The Healer

Chapter 1

                                                                           Ten years later 

Emma flopped on the bed, not even having the energy to remove her shoes. The week had been trying in every sense of the word. A shifter virus had been going through the cubs and the healers den was full of miserable sick children. She was only three months away from completing her apprenticeship so Lena, the head healer, had felt comfortable leaving her in charge for a week while she went to visit her daughter who had just had a baby. Unfortunately the virus didn't care that they were understaffed and was now running rampant through the pack. 

She was deep asleep when a thumping woke her. She quickly rushed out of bed and opened the door.  

"Sirus?" she said, her voice worried as she stared at the pack Beta. "Is it one of the cubs?" she asked as she quickly followed him as he took off at a run. 

"No," he said as they turned a corner. 

"It's not our pack. One of our allies has been hurt. We were the closest pack to them. Emma, it's not good. They're all injured but one might not make it past the night." 

"What happened to him?" she asked as she dashed past two confused woman who glared at her as she shoved them aside. 

"I don't know but it looks like they were attacked. I don't know how he's still alive," Sirus said as they reached the healers den. 

"Go and wake the student healers. I'll need assistants. And get Lena on the comm," she said as she burst into the healers den. 

The scene that greeted her was chaotic. Men were bleeding and screaming and cursing everywhere she looked. They saw her and they all started talking at once. She held up a hand. 

"Who's in the worst shape?" she quickly asked and the men parted to reveal an unconscious man lying on a cot. She let her mind go blank as she merged her consciousness with his. She immediately felt internal damage and without even thinking about it began to direct her healer's energy toward it. As for his external injuries, it was hard to tell with all the blood what had happened. 

"If you're able to help, go and get some water. I can't see anything with all this blood," she said. 

And so it began. She calmly called out orders and those who were able to help, did. She soon realized that the blood was mainly flowing from the man's leg which was twisted at an odd angle and bleeding profusely. She reached for the tray that someone had thankfully placed near her and grabbed a needle and thread. All the while she was working on the internal injuries, which were the most pressing issue, but she knew how to multi task. 

Four hours later, she knew she had done all that she could. He had a fifty fifty chance of making it through the night. She then moved on to the other men. 

"What happened?" she asked as she went to a man who had a horrible gash on his face that had just missed his eye. 

"Ambushed," he said, not even wincing as she began to stitch him up. "We were on our way back to Illyria when at least thirty men attacked us. I have no idea who they were but they were trained. It's amazing we escaped. Actually it's a bloody miracle. They could have killed us but a horn sounded and they retreated." 

It was only her training that kept Emma from flinching when Illyria was mentioned. These were Darius's men, she realized in horror. She rarely allowed herself to think of Darius. Even in her far away pack, everyone knew who Darius of Illyria was. She heard the stories of his bravery and brilliance. She also heard when four years ago his so called mate died in a car crash on her way to one of her human lovers' home. Everyone and anyone had gone on and on about how they knew Sylvia was no good and that a woman like her couldn't possibly have really been true mate to a man like Darius. 

It angered Emma to hear that. If everyone knew, why was she the only one to speak up? More likely everyone was blinded by Sylvia's extraordinary beauty and even more extraordinary acting skills and didn't want to admit it. She had been tempted to run to Darius's side but his rejection was so fresh in her mind it could have happened yesterday. 

"There. All done," she said with a frown. "Why would anyone attack Illyrian soldiers?" she wondered aloud. The red haired man she had just stitched up was also frowning. "We have our suspicions," he growled. Then looked away from her curious stare. 

Emma spent the next few hours stitching, setting bones and hovering over the unconscious man who she remembered was Marcus, Darius's best friend. He was now Beta of the pack and obviously well respected by his men who hovered over her. She finally allowed herself to sleep when the sun began to rise. 

She woke up to the uncomfortable feeling that someone was staring at her. Grey eyes met brown ones as she sleepily opened her eyes and smiled. 

"You made it through the night," she said as she lifted her head up and went to stand by Marcus's cot.                                                                                                                                                                             

"Yes. I suspect you had something to do with that," he said with a painful grin. 

"A little," she said, returning his grin as she began to scan his body. "You're a fighter Marcus. You did most of the hard work. Can you try to drink a little?" 

He nodded and she quickly put a cup of water to his lips and he drank a few sips. 

"Listen Doc," he said. "I need to get out of here today. There's some time sensitive information that I have to deliver to my Alpha." 

Emma rolled her eyes. 

"Sorry but you're not going anywhere for a week. And you won't be out of that leg cast for at least two. You'll have to send a message," she said patiently.                                   

"Sorry Doc, but that's not happening. Lives are at stake here and my message needs to be delivered in person." 

They spent the next hour arguing with each other. Finally Sirus walked in. 

"Alright, I see we've reached an impasse so here's what's going to happen. Emma is going to travel with you back to Illyria and make sure you make it there in one piece." 

Emma stared in horror at her Beta as did Marcus. 

"While I appreciate that generous offer," Marcus began,"I cannot take Emma and put her life in danger. Not after everything she's done for us. We don't know if those men will attack again." 

"All the more reason to have a healer with you," Sirus said with a frown. "I have an idea of what that time sensitive information is about and I know how important it is that Darius receive it. Emma is a ninth level healer. The youngest ninth level ever known. If that message is what I think it is, you would be sending for her anyway. Emma, will you go?"                                                                                 

Emma knew she couldn't refuse him, no matter how terrified she was.

"I will," she said. "I'll make sure they arrive safely. 

And so it was that Emma found herself heading to the last place she ever thought she would return too. The Illyrian compound.