Chapter 23


    All the way home, Fiona thought about everything the Lycan king had told her. The full moon was the


    most celebrated day in any Lycan’s life, and so many good things happened during those times.


    Lycans discovered their mates and imed them on these days, or at least that was how it should be.


    She never experienced that. Every full moon brought her to points where she regretted life, and before


    leaving her adopted parents, she stopped shifting all together. She saw no point in it. She was an


    omega, and those who shifted with nothing better to do made it a duty to frustrate her. Instead of


    strength, what she got was weakness, pain, and sadness. Many of the scars she got during the full


    moon stayed on her and would never leave.


    This shift would be different because she was asked to join in by the Lycan King, and he wouldn’t let


    her go through anything bad. He was the most powerful man in this world, after all.


    It was an offer she wanted to ept more than anything, but doubt always lingered. in her mind, so


    she gave herself time to think about it..


    The Lycan king didn’t rush her either; he told her to think about it. She didn’t have such a long time,


    though; the full moon was tomorrow, and she had to give him her answer before the end of it.


    The next day kicked off slowly, and she arrived at the settlement at her scheduled time and began


    healing. She expected much work, having missed a day here, but to her surprise, the number was less.


    She immediately feared the worst had happened to those with the gue. However, when she asked


    Jose, the physician on duty, he told her the Lycan king had given orders to send those with mild cases


    of the gue home. This way, she could focus only on the severe ones. He also told her the


    instructions were to finish the day before the hour of four, so they could all go home and rest for the


    uing shift.


    All this she heard left her in a state of confusion. Why would the Lycan king even care this much about


    her?


    She couldn’tprehend what was going on because she had grown ustomed to being abused


    and neglected by her kind.


    Perhaps he was a good person, and this was the most noble thing to do.


    “That is so nice to know, then.” She replied, “Where will you spend your shift?” She asked, trying to


    carry on small talk.


    She hadn’t even had the time to speak to anyone since Vivian took over


    supervision. The witch was always breathing down her neck on those days, which made it even harder


    to concentrate.


    Speaking of which, she hadn’t seen Vivian since she resumed work here, and she wondered where


    she had taken herself. Knowing the person she


    person she was, Fiona knew


    the witch wouldn’t quit.


    They all knew what to do and didn’t need her around, anyway.


    After the fourth hour, Fiona took a break to stretch her legs and to get enough. food. She sat in the


    cafeteria, munching on what the cook had served her.


    Just then, she noticed Ted Miller, the chief guard ced on duty guarding the settlement, and he


    approached her. He had a disapproving look on his face, and she didn’t know what that was for.


    “You shouldn’t be here when your office is over there,” he told her in a reprimanding tone of voice.


    She didn’t pay much mind to him, knowing she didn’t answer to him or any other guard stationed at the


    settlement. Having counted the numbers of those with the gue today, she had divided them so she


    could take her break and still be on time for the closing. She didn’t see why she couldn’t take the break.


    “I am speaking to you.” He said that and took a step closer to her. He was giving himself the authority


    he shouldn’t possess, and she couldn’t stand that.


    “I do not answer to you, Ted. Like I told the supervisor, Ms. Jackson, I am not a sl ave; I am the healer.”


    She told him, “So, I advise that you return to your post and carry on with your duty.”


    Sure, he was the chief of the security around the settlement, but that didn’t give him any control over


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    her. She didn’t answer to him; she answered to the Lycan king.


    He clenched his teeth, angry; perhaps he already knew he didn’t scare her. Having seen and


    conversed with the Lycan king twice, she knew she had nothing to worry about. He was more


    understanding and kind than his subordinates were. They were not a reflection of him, and the one who


    came close so far was Marion.


    He turned and walked away angrily, mming the door behind him. She returned to work in the healing


    room, attending to the rest of the gue. She noticed Jose’s gaze on her, and she turned to him,


    wondering what he wanted this time.


    “What’s wrong?” She asked.


    “I heard you had a fallout with Ted Miller,” he said, his voice so low she almost missed it.


    Did everyone also hear about their fight? There is no such thing as privacy here. “I won’t call it a fallout,


    just a slight misunderstanding.” She answered.


    “Ted isn’t the best at handling himself; he has been cruel and violent in the past, especially to


    physicians.” He told her.


    She didn’t know that; she wanted to ask what led to such an attack. She also wanted to ask if that was


    how he normally exercised his authority, instead she asked, “Why didn’t you tell the Lycan king about


    it?” The king seemed like a reasonable person who wouldn’t let such injustice slide..


    “We did, but Ms. Jackson interceded for him. She told the Lycan king that he had acted in self-defense.


    Ted has been in the king’s force for many years and had fought side by side with the king when the


    rebellion rose. That gave him a footing, and Vivian built on that. She also told the king that the


    physician he had killed had the gue and would have infected many with it if he hadn’t stopped them.


    That was a lie, but the Lycan king believed her, and he was released without punishment.” He


    exined the sad tale to her.


    If that was the case, it was safe to assume that Ted was working alongside Vivian. It made sense now


    why he came in angry that she had taken the break. This truth told her Vivian wasn’t the only one she


    should avoid, but Ted, too.


    “Just be careful and avoid him at all costs.”


    “I cannot let him order me around when he isn’t the boss of me, but you are right; I will be more careful


    and cautious with my words.” She promised him.


    Yes, she could tell the Alpha King if he harmed her, but from what she had heard, she knew men like


    Ted wouldn’t even leave her alive to tell the tale.


    “Thank you, Jose.”


    He nodded, not seeing anything in the advice he just gave her.


    As she closed from work, she had one thing on her mind: the offer the Lycan king had made to her. The


    offer to shift with the rest of the pack tonight.


    She didn’t have an answer this morning when she went over to the settlement, but now she did. She


    wanted to be stronger after confronting Ted and learning about


    his brutality and the likelihood of his alliance with Vivian. Shifting under the full moon would help her


    harness her strength.


    A part of her knew the earlier confrontation wouldn’t be thest of Ted. He probably worked for Vivian


    and would want to do her bidding. Thest thing she wanted to be when he came at her was weak.


    She sent her escort back to the Lycan king with the answer to his request after getting home. She


    would shift with the rest of the pack.


    She paid a quick visit to her son’s mansion after showering and eating. As usual, she was happy to see


    them, and so were they.


    They asked her how her day had been, and she shared the boring tales with them. Jashin wanted to


    get to the good stuff, but June listened quietly throughout. They were happy that she was back with


    them.


    Just like she did yesterday, she tucked the boys in bed and read them to sleep. They were excited


    about it, having already had dinner.


    She read to them, and by the time she finished reading, Jashin was already asleep. She turned to June


    and found his eyes struggling to stay awake but failing miserably.


    She rose to her feet and walked to the door when she heard June’s voice. “When will we go home?”


    His question surprised her. With everything that had been happening around them so far, she didn’t


    think they would remember home, but she should have known June would be the one to ask. “Soon,


    June, I promise.”


    He nodded, and his eyes shut, and she turned off the light before exiting the room.