Third POV
Asher frowned. “Shouldn’t you be asking the healer for help? Why are you asking me?” He pushed past Hazel and entered the house, chucking his tie on the floor. “Do I look like a healer to you?”
“I did,” Hazel said with a frown, stepping over the tie. She followed him into the living room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “The pack healer already examined Finn twice. He said the fever should have broken by now.”
Asher collapsed into his armchair and rubbed his face with both hands. The leather creaked under his weight. Three days of failed meetings had drained him completely. His shoulders ached from tension.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The infirmary doesn’t have the right medications.” Hazel’s voice grew sharper. “The pack healers said that we might need human medicine.”
Werewolves rarely got sick. Even if they did, their immune system and natural healing capabilities would usually allow them to heal much quicker than humans. As such, most of the healing supplies packed in infirmaries were for external wounds and other injuries sustained during pack scuffles or trainings, to aid a wolf’s healing.
It was rare to have medicine to deal with common symptoms like the flu.
Hazel moved closer. “But Finn has been sick for almost a week now. This isn’t normal. I’m worried.”
Asher looked up at her through his fingers. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Her usually perfect blonde hair looked disheveled.
Even werewolf children with strong healing abilities could sometimes struggle with certain illnesses.
“Where is he now?”
“At the border house.” Hazel sat down on the edge of the coffee table, facing him directly. “There’s a traveling healer from the Firemoon Pack who agreed to examine him. But she won’t come deeper into our territory.”
Asher nodded slowly. Traveling healers were often cautious about entering unfamiliar pack lands. They preferred to work at neutral locations or areas just slightly past a border.
“But even she said that she can only slow down the symptoms. We need proper medicine.”Hazel’s hands twisted together in her lap. “As the Alpha, you should be able to arrange something like that, right?”
Asher’s irritation flared again. Ever since he’d officially taken over as Alpha three days ago, everyone expected him to have magical solutions to every problem.
Hazel seemed to think that his new title came with unlimited resources and connections. She’d completely abandoned her Beta duties, leaving Nigel to handle everything alone.
She spent her time planning their official mating ceremony instead of actually helping run the pack.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Asher said finally. The words felt heavy in his mouth. “I’ll make some calls tomorrow morning.”
“Tomorrow?” Hazel’s voice rose. “Asher, our son has been burning up with fever all day. This can’t wait until tomorrow.”
Our son.
Now that Estelle was gone, Hazel was finally claiming her rightful place as his true mate and Finn’s mother.
“Fine,” Asher said. “I’ll make calls tonight.”
Hazel’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “Thank you.”
An uncomfortable silence settled between them. Asher stared at the wall behind Hazel’s head. Family photos lined the mantelpiece. Most of them showed him, Estelle, and Finn together at various pack events.
One photo caught his attention. It showed Finn’s fifth birthday party from two months ago. Estelle knelt beside the little boy, helping him blow out the candles on his cake. She was smiling brightly, her light blue eyes warm with affection.
Finn’s expression in the photo was neutral at best.
“Has Estelle called the pack house?” Asher asked suddenly. “Or shown up anywhere?”
Hazel’s face darkened immediately. “Why are you asking about her again?”
“Just answer the question.”
“No,” Hazel said coldly. “She hasn’t been back to the pack house. I haven’t seen her at the border house either. Finn is staying there because of the traveling healer, but Estelle hasn’t shown up.”
Asher nodded absently. That reminded him of something. Maybe Estelle was staying at their old house at the border.
It was isolated and quiet. The perfect place for someone who wanted to avoid pack politics and drama.
“I need to check on something,” Asher said, standing up abruptly.
Hazel frowned. “What about the medical supplies?”
“I’ll handle it after I get back.”
Asher grabbed his car keys from the side table and headed for the door. Hazel called after him, but he was already outside.
The drive to the border house took fifteen minutes. Asher’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he navigated the winding dirt road.
The small cottage came into view through the trees. It looked exactly the same as always. White walls, blue shutters, and a small garden that Estelle had planted during their second year of marriage.
Asher parked and practically ran to the front door. His key still worked. The door swung open easily.
“Estelle?” he called out. “Are you here?”
Silence answered him.
The living room looked untouched. Dust particles danced in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows. The air smelled stale and unused. He frowned.
Asher climbed the stairs two at a time, heading straight for their old bedroom. His heart pounded against his ribs.
He pushed open the bedroom door and froze.
The room was completely empty.
Not just empty of people, but also of everything that had once belonged to Estelle.
The dresser where she’d kept her jewelry was bare. The closet stood open, revealing empty hangers. Her books were also gone from the bedside table.
Asher walked slowly around the room, checking every corner. Not a single trace remained of the woman who had lived here.
He checked the bathroom. It was the same as the others—empty.
The spare bedroom they’d used as storage was also cleared of her belongings. Boxes of her old photographs, clothes she’d outgrown, and gifts from pack members over the years had all vanished.
Asher stood stunned by the doorframe.
When had she moved everything out? How had she managed to clear an entire house’s worth of belongings without anyone noticing?