The Healer

Dmitri had been with her in the cave until midnight. Although it wasn't chilly, Adrianna's body had slowly become colder. He had wrapped himself around her to give her maximum warmth, but it hadn't been sufficient. In the middle of the night, he had scurried around before finding a hut and bringing her in after lighting the fire.

Dmitri got up from the bed and lifted Adrianna carefully. He came out, followed by Nate, and they started walking towards the red moon pack's territory. Nate mentally communicated with Liam about the situation.

The healer was waiting with Liam at the pack's border. Dmitri handed Adrianna to the assistants who were there with the healer. The healer nodded and left with Adrianna.

Under the constant monitoring of the healer, Adrianna's situation improved as the day progressed. She had been given traditional medicines. Since her pulse was fine, she was not in any immediate danger. She woke up with a headache after almost two hours. All she remembered was that Rufus had hit her with a log. Her shirt was tattered at places. She felt like crying at her state. She looked around and found herself in an unfamiliar place. There were stacks of medicinal herbs around her. She jolted upright on the bed only to be pacified by the healer.

"Don't worry Adrianna. I am the healer of the red moon pack. Your father knows you are here," he answered her, having read her thoughts.

Adrianna sighed a breath of relief. She asked, "How did I get here? Who brought me?"

The healer couldn't answer her question as he had to keep the fact a secret. The supreme alpha had mentioned that Rufus would be in danger if he let it slip, so he lied. "We found you lying unconscious just outside the red moon pack's territory."

Still, Adrianna couldn't understand how she had reached there. She wanted to ask about what had happened to Rufus, but she refrained. She didn't even want to mention his name. What he had told her about her father and her brothers make her resentment towards them grow all the more. Why were they so cruel to her? Her heart ached for those who didn't love her. She remembered Dmitri… and then Keisha…

She got up from the bed and said, "I would like to leave... But do you have a spare shirt?"

The healer went inside and brought a fresh white shirt for her. He left her and waited outside.

As Adrianna changed, she decided to leave this place for good. She would go to her room, pack everything that belonged to her, and leave them. Tears rolled out, wetting her white cheeks. Her eyes looked forlorn and miserable, although she knew that no one would come to pacify her. She missed her grandfather. There was only darkness that surrounded her. Her own demons were haunting her and strangling her. She felt suffocated - pained by the abandonment by her own family members. She wanted to put all of them behind her and start a new life. How could she restore peace in her heart? She missed Ed.

Her thoughts wandered to her family. They didn't come to protect her, and rather they pushed her into danger - and a planned one at that. She smiled sadly at her rotten situation.

She wiped her tears and exited only to find the healer waiting for her. He said, "Adrianna, have faith in yourself. All these things are too small when compared to what you will be. There is a lot that you need to do. And most importantly, don't do anything that you will regret later."

Even though those words carried a deeper meaning, Adrianna thought that he was just trying to be nice and encouraging to her.

She smiled, thanked him, and walked away.

When she reached her room, she saw that Reinjie and her father were standing outside. They glared at her. She just passed them without giving them a second glance. Even though she had an urge to confront them, she didn't, thinking "What good would it bring?" She was leaving all of them anyways. She went in and took a bath after packing her stuff. She was determined to take this leap forward, regardless of whether she could see the ground or not. Her heart had suffered so much an innumerable amount of times, and this was the last straw. Everyone out here had thrown knives at her and she had forgiven them. But now, no more.

She lugged her suitcase and went out. No one noticed her as she left. The cottage was her home now… She had to protect herself from more heartache.

---

Reinjie informed his father about last night's event. "Father, they both went to take a walk after dinner. I was hoping that Rufus would mark her, but it seems that she ran away."

Kuro was extremely upset. The healer had informed him about Adrianna. However, he didn't react because Rufus and Adrianna were the least of his concerns now. The supreme alpha had just sent a message saying that he would be coming today to meet him and see his daughter today.