Amber’s POV


    “Now wait one minute,” Julian said, turning to face Ken waile stepping in front of me to block me from Ken’s view. “Amber is a reputable Healer


    “And you are biased, Alpha,” Ken continued. “We all know his healer is your ex–wife returned from the dead. Can you really tell us that she is the best, most qualified for the job even without your feelings getting in the way?” Julian’s shoulders straightened. “You are questioning my judgement?”


    Ken paused a moment. His voice started to shake with uncertainty as he said, “I–If you can’t see her for what she is…”


    Julian stood taller, reaching his full intimidating height.


    Though Julian was a considerate Alpha who always seemed to take his pack’s opinions to heart, he was still the Alpha. To question him like this was tantly disrespectful Julian would have been within his rights to act against this disrespect.


    Yet Julian had to know that Ken was hurting, and that these words wereing from a ce of hurt and worry over his father. As such, Julian showed remarkable restraint in this situation<b>, </b>saying only, “You are walking on shaky ground, Ken.”


    Ken paled slightly, as if realizing even through the pain that to defy the Alpha was to put his life in his hands. We were all silent, frozen in ce, looking from Ken to Julian.


    Julian was a reasonable king, and he knew Ken was hurting But the hierarchy of the werewolf pack could not be questioned.


    Ken swallowed hard. <b>“</b><b>I </b>just think… it’s the wrong decision.


    He’d fully softened his opinion, even lowering his head slightly in reverence to the Alpha.


    “Your opinion is noted,” Julian said with finality, saying with only his tone that this conversation was done. “You should not defy me again.”


    Ken made himself small, standing there. “Yes, Alpha.”


    “I didn’t raise you to speak to the Alpha that way,” said Elder Jeffers from his bed.


    In surprise, we all turned to look at him.


    Elder Jeffers’s eyes were open and he was ring at his son “You will apologize to the Alpha now.‘


    Ken was shocked, his face pale and his eyes wide. “Dad…”


    “Now, Ken.”


    Ken swallowed hard, he dipped his head while facing Julian “I apologize, Alpha.”


    “Healer Amber is the one you should apologize to,” Julian insisted. “She is the one you were truly slighting with that kind of talk.”


    Ken hesitated.


    His father pressed, “Ken.”


    Julian stepped to the side, revealing me more fully <b>to </b>Ken, who dipped his head yet again.


    “Sorry<b>, </b>Healer Amber.”


    While it was nice to have this apology, I didn’t want to waste precious time on it, and tried to drag everyone’s attention back to the matter at hand. Fortunately, Roger and Pete were already on task, moving closer to their father.


    Elder Jeffers was happy to see them both<b>, </b>smiling warmly as he looked at them, yet there was something else lingering in his eyes<b>, </b><b>a </b>glimmer that I recognized from working in hospitals for so long.


    The elder was piecing together his situation without me even having to tell him. Being here, surrounded by healers and his family, he must know the questions that we needed to ask. Also, I was certain he could feel the feverfang virus working within him, likely giving him some pain, even though I tried to quell that with the potion.


    “How long do I have?” Elder.Jeffers asked Roger.


    Roger looked at me.


    “An hour of consciousness,” I replied, unsure if he meant how long would he be awake, or how long would he be alive. “I’m sorry, but we have a few important questions for you.”


    Using my calmest doctor voice, I exined the situation to him, telling him of his condition and the various options to him. When I describe what forcing the shift would entail, he immediately shook his head before I could even exin the risks.


    “No,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to handle that. I haven’t shifted in years.”