Chapter 3 Love brooding

It was dawn in the Blood moon territory. The sky had dark colours that were signs of the early hours of the morning. Selene was already awake. The quiet moments before the pack awoke were precious to her. She used the time to prepare herself for the day.

She began chores in her cabin as she did each morning, gathering dried herbs from bundles she had previously made. The scent of sage, lavender, and moonflower filled the air, which helped soothed the anxiety within her.

It was three days until the Lunar Bonding Ceremony. Three days until the moon goddess revealed Damian's fated mate.

Selene wasn't naive. She knew the traditions of the pack better than most of them. As a healer, she cared for the wounded, treated the sick, and delivered the pack's pups. She heard the whispers and speculations from the pack's leaders. She also knew that she wasn't one of the options being considered for the Alpha's Luna.

She was nothing but a healer from the healer's lineage. She had no warrior blood. She wasn't an advantage to the pack.

The only qualities she had was love and understanding. The ability to see Damian beyond the mask of Alpha was all she had.

She let out a sigh and set the herbs for the day's job aside. The whole pack was beginning to wake, she could hear greetings, children laughing and warriors beginning their morning training.

She tied her back with a black band and wore a simple dress. It was the perfect dress for the day's job. She wasn't like the warrior females who wore fitted clothes or dressed to attract attention. She preferred comfort. She knew was pretty the way she was but not as strikingly beautiful as Lyra or the other she- wolves from warrior bloodlines.

What she and Damian shared only happened in secret and brief conversations. It existed in the way his eyes looked for her in crowded gatherings. The way his voice grew soft when he called her name. The way his voice softened when he called her name. It existed in her heart, growing stronger with each passing moon no matter how much she tried to stop it.

But was it enough? Would the moon goddess see what they shared or would tradition win?

A knock at her door interrupted her thoughts. She opened it and found twelve-year-old Emma, the daughter of one of the pack's hunters. She was anxiously jumping from foot to foot.

"Healer Selene," the girl said almost out of breath, "you must come immediately. My brother Liam fell during training and Elder Miriam said to call you. He can't move his arm."

Selene immediately picked for her medicine bag. "Let's go"

They ran toward the training grounds, where young wolves learned the skills of hunting and fighting. She noticed that a small crowd had gathered around a fallen person. Selene recognized Liam, a fourteen old approaching his first transformation.

"Please let me do my job," she said firmly, and the onlookers made way for her.

Liam lay on the ground. His face was ridden with pain. He was clutching his right arm in pain. Beside him knelt Elder Miriam, her ancient hands gently supporting the injured limb.

"I think it's a dislocated shoulder. " the elder said as Selene approached.

Selene nodded in affirmation, kneeling beside the boy. "Liam, I need to examine your shoulder. It will hurt, but I'll be as gentle as possible."

The boy nodded bravely, though tears welled in his eyes. Carefully, Selene examined the joint, Elder Miriam was right.

"A clean dislocation," she said. "I can put it back together here, but you'll need to rest it afterward." She looked up at the training master who was looking down at him. "No more training for at least three days." She said facing his direction.

The man nodded in agreement, but was disappointed.

In the Blood Moon pack, warrior training came first before anything else.

Selene turned to focus on Liam. "I'm going to count to three, then move your arm. You will feel a sharp pain but it will reduce." She looked into his eyes. "Ready?"

He swallowed hard and nodded.

"One..." She gripped his arm firmly.

"Two..." She positioned herself for the necessary movement.

"Three!" She quickly stretched the bones, and hearing the pop sound as the bone slipped into place, she calmed him.

Liam cried out but let out a sigh of relief as the pain subsided. "That wasn't so bad," he said shakily.

Selene smiled while reaching into her bag for herbs and bandages. "You're very brave." She applied the herbs quickly to reduce swelling and used a sling as a cast. " You're good to go." She patted him on the back. Drink willow bark tea for the pain, and come see me tomorrow so I can check your arm"

As she finished, a strange silence fell over the crowd. Selene didn't need to look up to know who had arrived. The subtle change in body postures, the hushed tones, and the tension in the air were all proof that Damian was here.

"What happened?" His deep voice echoed through the training ground.

The training master stepped forward. "A training accident, Alpha. Liam dislocated shoulder but healer Selene treated it."

Selene rose, unconsciously smoothing her dress. Damian stood tall among his warriors, his powerful frame was the clear difference between an Alpha and the pack. He wore only black trousers and boots, his chest was bare. The ancient tattoos of his rank and bloodline laid bare on his back.

His gaze was over the scene searching until it landed on Liam. His expression softened.

"Stand on your feet, warrior," he said, his tone firm but filled with kindness.

Liam scrambled up, he was still laden with pain but he stood up. "Alpha," he bowed his head respectfully.

"Show me the technique you were practicing when you fell."

The boy was confused. "I... with my arm, Alpha?"

"With words," Damian said patiently. "Explain where you went wrong."

Liam now understood what Damian meant. This was a teaching moment. The boy's eyes lit up with excitement and enthusiasm.

"I tried to throw Aiden, but he's bigger, and I didn't have proper leverage Alpha," he recited, clearly repeating lessons he'd been taught. "I let my balance shift too far forward."

Damian nodded. "You need to understand technique before strength," he said, looking around at the other young trainees. "Size can be overcome with proper technique. Always remember that." His attention returned to Liam. "Rest, heal, and then try again. There's no shame in falling. Only in failing to learn from it."