The sun was warm on my skin, even as whiffles of wind ruffled strands of hair in front of my eyes. I placed an hand on the books on my side to prevent the wind from damaging their old pages and then released a breath. The blond lock in front of my mouth moved and I pinned it behind my ear.

Spring had arrived.

I had decided to venture out of my office in order to enjoy the torpor spring brought along. I had gone on and on, no destination in mind, with my senses captivated by the awakening of nature. This was how I had found myself in a part of the Red Claw's grounds I had not visited before. Away from the pack house and deep in the woods, there was an hidden garden, in the center of which stood a beautiful gazebo. Bushes of roses, their blooms still not open, intertwined themselves with the iron structure, going up and up, and covered the entire roof. Two benches were placed under it, their uneven surface probably ruined by time and weather.

And here I was, cross legged on one of them, reading the medical journals of the Red Claw pack.

I had spent the previous night reading, absorbing every information I came across, but unfortunately I hadn't found anything remotely related to what I was looking for.

My eyes skimmed through the words of the third volume, storing every notion deep in my mind. It was so fascinating to learn how werewolf physicians of the past had tended to wounds with what nature offered them and nothing else. I finished reading the report of an arduous labor, at the end of which unfortunately the mother wolf didn't survive, and closed the book. I caressed the leather cover, praying the volume to reveal its secrets to me. I desperately needed something. Not a definitive answer, I knew that I wasn't going to find that, but at least some clues. Some clues to lead me on a path.

My ears perched up at the dull sound of footsteps approaching, the wind soon after carrying a scent in my direction. I inhaled deeply, my wolf doing the same. Chocolate and spices.

Hercules emerged from the trees, his steps strong and steady. With locks of dark hair ruffled by the wind, his frame dominant and imposing, he looked like a dark angel. The kind of angel you dreamed about in your wildest dreams. When his eyes found mine, he halted.
I wasn't able to look away. Or perhaps, I didn't want to.

We hadn't talked since his outburst in my office. Since I had admitted to him that I was Alpha Thaddeus's Potential. Since he had said that he wasn't going to fight for me.

It's hard to fight for someone who decided you were going to loose from the beginning.

Those words had hit deep in my soul, strumming some strings that had been long forgotten, awaking something dormant.

"Lara."

"Hercules."

He scanned me head to toes, his sharp eyes leaving nothing untouched. I barely managed to refrain from shivering under that gaze. His attention then shifted to the book in my hands and to the others next to me.

"I didn't know I'd find you here. I'll let you be."

...let some of the bricks fall, give him few cracks...

"There is enough space for the both of us."

He pinned me again with his stare, his eyes of sapphire searching, scanning, roaming my face. If he was looking for uncertainty, he wouldn't find any. Hercules hesitated, his body tense, but then nodded, accommodating himself on the other bench. I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. I was still focused on him when he spoke.

"How did you find this place?"

I shrugged.

"I was searching for an isolated place to read while enjoying the warmth and stumbled in here. Why?"

"Nothing. It's just that I came here the past days and never detected your scent so...I was just curious."

Ouch. Was he implying that he came here in order to avoid me? Because he was sure he would not find me in this place? Those thoughts almost hurt. Almost.

"What about you? How do you know it?"

Hercules looked at his surroundings, but his eyes were unfocused, like he was lost in thoughts. Or perhaps memories.

"This is where ceremonies are held. I was here when Alpha Logan claimed his title as the Alpha of the Red Claw pack."

I could imagine ceremonies being held here as this place looked like a corner of heaven. Even more, I supposed, when the roses would bloom in the later spring. I was curious to know if a place like this existed on the Silverblood's grounds, but Hercules' attention was already elsewhere. He was looking at some papers in his hands, a frown on his face. I took that as a sign that he didn't want to be disturbed, so I resumed reading. My curiosity would be satiated another time.

"Are you reading the medical journals?"

I lifted my gaze from the book, finding Hercules looking at me. The papers laid scattered on the bench.

"I am. What about you?"

He sighed, passing an hand through his disheveled locks. The way his arm flexed didn't escape me. Or my wolf. Our eyes zeroed on that motion on their own.

"Some paperwork Alpha Logan gave me. Apparently, Silverblood has been chosen to be the host for the mating event this year. We will accommodate males and females of age from five different packs, Red Claw included, three weeks from now. Preparations need to be done."

The grip I had on the book tightened. Males and females from five different packs? How long would they stay for? I didn't like the idea of stranger werewolves on the pack's grounds, but it wasn't my call to make. I would make myself scarce during those days, staying in my cabin or going back to Seattle. Apparently, I had three weeks to ponder about that.

