Althena

42. Woods Walk

Mary ushers us into the house and sends us to different rooms. The same girls that got me ready are in mine. They get the jewelry and dress off. Then I put on shorts and a t-shirt. I find everyone in the sitting room and rub all over the chair. "Better."

"This is better. How did they have clothes for us?" Conner pulls at his t-shirt.

Clayton plops into a chair. "We have clothes stocked for times like this."

Mary comes in, still dressed like a queen. "Your royal duties are done for the day. Thank you all for attending. Everything went well."

"Are you mad I punched that guy?"

"Not at all. Sometimes they deserve it."

"He deserved it. Let's go to Mystical Moon. They're probably waiting for us by now." Chris pulls me up.

Clayton jumps up. "We're coming too."

The girl is all smiles. She follows along.

We get there and Monte is doing warrior training with the guards.

"What time is it?"

"2:30."

"It feels like 9."

"Royal events do that." Clayton checks his watch. "Damn. It is only 2:30."

"At least I got out of all that stuff." We sit on the picnic table and watch them train.

It doesn't take very long and another helicopter lands. Jax and Mike get out. They're still in suits from the event. Mike kisses my head. "Feel better, baby?"

"Yes. I was itchy."

"I could tell. We want to ask Monte what training your group is doing with the warriors. Then we need to change too."

Clayton and Conner start training with them. Chris and the girl sit at the picnic table. I stay with Mike. Then a warrior catches my eye. He's staring at me. "Show me how you punched him, princess."

I jump over to him in two seconds and get ready.

"She is so feisty." Another guy laughs.

"Queen in the making."

"STOP."

Everyone stops immediately and looks at Monte.

He's staring at me. "Metal clips. They could do damage. Get them out of your hair if you want to keep going."

I pull them out from every angle. I don't know how many there are. Then I rub my head. This feels so much better.

Conner cracks up laughing. "You look like you have snakes coming out of your head."

Mike pulls my hair back. "You are beautiful, baby. There you go."

I turn around and try to punch the warrior. He moves back and I fall on my ass.

Mike goes to help me and Monte shakes his head. "No. Let her be. She'll figure it out, or she'll be on her ass a lot."

Mike smirks and backs up. "Alright."

I stand up mad and go after the warrior. He dodges a punch and reaches down. He pulls my knees towards him and down to my ass I go.

Monte nods. "Stand right, or they will put you on your ass. This is not princess training. Get up."

I take the opportunity while the warrior is distracted and kick the back of his knees. He drops to his back. Then I crawl away fast. He grabs my foot and drags me back.

"Stop." Monte rubs his eyes. "Good take down. Where were you going?"

"She's trying to go to princess training, Monte." The warrior gets up laughing.

Beta shakes his head. "You don't laugh. You got taken down by a little girl."

"I got taken down by a queen."

"Not yet she's not. Where were you trying to go?"

"Away. What am I gonna do? Sit on him?"

They laugh and Monte nods. "Ground combat tomorrow."

Beta smirks at him. "It's almost like your training plan themselves."

"They really do. WHY ARE YOU ALL STOPPED?"

I take off. I want to play as a wolf. I get far out where nobody goes and shift into it. I jump on a downed tree and I smell rogue. It's faint but here somewhere. I hold still and look around. Then I see a man running towards me. He's not even in a wolf form. He'll be easy to kill. He gets closer, then he drops to his knees right outside the border.

"Please help me."

This doesn't seem right.

"My mate. She fell. Is there a healer here? Please, I only ask for help to save her."

Then I see a wolf. A big black wolf.

He sobs. "He's our alpha. He told me not to come here, but she's my mate. We can't fix her. Please help."

He may be telling the truth about his mate. But I have no idea how he would have an alpha and be a rogue. That doesn't make sense.

He falls to the ground crying. "Please, do you have a healer?"

The alpha sits on his ass. He's quite a ways away.

I walk up to the man crying and trip the alarm. I don't even know if he noticed. He's not attempting to get up. He's only crying and begging.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM."

I turn around. I stand between Monte, his warriors, the boys, and the crying man. I snarl and show my teeth to them.

"Babygirl, what are you doing? What is going on? Who are you?" Mike stands beside me and pets my ears.

He sits on his knees. "My mate is injured. She fell. I'm searching for a healer. She needs help. Please."

"Where is she?"

"She's not far. She fell out of a tree. She won't wake up. Everyone is saying there's nothing they can do. Please. You're my only hope."

Mike looks in my eyes and winks.

I jump up and down then take off. I don't know where I'm going though. I run back and grab my clothes.

Conner falls over a tree. "Always these damn woods walks."

Monte shakes his head. "I'm not risking my warriors."

"We'll be fine." Jax comes with us.

I stay behind the boys and jump over everything I can. I feel so free out here. I love being a wolf. The random alpha stays at a good distance and watches. He never tries to approach.

"There she is."

I scream and damn near jump out of my wolf form. I had no idea Monte was behind me.

"Breath, woman. He's been there the whole time." Conner shakes his head. "You have to learn to use your nose."

Jax laughs. "Her hair stands up all over when she gets scared."

Monte points to a tree. "Put your clothes on then see if you can help her." Then he rubs my back. "Put your hair down. You look like a scared cat."

I do what he says and get to the woman. She's on the ground under a big tree. A few rocks are around. Nothing major big. She's unconscious but still breathing. Her body is awkward in the way it's lying. I think she may have injured or broken her spine. Her body is covered in scrapes and scratches. She smells like a rogue, but it's not as bad as some I've smelled. Her fingernails are worn down to nothing. She has dirt under them.

"What do you see, baby?" Mike kneels beside me.

"I don't know. I need you to make her more straight."

"It could kill her. Her spine is broken."

"It's going to kill her if we don't try. She'll never wake up."

"Keep him down."

Conner and Monte drop her mate and don't let him move. Mike straightens her out as best as he can. Then I put my hands on her. I close my eyes and try my best. I feel magic flowing into her. All I can do is hope it's enough.

More and more magic I push into her.

Mike says, "Move back. Stay away from that line."

I keep my eyes closed. Then I finally feel her move. I open my eyes and make eye contact with her. She takes my hand and I fall beside her.