Page 1 of Rejected By The Alpha Heir

Chapter One

Yelena

A deafening crash shatters the silence of the night, followed by frantic shouts and pounding on my cottage door. I jolt upright, my heart racing.

“Yelena! We need a healer!! Yelena! Hurry!”

The words send a chill down my spine. I scramble out of bed, my mind racing. What could have happened that would require me so urgently? I throw on my shoes and grab a sweater, pulling it over my head as I lean over the sink to splash water on my face. Quickly, I pull my hair back in a low ponytail. Anxious energy courses through my veins, and I resist the urge to fret with my hands.

Something terrible must have happened.

I’ve only been training as a healer for a few months. My knowledge is limited to basic salves and bandages. If the injury involves magic, I’m not sure I can help.

My palms sweat as I consider the possibilities. As wolf shifters, we possess the ability to heal ourselves unless the injury is particularly severe or involves magic.

“Your pack needs you. Whatever it is, you have to try,” I tell myself, squaring my shoulders.

I step out of my room and close the door gently. A cluster of three guards are waiting for me on my cozy front porch.

“What’s going on?” I ask Jason, one of Alpha Malaki’s advisors. His face is grim and ice-cold fear starts to seep into my heart. “Is it the Alpha?” I ask in a hushed tone.

He shakes his head. “No. It’s the Alpha’s heir. He isn’t doing well. He was injured.”

My jaw drops open and I freeze in place, processing his words.Austin.

Please, Moon Goddess, let him be okay.Let me be able to heal his injury.

Jason is already halfway across the courtyard and I hurry to catch up with him. I have so many questions.

“What happened?” I ask, trying to quell my racing heart. “How did he get injured?”

“Attacked. The bleeding won’t stop,” he answers, shortly. My heart pounds harder.

The shouts and howls around us are getting louder, spreading the word. A severe injury to the Alpha’s heir will bring much of the pack here to gather and await word.

“He’s in here,” Jason says, stopping in front of a larger bungalow. He pushes open the door to reveal a small waiting area and apothecary with doors leading to the private healing room situated toward the back.

The soft, light, and pungent scent of antiseptic and healing herbs washes over me. It’s comforting in a familiar sort of way. On days when it’s hard for me to understand my role in this pack, I come in here to sit or work. Rolling bandages, compounding tinctures—there’s no job too small for me to be willing to helpout with. This small room full of herbs, tonics, and salves always makes sense to me.

“Through here,” Jason says gruffly, leading me toward a private room. The sight inside stops me cold.

There’s a limp body on the cot in the center of the small room, surrounded by people. It’s so crowded that I can hardly move to assess my patient.

“Make way. Some of you, out,” Jason orders, forcing the shifters to scatter.

I’m grateful for his help, but as the guards all file out, I scent the tell-tale coppery metallic smell that I’d know anywhere.Blood.

I swallow hard. It’s not just any blood—it’shisblood. I’d recognize that scent anywhere.

“Miss Yelena.” One of the remaining guards steps back, giving me a respectful nod. I nod back, trying to hide the fact that my hands are trembling.

“Who attacked you?” I ask softly.

“Highland Pack,” Jason answers. “We were ambushed.”

Several of the packmates crowd in the doorway growl and the blood drains from my face.

Highland Pack’s territory borders ours. They have been one of our largest rivals for years. While skirmishes between our soldiers have happened from time to time, nothing has ever been this severe.

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