Chapter 6

Simon's POV For three months, blood had soaked the battlefield. I had lost count of how many warriors had fallen on both sides. War with the Silver Lake Pack had begun over land disputes, but it had devolved into something we couldn't control. Their Alpha had no honor. He didn't care about the lives of his people. He wanted nothing but my death. And he was willing to poison his own warriors to achieve it. I gritted my teeth, pressing a hand against the deep gash along my ribs. The wound burned like it was doused in fire, the telltale sign of wolfsbane poisoning. The bastard had coated his warriors' weapons with it, a coward's tactic. Without an Alpha's healing ability, his own men had died within hours of being scratched. I despised him for it. A pack was more than its Alpha, iit was its people. Every member was precious. War should be fought to protect them, not to throw their lives away for a personal vendetta. But this wasn't about honor anymore. It was about survival or an ego they were trying to protect. My vision blurred as I stumbled through the forest, my body growing weaker with each step. I needed to return to my men, to let them know I was still alive. But the poison was spreading too fast. My legs buckled, and I collapsed against the base of a tree, gasping for breath. This wasn't how it was supposed to end. I closed my eyes to catch my breath when I smelt it A scent. Sweet, yet crisp. Warm, yet refreshing. It wrapped around me, awakening something deep within my soul. My wolf, who had been weakened by the poison, suddenly stirred. Mate. A surge of energy shot through me, adrenaline momentarily chasing away the darkness creeping in on my consciousness. I forced my heavy lids open, and that's when I saw her. She was kneeling beside me, her delicate hands already working to examine my wounds. Moonlight bathed her features, highlighting her smooth, golden skin and the determined set of her jaw. Her eyes were bright, intelligent, and fiercely focused, they narrowed as she studied the poisoned gash. She was stunning. And she had no idea who I was to her. I parted my lips to speak, but she pressed a firm hand against my chest, holding me down with surprising strength. "Save your energy," she instructed with a soft voice. "You're in bad shape." I would have smirked if I wasn't so close to death. "I've had worse." She ignored my attempt at humor, already pulling a cloth from her bag and dipping it into a small vial of liquid. A sharp accent hit my nose, like herbs. "You were poisoned," she murmured, voice tinged with concern. "But it hasn't spread to your heart yet. I can neutralize it." Her fingers were careful as she dabbed the soaked cloth against my wound. Pain flared through my side, but I bit back a grunt. "Who are you?" I rasped. Her gaze flickered to mine. There was hesitation in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant. "Aisha," she answered. My heart clenched. Her name felt right, my wolf calmed just from the sound of her name. She turned her focus back to my injury, fingers working with so much care as she applied pressure to the wound. There was something methodical about her movements, the way she worked as if she had done this a hundred times before. My wolf rumbled in approval. Fated mates were rare. But she was more than that, she was special. Mine. I had fought in countless battles, suffered more injuries than I could count, yet never had I been treated with such skill. I had healers in my pack, trained doctors even, but the speed at which she worked, the exactness of her hands… She wasn't just a nurse in training. "Where did you learn this?" I asked, my gaze never leaving her. She didn't falter, but I caught the slight stiffening of her shoulders. "I… I was studying to be a nurse," she said, her tone was so casual like we were discussing the weather. "I know a little bit about medicine." Cute liar. There was no way a regular nurse could have identified the poison so quickly, much less neutralized it with such efficiency. I let out a low chuckle, despite the pain. "A little bit, huh?" Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Stay still or I'll let you die." I grinned. She had fire. But my amusement faded as another wave of exhaustion hit me. The poison wasn't completely gone yet, and my body was still weak. My eyelids drooped. Aisha's fingers brushed against my forehead, and I felt warmth spreading through me. "You're not allowed to die," she whispered. A strange sense of peace settled over me. I was safe with her. Before the darkness swallowed me whole, one thought echoed in my mind. She was mine. And I wasn't letting her go. When I woke, it was still dark. The sharp pain in my side had dulled to an ache, and my head was clearer. The poison was gone. Aisha sat a few feet away, tending to a small fire. She was watching me, her expression unreadable. "You should rest," she said as soon as she saw me stir. I pushed myself up, wincing slightly. "You saved me." She shrugged. "It's what I do." I studied her, my mind working through what I knew. She was strong, independent, and far too skilled to be just a simple nurse. "Where are you from?" I asked, my voice steady despite my exhaustion. Her gaze flickered to the fire. "Nowhere anymore." A vague answer. I could push. Demand the truth. But something told me she wouldn't give it freely. Not to a stranger at least. But I wasn't in a hurry. My pack needed a healer. And I needed my mate. I leaned back against the tree, watching as the firelight flickered across her face. I could earn her trust. I could bring her home. I had no idea if she would let me.