chapter 8

***Julia pov***

My head was throbbing. My mouth was dry. Where was I? I tentatively opened my eyes and looked around the familiar room. Although I had never seen it from such a perspective. I was laying in the bed, whilst one of my colleagues flitted around me.

I remembered now, I had been in an accident. I recalled the pain. I must have shuddered at the memory, as nurse Crane looked up from the chart.
‘Julia? Hi there. How do you feel? Would you like some painkillers?’ Nurse Crane was a very capable girl. And though I didn’t consider her a close friend, I was fond of her.
I shook my head and instantly regretted it. ‘Please.’ Was all I was able to say. Within a few minutes, Nurse Crane had returned with some pain relief. Taking the tablet she gave me and finally having a drink help with my dry mouth, so I could speak freely again.

‘Where is Billy?’ I asked. ‘Is he still here?’ I had to enquire as I felt a little discombobulated.
Nurse crane smiled widely at me and informed me that Billy was outside speaking to my doctor. ‘Shall I send him in? He will be thrilled to find you awake. Billy has been so worried about his mate. Congratulations, by the way. There’s a fair few nurses with broken hearts at the loss of that wolf, I can tell you.’

I frowned for a moment, the understanding of her words almost taking my breath away. I had asked Billy to be my chosen mate. After that brute of an Alpha-to-be had rejected me. That was the right course of action, my sister’s happiness being so directly affected. But it didn’t help the pain that had radiated to every part of me.
I reached for Nurse Crane’s hand, imploring her, ‘please, I would like to speak with the doctor before I see Billy. Would you send him in when he is free.’ I could feel, rather than see, the questioning look on Nurse Cranes face. ‘Of course.’ Was her only response. And she left.

Within moments, Doctor Richard Abanathie entered my room. I had worked with this doctor many times, and liked him, immensely. He reached my bed and caught my hand in his, ‘How do you feel, Julia? You gave us all quite the scare.’ He said, earnestly.
‘Why, doctor Abanathie? I don’t understand why I am in this private room? Why am I hooked up to these machines?’ I gestured to the medical equipment that surrounded the bed.
‘I admit, I am a little fuzzy on the; why? Of all this.’ I placed my fingers on my temple, in an attempt to ease the headache I had awoken with.

Doctor Abanathie looked at me studiously for a few seconds. He looked at his watch and then sat down.
‘Well Julia, I will try to explain. Maybe that will ease your mind.’ The doctor than proceeded to explain about the car accident. How I had broken my leg in two places. How, when the hospital staff had been about to treat me, my best friend, Stacey, had run into the treatment room and insisted I be moved into a private room. With only a few staff members being allowed in, to aid me.
I was perplexed as to why Stacey had made such decisions, my mind was still so fuzzy. Then, I realised why. The hospital didn’t know that I was wolf-less. Of course, Stacey, knowing all about my secret, would have tried her best to prevent anyone from finding out. In that minute I was overwhelmed with gratitude for her.

‘Doctor,’ I interjected, ‘I know how this is going to sound, but please refrain from giving Billy any information on me. I know he is one of my closest friends, I would just feel more at ease knowing you were discussing my treatment with no-one but myself. Would that be okay?’
‘Julia, of course. I do apologise. Had I known your wishes I would never have …’

I held up my hand, attempting to calm the doctor down, ‘please, Richard. May I call you Richard? I know you are most professional. I was not suggesting any different. Nurse Crane mentioned that Billy, was outside speaking to you, about me. That was all. I just wanted to be clear.’
‘Of course, you must call me Richard. We have worked together for many years. And, I completely understand how you feel. So, in saying that, I will only speak with you; about you.’
‘One other thing, Richard. When can I leave here. I really need to get home.’ Dr Richard looked a little startled at my question. ‘Leave? I’m sorry. Not yet, we still have a few tests to run, before I can discharge you.’ I smiled at him, as he stood and exited the room. They were still running tests. On what? I wondered.

“Me, I should think.” My hand flew to my mouth in shock. I thought it had been a dream. It wasn’t. However. As I definitely heard a voice inside my head. ‘Onyx?’ I asked, somewhat hesitantly. ‘Are you really real? How can this be? I’m twenty five! Not eighteen. How is it you are only presenting with me now?’
Although I wasn’t actually speaking, I was still aware of the tremor in my voice. It was such a weird sensation. ‘I suppose, that now you are healed, I should answer your questions, child. So, I will try to explain the reasons why it had to be this way.’

***Jackson POV***

As soon as I arrived at the pack house I implored my father to leave dinner and meet with me in his office.
‘You too, mother. Please.’ I saw them glance at one another, questions burning in their eyes as they mind linked with one another.
Once we were behind the closed door of my fathers office, the questions they had asked themselves came thick and fast at me.
‘What could possibly be so important that you pulled your mother and I out of dinner. Jackson, is everything okay with you? Have you been attacked? Hurt?’ My father had concern written all over his face, whilst my mother stayed silent. I looked between my parents. The Alpha and Luna of the Moons Wane Pack. They really were the best people I knew. I was sure they would understand what had just occurred. And hopefully provide me with some answers.

‘Father; Mother. Am I right in saying, that if a wolf chooses a mate. And they successfully join together. That no other mate would then be offered, to said wolf?’ My Father was looking at me like I had lost the plot, completely. Whereas my Mother merely smiled softly. ‘Why do you ask this, Son? Is everything alright between you and Evangeline?’

Before I could respond, my mother spoke, ‘my darling, I believe what your Son is trying to convey to us, is that he has finally met her.’ My Mother spoke softly to my father. Then turned to look at me, ‘I’m right, Jackson. Am I not? You have finally met your chosen mate!’
As I gave an Oscar winning performance of a goldfish, where my mouth just opened and closed at my Mothers directness, my father looked between us.

‘Lilian, that should not be possible. Jackson is right enough, once a chosen mate has been, well, chosen; there can be no other choice.’
Giving my father an indulgent look, my mother blew him a kiss. I could see my father’s eyes darken at the intimate gesture. Nothing but love shined out of his eyes now. My parents adored each other. It was well know. Not just in our pack. But all the packs on the continent knew. They were somewhat of an inspiration to many a wolf and she-wolf.

‘Jackson,’ my mother addressed me softly, ‘explain what has happened.’ Nodding my head, I began to explain what had happened this evening. I admitted to my parents that, Obsidian, was not overly fond of Eva. How, he had never fought me, on my choice, but was not one to stay silent about something that troubled him.
My father spoke next, ‘Obsidian. Come forward, your parents wish to converse with you.’ As it had been my fathers command, I had no control. I could feel myself being pushed to the back of my mind and Sid stepped forward and greeted our parents.

‘Mother, Father.’ The wolf acknowledged in his deeper, huskier voice. ‘What would you like to discuss with me?’ Even though Sid had spoken respectfully, I could still hear the “tsk” from my father.
‘My Cub, please explain to us, what Jackson meant by, something troubled you, with regards to your intended.’
I felt myself drift farther back into my mind as Obsidian took full control.