"But.." he continued, almost hesitantly, "it can wait. I could help you out with those journals. If you want."

Something clenched inside of me. The fact that he was willing to put aside pack work in order to help me...it was a pleasant surprise. And it meant a lot. More than I could imagine. My wolf rumbled deep in her chest, eyeing the male with eyes full of appreciation.

" Your help would be very much appreciated."

An hint of a smile appeared on his lips as he nodded. I untangled my legs, making space for him on the bench. He eyed the space with uncertain eyes, but he then got up from the other side of the gazebo and sat down next to me. The body heat and scent that radiated off his body reached me at full force and I thanked the heavens that I was already seated. The warmth he emanated was languidly kissing my exposed skin, like a lover would do. I shivered, my mind drifting to the memories of his strong hands gripping my hips, his sinful mouth leaving a path of fire on my flesh...

"What should I look for?"

Hercules' voice brought me out of that very dangerous train of thoughts, making me come back to reality. I cleared my throat. This was not the time to get distracted. Even if it was easier said than done with him so close to me.

"Everything that might suggest a illness of some sort. No wounds, no broken bones. Something as a cold, or a fever. Something unusual for werewolves."

He picked up one of the two remaining books and began reading. Time flew like that, both of us absorbed in our own journal. The silence was comfortable and even his presence next to me was..comforting. Reassuring. I had finished reading the third journal and I was focused on the last one; both of us, unfortunately, were still empty handed.

"You know, you can place your legs on my lap if you're uncomfortable."

I whirled my head so fast that all my hair fell in front of my face.

"What?" I rasped out.

His attention, however, was still on the book in his hands. But I couldn't have imagined those words, he had definitely uttered them.

"You're stiff as a board. And you have already rotated your calves thrice. I'm no doctor, but you're bound to get cramps if you don't relax those muscles. Hence, stretch your legs on me."

I was speechless. Both by his proposition and both by the fact that he had noticed my discomfort. And cared enough to point that out. My wolf was rumbling in appreciation, her sharp golden pools eyeing the Alpha in front of her like he was meal.

"You'd be such a bossy doctor." I mused.

Hercules smiled, even if his eyes never left the pages he was reading.

"I already know a stubborn and bossy doctor. She's more that enough."

Smart mouth.

He finally looked up from the book, beckoning me to lean my legs on him. Exhaling a breath, I placed one of my legs on his thighs, folding the other on my outstretched knee. I could feel his muscles shift to accomodate the weight and I dared to look at him to see his reaction. His jaw was clenched, his eyes focused hard on the pages, his knuckles almost white from gripping the cover too tight. His body language screamed distress. I made to move my leg away, but he gripped my ankle, immobilizing me.

"Don't." He growled.

His grip on my leg was tight, but not painful. Oh no, not painful at all. His hand on my bare ankle caused tingles to erupt from the contact, soon followed by goosebumps. When he was reassured enough that I wasn't going to pull away, the grip weakened, but his hand remained there. Slowly and tentatively at first, his fingers began drawing circles on my skin, picking up speed and intensity with each stroke, until it turned into a full massage. The feeling was so sublime that I had to bit down on my lips hard enough to stop multiple moans from escaping. His hand working on my skin, his powerful thighs shifting under my leg...he was driving me insane. My beast was purring, undeniable lust swimming in her eyes that I knew were a mirror of my own. Reason why I stayed focused on the pages in my lap, even if the words were blurring together, too afraid of what Hercules could read in my gaze. I was so deep under the spell of his touch that I couldn't refrain myself from speaking up.

"I told him, you know?"

His caresses faltered for a second before going back to their previous lazy pace.

"Told what to whom?"

"To Alpha Thaddeus. That you're my mate."

His hand stilled, his entire body frozen. He turned to look at me, his face an impenetrable wall of blankness. His eyes, however, were not. They resembled a raging ocean. Deep, gorging, unforgiving. The golden specks looked like lighting bolts in a sea of darkness.

"You did?" His voice was strained.

My gaze didn't falter from his. I was not scared of drowning in the unforgiving waves of his eyes.

"I did. Now he knows. And he respects that."

He stared at me for a while longer, hard-faced. Then, he nodded and resumed reading, his fingers going back to stroking my ankle.

"I would have fought, Hercules. I would have fought my way out of it."

Again, I found myself pinned under those unwavering cobalt eyes. They were swirling with emotion, their waves now calmer and more controlled. Even if there were unspoken words hanging heavily between us, it didn't matter. Sometimes words were not needed.

