Chapter 5 Healing Hearts

• Alexa
• I mourned my fate in the corner of this small boat. My hands wrapped around my knees as my tears refused to stop.
• I didn’t know why all this was happening to me. I had never felt full affection from my parents in my entire life. My mother died when I was little, protecting me from a rogue attack. My father, the former Alpha, passed away six months ago because of a heart attack.
• Since my father died, my stepmother and stepsister treated me as a servant in the house. I thought I only needed to endure until I turned 18 and gained a powerful wolf. Turns out, I couldn’t control my wolf’s strength, making me seem as if I was wolfless, unable to transform.
• My hand supported my forehead. My tears flowed as bitter laughter accompanied my journey. It’s crazy what people would do for money.
• But the most painful thing was Alpha Gabriel, who didn’t even turn around to save me. He saw me being taken away and didn’t lift a finger to pity me. It was all nonsense!
• Even Alpha Alastair, who acknowledged our bond, ended up imprisoning me in that dungeon. Just because I wasn’t a virgin?
• “Eat this biscuit first,” a man’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts and handed me a small can of biscuits. He also gave me a brown leather jacket.
• “Thank you,” I said as I draped the jacket over my shoulder without actually wearing it.
• “Here, apply this healing ointment to your wounds,” he offered me a bottle of cream.
• “Thank you,” I mumbled, taking the bottle.
• I shouldn’t have needed it since I knew my wounds would heal by morning. This man was also a Lycan, wasn’t he? He should have known. I considered it a gesture of kindness and was grateful.
• As I took the cream bottle from his hand, I felt an invisible electric shock when our fingers touched. Our eyes widened, and I instinctively dropped the cream bottle to the floor.
• Damn! What the hell was that?!
• “I’m sorry,” I stammered.
• I picked up the cream bottle and clenched it tightly to my chest. We were silent, and I averted my gaze to the dark sea. My hand massaged my nape, trying to calm the goosebumps that rose.
• What is wrong with me? To cover up my clumsiness, I applied the cream to my scratched legs. Then I rolled up my sleeve with one hand. I winced in pain as I saw the reddish swelling on my arm. The tree bark had left marks on my arm, a result of the magic I used when hugging the tree earlier.
• “Here, let me help,” the man offered, reaching for the cream bottle.
• “No, it’s okay. I can do it myself,” I shook my head.
• “Just let me help you. I promise I won’t bite.” He reassured me in a calm voice.
• His voice was soothing, and I felt protected as I looked at him. He gazed at me for a long time before I finally trusted him. Carefully, as if avoiding another shock, he took the cream bottle from me.
• I rolled up my sleeve further and extended my arm to him. Goddess! The reddish bruise was severe!
• The man carefully applied the cream with a small spatula embedded in the bottle’s cap. I winced as the ointment touched my arm, cooling the burning sensation and leaving a sting on my skin.
• “It’s okay. It will heal in no time for a Lycan like us,” he said, glancing at my face before blowing on my arm, now coated with ointment.
• “Thank you,” I smiled at him.
• I knew nothing about him. All I knew was that he saved me from that prison. I felt obliged to thank him and ask why he had rescued me even though we didn’t know each other.
• “My name is Alexa Dawson. You can call me Alexa. What’s your name?” I asked.
• The man stared at me for a long time before clearing his throat. “Harlow. Harlow Phillips,” he replied.
• His hands closed the lid on the cream bottle. He kept his head lowered with an unfriendly furrow. His jaw tightened as he packed the bottle.
• “Thank you for saving me,” I whispered. I stared at his face, trying to find an expression that could answer my pile of questions.
• “Why did you save me?” I asked.
• Harlow stared at me with a furrowed brow. He thought for a long time before answering with a nonchalant response.
• “Just because,” he shrugged.
• My eyebrows rose in disbelief at that answer. Something was off, but I didn’t know how to react. Of course, I didn’t instantly trust him. I took a deep breath and gathered my courage again to ask him.
• “Where are you taking me?” I asked.
• The man stood up and glanced at me. “To a safe place.” He walked back into the control room, shutting the door with a loud thud, leaving me alone in the passenger seat.
• What was happening? Why was he so mysterious and sparing with his words? I couldn’t understand how he could risk his life to take me away, but not explain his reasons.
• I sat frozen, alone. Although tossed by the sea, I didn’t feel nauseous. This was far different from riding Rider.
• The rocking of the waves made my eyelids grow heavy, and I felt sleepy. Exhaustion won the battle of consciousness until I fell sound asleep. That night was the first time I had slept soundly after a week of suffering.
• ***
• The heat of the sun woke me from my sleep. I blinked my eyes and immediately saw an unfamiliar brown ceiling. My eyes widened as I remembered everything.
• I stood up and walked out of the room. As I stepped outside, I was greeted by the blinding sun, the vast blue sea, and the sky stretching as far as I could see. Immediately, I spotted Harlow at the back deck, working out.
• His upper body was bare, wearing only beige shorts. He pumped his body up and down with his muscular arm. His legs stayed straight behind him in a perfect push-up position. Even though the waves gently rocked our boat, he seemed unaffected. He kept his balance effortlessly.
• A silver necklace reflected the sunlight hanging from Harlow’s neck. My eyes squinted as I raised my hand to shield the glare. The necklace he wore was shaped like a wolf’s head. Once again, I felt like I had seen it before, but couldn’t recall where or when.
• Then I saw his tan-colored back glistening under the morning sunlight. The sweat running down his back seemed to create a glowing effect, tempting to touch. The distinct scent of sweat mixed with mint and pine spread strongly to my sense of smell. It made my heart race.
• His dark eyes glared at the other side of the deck while sweat gathered above his eyebrows. His dark hair contrasted with the bright ocean view. I swallowed hard as he exhaled with every bend of his elbows, lowering his body slowly.
• ‘Goddess! I want to be under there!’
• I covered my mouth, holding back the sound that almost escaped as I heard Mythril’s voice, the same thought I had. Harlow gradually became aware and then looked up. When he saw me, he immediately stood up straight and grabbed a small towel from a wooden crate.
• “You’re awake?” he asked as he wiped his body with the towel.
• Without a word, I nodded. One hand clenched my arm to suppress all the inappropriate thoughts that had crossed my mind.
• “Alright. After this, we’ll have a quick breakfast before continuing the journey.” He put the damp towel back and grabbed a white shirt. “We’ll abandon the boat,” Harlow said as he put on his shirt.
• “Why?” I asked.
• “We’ll take a bus.”
• “Where?” I asked again.
• Harlow stood still, staring at me for a long time. That look again! What was going through his mind? Why wouldn’t he tell me anything? Could I even trust him?
• “Trust me, it’s a safe place for you,” he said.