For whatever reason, all the medicine wolves told me what to do and allowed me to tend to Mason on my own. I wasn't really sure why, but for the time being I was grateful.
As an alpha, I had to be caring to each and every wolf in my pack--- even those I despised.
I had been given some herbal leaves that were soaked in healing water.
I was to clean the blood from the wound and gently dab the leaves over the cuts and bruises. I wondered if it stung as I gently applied pressure onto one of Mason's larger cuts. I guessed it did when I heard Mason groan and begin to shift. "Glad you finally decided to join the living." I muttered, moving to a new tear in his skin and beginning to wipe the leaf onto it.
Mason groaned again and swiped at me weakly. "Knock it off...!" I laughed a little at his failed attempt to swat me.
"I'm trying to help you, bozo."
He tensed and looked at me, seeming to remember what had happened.
"Why did you...?"
"Block him from hitting you?" I cut him off knowingly. "Because. I'm GOING to be the future alpha female. And what alpha can't even save ONE pack member?" I answered, dabbing the soft leaves against a more tender spot.
He winced and his claws dug into the dirt. I flinched a little. "Erm, sorry... Does it hurt?" I asked a dumb and obvious question. "Yes..." He groaned.
I exhaled shakily. "Sorry... I'm not really a professional."
"Well..." His voice was a bit strained as I continued to tend to the cuts. "I do think you're helping... And you're being gentle ... I appreciate that."
I found myself blushing a little. "Oh, um... I guess..."
"Females tend to be more gentle."
"Er, yeah, I-I guess we do..."
We fell into an awkward silence as I dipped the leaf into some saltwater before moving onto another wound.
Then Mason turned his head to look at me. "Hey..." He murmured. "Didn't you get hurt, too...?"
I hesitated then replied, "Uh, yeah... But they aren't as bad as yours... I mean, they don't hurt... Not really."
He paused, looking at my face as I slowly rubbed the leaf over a cut, awkwardly.
"... Sandy, hand me a leaf."
"W-what...?"
"What kind of alpha male would I be if I let you take care of me while you just suffered?"
I didn't know how to respond so I reluctantly handed him a leaf. My eyes locked with his gentle honey brown orbs as he took the leaf in his paws and gently dabbed it on the gash on my forehead.
We didn't say anything for a moment.
Why was my heart beating so fast...?! He was only cleaning my cut... He just wants to care for his pack mates. It wouldn't have been any different for any other wolf.
So why couldn't I stop blushing...?!
This was Mason we were talking about here...!
At last, Mason pulled his paw away and placed the leaf back into my paw, his eyes never leaving mine. "Sandy."
"Yeah...?"
What did he have to say...?!
The suspense was painful.
"... You have a boog."
I sat there staring at him blankly. That jerk...!
He gave a lazy expression then turned back around, setting his head on his forepaws, allowing me to resume cleansing his gashes. I rolled my eyes and started back to work.
"...Thank you."
I frowned. Did he say something? Did I hear him correctly? I sat frozen for a moment, then resumed. It was probably nothing.

Mason healed quickly, and was back on his feet before I knew it. The blood had left a bit of a stain on his Snow White fur, though.
But it didn't matter.
My wounds were minor, and healed far before his. But he remained worried about me. I was convinced it was just his want for the role of alpha.
I visited my father to see how he was doing. It was clear he had gotten weaker.
I tried as best as I could not to think about it too much.
I didn't care too much for negativity. I suppose my fathers condition had an effect on myself. Id acted very crabby lately. But not too different for me.
It became apparent I was even more crabby around Mason. Despite that I took out a lot of my stress on him, it really made me feel better. I needed to thank him for that. But why him, I wonder...?
Maybe it was because I never really talked to anyone else.
Yeah.
That might be it.
Shaking my head clear, I went to the den and did my best to drift to sleep. It took some time, but I managed to slip into my dreams. It was then that I saw something unusual. It was clearly just a dream, but it was extremely realistic.
I was in a field. It was obviously a field, but I was not alone. I seemed to be walking down an aisle, between two groups of wolves who were all smiling at me.
What were they smiling at?
As I reached the end, my eyes widened as I spotted a familiar wolf in front of me. Mason...?
Why was he waiting for me?
He was grinning at me like everyone else, and his white fur was decorated thinly in black and white roses. I frowned and came closer to him. I wanted to ask him what was happening, what was going on, where we were.
But as I reached him, he nuzzled me. I flushed harshly in confusion. "Mason? Wha-what's---"
"You look beautiful, Sandra."
Sandra...? No one had called me my full name before...
I'd been so phased by this that I didn't at first notice the strange man in front of us. He began to say things to us, but it was muffled.
I wasn't listening. Because I was still lost in the impossible thought of Mason becoming my mate.