Chapter 2

• ASPEN VESPER
• THREE YEARS LATER
• “Doctor Vesper,” the man seated in front of Aspen called and she knew he was about to ask another one of his intriguing questions. “Did you zone out?”
• “Uh…” Aspen drew a breath and looked away from the muted TV. “I did not. I uh…”
• The man looked behind him and saw what held her attention for so long.
• “I see,” he said and directed his focus to her. “Lycan Kailin seem to be doing well.”
• She sighed. “My sister looks sick.”
• “And pregnant.”
• Her brows lifted. “She does look pregnant.”
• Ezra adjusted the query in his brows and said, “Do you still want a chance to go back? You have built quite a life here. You are now one of the best doctors and-”
• “My life is certainly blissful,” Aspen sighed. “But underneath the bliss, I still remember that day. I still remember how Kailin Blackwood refused to recognise me, I remember the look my father gave me while my so-called mate got married to my sister. Watching them just now reminded me that I still need answers and that I still need to make them pay for what they did to me.”
• Subconsciously, as she spoke, Aspen reached to touch the little patch of her scar which was right beside her right eye.
• Ever since she chose to walk with Ezra, things went fairly for her. The new life was rough for the first few months, but once she regained her voice, she decided to pull her focus into studying to become a doctor pending the day she would decide it was time to avenge the anger and sorrow that refused to leave her soul. Simultaneously, she watched her scar heal though her heart never did.
• It was crazy how since two weeks ago, she had been having the feeling that it was time to go back to the Nyx Pack and surely was crazier that Kai and Raven appeared on her TV the very day she decided to set it up after weeks of leaving it in her storage.
• Ezra nodded. “Okay then. What if I told you that-?”
• “Are you seriously going to have her go?” one of the friends she made in The Rebel Pack, Beta Lance walked in, the majesty of his wolf apparent in his strides which soon halted when he sat next to Ezra. “I am still of the opinion that she should stay back.”
• Aspen frowned. “What are you two talking about?”
• The men shared a glance.
• Then, after pushing his bangs to the side, Ezra responded, “Your sister is sick. The Nyx Pack has been searching for a doctor who will get her healed because nobody has gotten to the root of her illness so far. Someone heard about how good you are so the Lycan King sent for you, but-”
• “Why am I hearing this now?” Aspen almost jumped out of her seat.
• “Because we want to use this opportunity to infiltrate the Nyx Palace.” Lance's response reduced her excitement. “This might be the only chance we get to infiltrate the innards of the palace so we have to do it well.”
• “Right,” Aspen sighed. Ever since she started joining their Rebel meetings a year ago, Lance expressed displeasure. Not because he hated her, but because he was concerned that she would get too immersed and lose herself.
• “I am of the opinion that Aspen will do just fine,” Ezra voiced his solid opinion. “She won’t be reckless. Once we give her the instructions, she’ll approach the palace with the intention to heal the Luna.”
• “And what happens when she meets the people that betrayed her? Can you vouch that Aspen won’t spark with anger and act on her own?” Lance locked eyes with Aspen who was gradually picturing how that bloody reunion would be. “Aspen, I am not hating on you, but-”
• “I will do it,” Aspen responded with a breath.
• “Aspen,” Lance did not hide his concern.
• “I understand you, Lance. But if there’s a chance for the organisation to penetrate the palace, we should grab it. This is no time to be concerned about whether or not I will crash when I see those people. Besides, I think it will be fun. Seeing the look on their faces after they thought I was long dead will be fun. And-”
• “Is that why you are gripping that book so hard?” Lance pointed out.
• Aspen looked down and saw that she had imprinted nail marks onto her dairy into which she wrote details about her patients to better analyse them. After a deep exhale, she let the book go and stared right at Lance. “No matter what happens, I will not mess up. So you need to stop being very concerned. Besides, I am the only one that can do this job. After all, I am the renowned doctor that the Lycan King of our country wishes to heal his wife.”
• Lance chuckled. “How cocky of you.”
• Aspen shot out her tongue in response and Ezra slapped the arms of his chair as he got to his feet.
• After seconds of standing upright, he said, “That settles it. Aspen, the details of the mission will be sent to you by nine pm, so don’t sleep off.”
• “I never sleep, you know that.”
• Lance nodded, some sort of pity in his eyes. “You are a doctor, yet you deprive yourself of one of the best medicine ever.”
• “Come on, Lance. I just find a few hours of sleep enough for an entire week,” Aspen responded.
• “You sleep for only two hours in a week, Aspen,” Lance returned strongly. “How is that normal? You just-”
• “I will let the Alpha King know about your response, Aspen. I am sure he will be pleased,” Ezra added and soon, he walked out of that room.
• Aspen then wondered if she would ever get to see their Alpha. They often made mention of him during their secret meetings, but a face was yet to be put to the name.
• “Please, Aspen,” Lance dragged her out of her thoughts. “Be careful out there.”
• “I will.” Aspen smiled softly. She chose to not start imagining how devious the reunion with those betrayers would be, but just a little glimpse into her imagination had her expectant of the day she would come face to face with Kailin Blackwood and his gracious fake mate. And also, her family.