up to speak to her, she immediately swiveled around. She glared at me and Julian, but when she spotted Rafael, her eyes burned like fire.
2/4
Chapter 287
+25 BONUS
“You let the snake into our nest!” she shouted. “Kill him p>
Guns lifted at once, all trained on Rafael.
“Wait!” I called out.
Most of them did, except one. A gun fired.
Julian dove.
The bullet that would have gone straight into Rafael’s head, pierced Julian’s shoulder instead.
“Stop!” I cried, as I flung myself to Julian, immediately inspecting the wound.
“I’m okay,” he promised but he was out of breath.
“I have to get the bullet out,” I told him. “It’s silver. The longer it’s in there the more damage it would do p>
“What is this?” the woman asked, watching us.
The man leaned in. “This is Healer Amber, ma’am. I thought… you would want to see her p>
She huffed a breath. “Shit.” Standing, she circled her lopsided desk and approached us. “Why have you come here?” she asked, speaking to me.
For the first time, I glanced up at Rafael, noticing the way he was speechless, his eyes wide as he looked at the woman. Did he know her? She clearly knew him, but as he was Alpha, perhaps we should have anticipated he would be recognizable.
“I am here to seek a cure for my daughter,” I said. “She was stricken with her wolf far too young. It’s my understanding that you might have someone in town with a similar affliction p>
I spoke quickly, while keeping pressure on Julian’s wound.
“And you brought Rafael…?” she asked.
“He’s my brother,” I said honestly, hoping that was the right choice. “He also wants to help my daughter p>
The woman’s face went even sterner than before.
“Jessica,” Rafael said, speaking at last. “I thought you were dead p>
“You would have liked that, wouldn’t you?” she snapped. “That would have made things much simpler for you p>
“I didn’t want that. I didn’t want any of this, but you gave me no choice but to exile you p>
“There’s always a choice!” She shouted, rage and pain in her eyes and in her voice.
She closed her eyes in the next moment, as if trying to regain control over herself.
“I don’t care about you, Rafael. Not anymore. But Healer Amber being here might solve a problem for me. Yes. I think we can strike a deal,” Jessica said.
3/4
Chapter 287
“Only if we can get Julian to a hospital,” I replied. “We need to get the bullet out p>
+25 BONUS
“Yes,” Jessica agreed. “The hospital is where I want to take you anyway. Maybe you can solve a problem for us. In exchange, I might give you the answers you seek p>
4/4
Chapter 288