Chapter 6: The Warrior Called Sable

The first thing Sable Embers felt was pain.

A dull ache spread across her ribs every time she breathed.

The scent of unfamiliar herbs filled the air around her.

She slowly opened her eyes.

A wooden ceiling greeted her.

Soft morning light streamed through a nearby window.

For several moments, she simply stared upward, trying to remember what had happened.

Then it all came rushing back.

The battle.

The forest.

Blood.

The Alpha with golden eyes.

She sat up too quickly.

"Easy."

The calm voice belonged to an elderly woman mixing herbs at a nearby table.

"Your stitches will tear if you keep moving like that."

Sable immediately reached beneath the blanket.

Her side was tightly wrapped in fresh bandages.

The wound still hurt, but someone had cleaned and treated it.

"Where am I?" she asked cautiously.

"Winter Moon Infirmary."

Sable's eyes widened.

"Winter... Moon?"

"Yes."

"Enemy territory."

Her heartbeat quickened.

She swung her legs off the bed, ignoring the pain shooting through her body.

"I have to leave."

"Not in your condition."

"Move."

The healer sighed.

"Stubborn."

"Just like your Alpha."

Before Sable could react, the infirmary door opened.

Every instinct inside her body screamed.

Alpha Jaxon stepped inside.

He wore simple black clothing instead of armor today.

Without the battlefield surrounding him, he somehow looked even more intimidating.

His golden eyes immediately found hers.

"You're awake."

Sable grabbed the small knife lying beside the bed.

"Don't come any closer."

Jaxon stopped several feet away.

"I'm not here to hurt you."

"That's exactly what an enemy would say."

For a brief moment...

The corner of Jaxon's mouth almost lifted.

"Fair enough."

"What's your name?"

Sable hesitated.

Giving her name to an enemy Alpha wasn't wise.

"You already know which pack I belong to."

"I asked your name."

Several long seconds passed.

"Sable."

"Sable Embers."

"I'm Jaxon Docker."

"I know who you are."

"The Alpha of Winter Moon."

"The Alpha we're supposed to hate."

Jaxon didn't seem offended.

"And yet I saved your life."

That silenced her.

She remembered waking briefly in the forest.

Strong arms carrying her.

A familiar scent.

Warm cedarwood mixed with fresh rain.

She frowned.

"Why?"

"Why didn't you kill me?"

Jaxon looked toward the window instead of answering.

"Because you were wounded."

"That's not a real answer."

"It's the only one you're getting today."

Sable studied him carefully.

Everything she had been taught about Winter Moon said their Alpha was ruthless.

Cold.

Merciless.

The man standing before her didn't match those stories.

"Am I a prisoner?" she finally asked.

"No."

"Then I'm free to leave?"

"When you've recovered."

"Not before."

"That's still imprisonment."

"Call it medical supervision."

Despite herself, Sable almost smiled.

Almost.

"My pack will think I'm dead."

"Perhaps."

"They'll come looking for me."

"We'll deal with that if it happens."

"You sound confident."

"I usually am."

An awkward silence settled between them.

Sable noticed he hadn't once looked at her with hatred.

Or suspicion.

Only concern.

It didn't make sense.

"Tell me something," she said.

"Why did Ash Fang attack your borders?"

Jaxon crossed his arms.

"We were told your warriors murdered one of our patrols."

Sable frowned immediately.

"That's impossible."

"Our Alpha forbids border attacks unless we're directly threatened."

"Interesting."

"Because we received the exact same report about Ash Fang."

Both of them fell silent.

The realization settled slowly.

Someone had lied.

Someone wanted the two packs at war.

"Looks like neither of us knows the full story," Jaxon said quietly.

"Apparently not."

He turned toward the door.

"Rest."

"Your body still needs time."

"Wait."

Jaxon paused.

"Thank you... for saving me."

The words were difficult for Sable to say.

He gave a small nod.

"I'd hope you would have done the same."

She didn't answer.

Because she honestly didn't know.

After he left, Healer Naomi chuckled softly.

"He's been sitting outside this room for two days."

Sable blinked.

"Two days?"

"Hardly slept."

"Barely ate."

"Kept asking whether your fever had broken."

"Why would he do that?"

Naomi smiled mysteriously.

"Perhaps because he's kinder than people believe."

Sable wasn't convinced.

Alphas didn't risk themselves for enemy warriors.

Especially not legendary Alphas like Jaxon Docker.

Yet everything she had seen since waking contradicted everything she believed.

As she lay back against the pillow, one question refused to leave her mind.

Why had the Alpha of Winter Moon looked at her...

As though losing her would hurt him?