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Healer Rhea's POV

Rhea was currently standing in the skeleton model of what the Alpha had claimed to be her new infirmary. It was a rather pricy investment, but the idea of private rooms to treat patients, and an additional area to mix and brew potions—Rhea felt doubtful that she was worth all this bustle.

The pack members, both humans, and wolves alike, were excited about this upgrade. Even with how long this pack has been established, this felt like a new foundation to grow. And Rhea wasn't about to hold out on the pack's success for what she wanted. Not to mention that some females had voiced their interest, and Rhea was deciding that on certain mornings she could put aside time to start building up some sort of lesson plan.

Tonics would be the easiest to start at, but that would take monitoring their techniques and studies. But the Alpha was correct, it was a valuable thing to learn, and currently, she was the only resident Healer.

Even if he didn't outright say that she was growing frail, and couldn't do as much as before, it was in the Alpha's best interest to have this knowledge continue.

So when she returned the next few days, spotting the better part of the storage rooms completely packed with supplies—Jars, both filled and empty, and herbs of all sorts. She had willed herself not to grow angry at the Alpha's kindest, it would do her no good.

But with how Rhea grew up on everything being handed on a silver platter, she liked the chance of fighting for her next meal. Not literally of course, otherwise one of the Pack's Hunters might have a stern word or two with her.

Even if she looked at her freshly picked lavender as though it was useless, she would most likely make tea packets with the extra stock now. And those would always come in handy.

And those coming from recently disputed packs would most likely need it.

There have been a few harsh tongue lashes by newcomers when they realized that there was no wolf-healer in the pack—Which meant that Rhea was issued a guard detail that stood outside the infirmary.

Or inside, considering it was growing colder by the minute. And the male usually took to stoking the fire or making the new guests think twice about speaking out against her.

But nothing was more humiliating than seeing Alpha Stephen nearly denounce a newly accepted wolf and their family for their unkind choice of words. Even when Rhea had put in a good word, clearly not all packs were this considerate to a human's ability to a pack's wellbeing, but she pulled her weight and then some.

"That was unnecessary, Alpha." Rhea chided, eyeing the door as she stood beside the guard that tattled on the male. But the ring in Rhea's ear showcased just how angry he had turned.

Even the guard beside her had his head tilted in submission, and he wasn't the one being yelled at.

"Necessary. They came with high recommendation, and within two days have not only voiced their disgust—But to throw their hate at you!?" Rhea sucked in a breath and tried to settle the irritation between her brows.

"Alpha, permission to get Healer Rhea's ride ready?" The Alpha had thrown his hand into the air with a dismissive wave. Which caused Rhea to give an apologetic smile, as she started growing fond of the male—Cedric.

"Now that wasn't necessary either. Sir, whatever pack they came from, they don't have humans in high positions. Even me talking to you now after the sun is down is strange." The Alpha didn't want to admit it, but then he huffed in contemplation of her words.

"That is not why I'm angry, Rhea...Not the only reason, at least." But he couldn't voice the latter, not when the King had said that he didn't want any special treatment from the pack upon his arrival.
Even if it was putting stress on all the Alphas in the region.

"Then what is it? Are the pups—"
"My pups are fine. They've taken to the tonic you've somehow managed to find the time to brew." Rhea didn't voice that she hadn't gotten much sleep over the construction of the infirmary, not that it would put out some families at the price tag that was now attached to her.

"Then what is it?"
"You wouldn't understand it."
"You've just yelled at Cedric and he hasn't done anything wrong, he has been with me for twelve-plus hours of the day because you've appointed him as my guard." The Alpha was standing behind that decision regardless, but his wolf howled once again at the prospect of the offer.

"My wolf...Is fond of you." He offered, but his head shifted—A very wolf-like action as Rhea knew it resembled their counterpart. "Fond as in—"

"A second chance mate." The reveal was abrupt, but Rhea hadn't acted as shocked as he would have expected. Causing him to ultimately frown.

"Alpha Stephen, I promise you that I am not your second choice mate."
"You're not surprised by the term?"
"No, but I should be. If I haven't met the few in the pack then I would want you to explain. But your mate was a lovely female, I cannot be compared to her, Alpha. Not with what's left of me." He hated when she spoke down on herself, loathed it even. But there was a rather strong part of him that wanted to act as guard duty, that absolutely hated that she was moving so much around the pack—Or even the fact that the closest Healer was many miles away in a territory

"I never thought that—That my wolf would find another female." Rhea licked her lips, not noticing the effect it had on the male himself. "I am not a female you want to tie yourself to, Alpha."