He knew. I knew. And that was enough.

He squeezed my ankle as to say that he understood, before going back to caressing the skin with his fingers.

Time passed like this, both of us reading, his hand never leaving its place on my ankle. I didn't know how many hours had passed, but for once I wasn't in a hurry, or anxious. I was..content. I was enjoying my time in Hercules' company and secretly hoped that we didn't have to go back to the pack house for a while.

"Lara?"

I hummed, my attention still upon the ink between my hands.

"Lara, look. I think I might have found something."

I snapped my head up, now looking at him.

"What? Where?"

"Here," he said, "look."

He pointed to a page and I crawled closer to him in order to read, my shoulder touching his.

"It says that a she-wolf fell ill after a trip in the north. She developed a fever, a rash and breathing problems."

I skimmed through the words, my heart frantically pounding in my chest. This was the first clue I had found in more than a month and I was exited to say the least. Even if the symptoms weren't linked to Sarah and Henry's. I couldn't read fast enough.

"Does it say something else?" I asked.

"Yes. The she-wolf reported to the physician that she didn't do anything out of the ordinary before falling ill. Just that when she was up in the north she brewed tea from a local flower she had never seen before."

I was so thrilled about this discovery that I didn't notice that I was almost sitting on Hercules' lap until it was too late. I didn't care.

"Which flower? Does it say?"

He tapped his finger on the paper and I followed his gesture with my eyes.

"Just a sketch of it. But no name."

I furrowed my eyebrows. The sketch was simple, almost childish; the hand that had drawn it had not been made for art, but I wasn't complaining. It was more that I could have hoped for. The flower portrayed was big, its petals the same shade as blood. The pistil was black, the stem long and thin. It looked like...

"Are poppies dangerous to werewolves?" I asked.

Hercules looked skeptical.

"Not that I know of. Never heard about poppies being dangerous for us. I mean...Layla sometimes bakes bread with poppies' seeds and nothing ever happened."

I stared at the sketch, trying to connect the dots. I didn't have many options though.

"What about the treatment?"

Hercules sighed, his eyes skimming along the lines.

"None. They couldn't save her."

Our eyes met. The hope I was feeling deflated a bit, but I didn't let myself fall into a pit of hopelessness. It was the first clue I had obtained in months, even if the ending wasn't so promising.

"I need to know more about this flower." I concluded.

Hercules nodded.

"Let's go talk to Alpha Thaddeus then."

————-

"There is a gifted Healer living not very far from here. She is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, remaining. Healers are herbalist, she might know the answers you seek."

The Red Claw's Alpha was looking at the drawing of the flower, his face furrowed in concentration.

"Where?" I asked.

If there was the chance, even the smallest one, to know more about the mysterious flower, I would take it. And if that Healer was our safest bet, I would go to her. No matter where, no matter the cost.

"In a forest in the east. It's a two days journey to get there in your wolf form. There are no roads for cars as she lives in a cottage in the very center of the forest. Last I heard, the old crone was still alive and thriving."

"I'll go," I stated.

"I'll come with you."

Hercules got up from his chair, pinning me with his gaze. My heart warmed at the thought of him coming with me, but I wouldn't allow him to do it. He had more urgent matters to attend. This was something I had to do.

"You know you can't. The pack needs you to be back in order to make arrangements for the upcoming event. You said so this morning, remember?"

Hercules's jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring. He opened his mouth, surely in order to retort, but then stopped. Much to my surprise, he nodded his head.

"You're right."

Alpha Thaddeus' eyes were lighten up in amusement, a faint smile adorning his lips.

"Don't worry Alpha Thorne, my Gamma will accompany Dr. Crawford in this journey. He has spent months in that forest, he knows his way around it. Your mate will come back safe and sound."

It was strange to hear someone referring to myself as Hercules' mate, but it wasn't totally unpleasant. It was just...strange.

"You better wish. Or your Gamma is a dead man walking."

I snorted. The testosterone in the room was beginning to be suffocating. I could totally take care of myself, I just needed someone to show me the path.

Tomorrow I would leave full of unanswered questions. And I would not come back until I had all the right answers.

—————-

Here it is! New chapter for you!

What do you think about it?
Did you like it?
Wasn't it sweeeeeet? ☺️
And what about this mysterious flower?
What are your theories? I want to hear them!!!

I'll probably check the mistakes tomorrow. If you find any, please point them out!

As always, vote, comment and share if you liked the chapter!
Kisses,
Kate