THE GATHERING AND THE ALPHA'S SPEECH

As we push our way through the crowd, Mia's face lights up as she spots Agatha and Sarah chatting. She let’s go of my hand and rushes towards them, screaming "Grandma Agatha!!" at the top of her lungs. Agatha scoops Mia up in a warm embrace, and I can't help but smile at the heart-warming sight.

As Jess and I approach them, I greet Agatha with a warm smile. "Agatha, I'm so glad you could make it," I say.

Her face lights up with a genuine smile. "Thank you, Alivia. Dr. Volkov's assistant Vasil mentioned it was your idea to invite us so we could see Mia," she says.
I nod "Yes Mia was missing you a lot and I'm sure you were missing her as well”.

Agatha nods and smiles warmly at Mia. "Of course, I wouldn't miss the chance to see Mia," she says, hugging Mia once more.

Mia giggles with delight as she clings onto Agatha. I can't help but feel happy seeing the two of them together.

"Alivia," Sarah says as she hugs me. "We've been missing you at the infirmary."

I give her a small smile, knowing that I haven't been there in a while. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I had some personal things I needed to take care of. How are things?"

As Sarah mentions the new patients infected with the virus, a pang of guilt hits me. I had abandoned my duties at the infirmary, leaving Sarah and the others to deal with the influx of patients alone. I need to go back to the infirmary and do my part. But there's something else that's been weighing on my mind, something that only Dr. Volkov knows about. I had gone berserk and lost control and Dr. Volkov is the only one that can help me.

"I'll come back," I say, determined to make things right. "As soon as I can." But first, I need to speak to Dr. Volkov.

I hear the sound of a horn blowing that reverberates through the trees, its deep, rich notes sending shivers down my spine. I pivot to locate the source of the sound and spot Dr. Volkov striding confidently forward. With his head held high and his shoulders back, he surveys the crowd with his piercing green eyes. Vasil trails close behind, and the council members fall into line behind them. As they approach the front, I notice Dr. Volkov's thick, dark hair neatly combed back. His formal black shirt and pants fit him perfectly, emphasizing his imposing stature. The sharp tapping of his polished shoes echoes with each step he takes, adding to the aura of authority he exudes.

The crowd hushes, and all eyes swivel to the front. Dr. Volkov clears his throat and lifts his head, his voice resonating across the clearing. "My fellow pack members and guests," he announces, his voice steady and unwavering. "I am honoured to welcome our esteemed council members, who have taken time out of their busy schedules to join us and stay here with our pack. We are honoured to have them here with us."

The crowd erupts into a chorus of cheers, The council members' stern expressions soften slightly as they bow their heads in acknowledgement. Landon, the youngest member of the pack, grins widely and waves excitedly at the crowd. Their cheers and applause that fills the air only makes Landon's smile grow even wider.

Dr. Volkov waits patiently for the cheers to subside before continuing his speech. The crowd quickly quiets down their eyes fixed on him, eagerly awaiting to listen to their Alpha’s every word.

"As you all know, we have faced many challenges in the past year. We have lost numerous members of our community to the virus, and our way of life has been threatened. But we have also shown our resilience, strength and unity in the face of adversity. We have come together to support each other and protect our pack."
The crowd erupts into a thunderous applause, their hands clapping in unison. I can feel the vibrations of their excitement in the air.

"Now, let us come together in celebration," Dr. Volkov declares, his voice booming across the pack gardens, the council members beside him stand stoically, their faces stern and unyielding, "Let us enjoy this night with our families and friends and let us remember why we fight so hard to protect our community and our pack. Together, we are strong. Together, we can overcome anything."

The cheers and claps swell, reverberating through the air, filling me with an undeniable sense of pride.

Just then, a beautiful woman approached him, her hair flowing like strands of gold in the breeze. In her grip, she holds a bow and arrow. Dr. Volkov doesn't miss a beat; he unbuttons his shirt and shrugged it off, revealing his sculpted muscles that rippled beneath his skin, giving him an aura of raw power. As he stands there, Vasil approaches, wordlessly extending his hand to receive Dr. Volkov's shirt.

The woman handed him the bow and arrow, and he took them with ease. I watched in awe as he raised the bow, I couldn't help but stare at his strong arms, every motion was precise and controlled, like he was a living weapon. A small sigh escaped my lips as I realized just how attractive he was. As the woman lifted her hand, the sound of a faint whisper followed by a sudden crackle reached my ears and my eyes were met with a mesmerizing sight: a flame was born, flickering to life on the arrowhead. It danced and swirled, casting a warm glow on the woman's face. As I gazed into her eyes, I noticed a fiery determination that matched the flames on the arrow.I could hear the soft creak of the bowstring as Dr. Volkov drew it back. The crowd fell silent, their breaths held in anticipation, his eyes focused on the bonfire in front of us.

Dr. Volkov's eyes narrowed and with a mighty exhale, he released the arrow, and it soared through the air, trailing a shower of sparks. It hit the bonfire dead centre, and the flames erupted in a brilliant display of light and heat. Dr. Volkov threw his head back and let out a piercing howl, the sound pulsing through my body. The rest of the wolves joined in, their voices blending together in a haunting chorus. I felt a shiver run down my spine, and I couldn't help but join in the howl, my voice rising up to meet theirs.

As he looked back down, his eyes darkened flickering with a feral intensity. In that moment, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of us in a charged silence. I couldn't help but shiver as his gaze bore into me like a dagger, every inch of my skin tingling with the heat of his stare. It was like he was peering into the depths of my soul, his eyes daring me to look away, to break the connection between us. But I couldn't. I was trapped in the web of his stare, lost in a world of sensation and desire.

With a single glance, Dr. Volkov had ignited a fire within me, a fire that burned with a fierce intensity that threatened to consume me. But just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. He turned and walked over to Vasil and slipped his shirt back on with fluid movements, the fabric clung to his chiselled muscles like a second skin. As he turned and walked away, the air around us crackled with unspoken tension, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing and curiosity.

My heart was heavy with conflicting emotions, torn between the desire to know what was going through his mind and the fear of getting hurt again. After Adam had rejected me, I knew I couldn't risk my heart again. I had to keep my distance from Dr. Volkov, no matter how much I wanted to be close to him. The pull towards him was strong, but I had to resist.