"Rejection...It doesn't feel as though I thought it would."

"If I was your fated mate, then perhaps it would feel worse than I already do. Is that why you've always been so kind to me?" Her question answered just what Stephen had thought, that Rhea didn't know everything about the life of an actual wolf.

Second chance enlisted that either her mate was dead or mated elsewhere, meaning that a wolf was always destined to be this female. Which probably instigated her patience and caring nature toward both humans and wolves alike.

"You've helped my mate and I when we struggled with the pups...At her death bed—"

"And she was a wonderful female, Stephen. But I cannot offer you anything."

"You can offer me a chance, for my pups to have a mother." Rhea felt dishonest, even if her heart felt out to the Alpha—More so than it should, she knew his mate and promised to watch out for him.

But not in this sense, never in this sense. But the sense of rejection had soon transfixed the conversation further.

"I will find you a worthy mate, Rhea."

"Alpha—"

"No, you cannot handle the territory taxes on your own. In a few years' time, it will exceed the normal amount, even with your position. Unmated females are in danger, Rhea. Don't you understand?" Now that had earned him a set of hands on her hips, an action that he knew meant he was in trouble.

"No! Because you haven't told me I should be watching my bad for something else. Is that why the Kingodm's Enforcers are coming and going? Or why families are coming this way? Alpha Stephen, you cannot tell me you have feelings for me and then offer to find me a mate in the timespan of a few minutes. I do not want to get married or mated." Not that it was any of his business her personal preference, but she knew what came with finding a significant other.

A relationship. A family—Children.

Rhea took care of many pups, and many women through their pregnancy and birth. It was something that she had taken into consideration and promptly threw out the window.

"Goodnight, Alpha." She whispered out, ducking her head and hurrying towards the door. Hoping the leniency of their strained friendship would free her from repercussions.

"I'm sorry, Rhea."
"As am I."

The trek out into the cold was daunting at best, especially when Rhea's heart turned sore at thought of Stephen beating himself up over something so simple as a crush.

But it wasn't a crush, it was his wolf having imprinted on her—The fondness was just the years of kindness combining into one.
Part of her wondered if he felt obligated to protect her, that a beast ranking at the top spotted a weak female. That was a possibility, but Rhea's confidence in her body had only toppled.

Especially when she met with her guard and took to offering him a part of her cloak.

"Thank you, ma'am. But wolves aren't affected by the cold."

"Lucky bastard." Her tone had ultimately surprised him, but her tease hadn't.
"I take it the Alpha spoke to you?"

"Did you hear that far away?" It still left her partially confused as to how much a wolf could actually hear. But he shook his head. "There is guard detail surrounding a few of the human families. I will be staying at your property this evening." This was the first time she was hearing about this!

"Why?"

"Any Alpha protects his Luna."

"I am not Luna."

"No? I was sure the Alpha said that you would join his side."
"Cedric, I respect you a lot after this last week. But I cannot handle not being told things, especially when it concerns me. Just tell me and I'll share some of my stew with you." That was a bit of a temptation considering he was both hungry and knew that Rhea was a wonderful cook.

"It's a shame, I know the pack would have supported the Alpha's decision."
"Are you saying you don't support mine?" Rhea's sharp tongue had managed to ensnare Cedric's as he gaped at her, and under close proximity in hiding underneath her offered cloak, she could only laugh at how strange he looked.

"O-of course I do!"
"I don't plan to find a husband or mate, Cedric. It's not worth the trouble."

"I think any male would be happy to care for you, I've heard whispers of some that wanted to court you." The sigh that escaped Rhea was one that Cedric was quite familiar with, having lived with his father serving in the great war that changed the lands as they knew them.

It was the sound his mother made hundreds of times before her death.

"Who was the lucky male?"
"A good friend."
"Usually always are. May I ask, is he alive?" Rhea had turned to her side, glancing into the distance and risking the exposure of her face to the cold element pouring down from above.

And as her heart started to beat sporadically at the thought of the very male in her mind, she closed her eyes and allowed the phantom blurs to illuminate the back of her lids.

Whatever he was doing, whatever he was up to—She hoped he was doing it in fairness to the promise they made, and seeing the Enforcers coming and going, Rhea knew that the Vrovarian Accords were still reigning strongly in his mind.

And that is all she could ask or.

"To me, he isn't." And that was close to an answer Cedric was going to receive.

______

Date: 04/13/23

Time: 1:32

Words: 1946

Author's Note: 

I am definitely sticking to this Thursday's posting schedule🤗
Onto the next chapter!