AUTHOR'S POV
Scott couldn't help but ponder deeply on the bad dream he had last night. An Alpha's nightmare is like a premonition, a warning of a danger coming. All he could remember was an attack targeting his Luna leading her disappearance, and the rest turned into missing pieces. He touched his lips, then instantly thought of his first kiss. Smiling as he closed his eyes, he remembered how Diana sweetly tasted, and how soft her lips were. For Scott, Diana is undeniably his one and only addiction he'll never get rid off.
The business meeting was done fifteen minutes ago and yet, he was still standing by the window of the conference room. His entire world shifted to his Luna, with his thoughts being filled by only her. Disturbing his musings, a knock on the door rambled his silent tranquil, without bothering to look.
"Is there a second meeting? Why are you still here?", Reina asked, seeing Scott inside the conference room.
Scott didn't answered and just stood, unmoved. Reina rushed in and held on to his brother's arm and showed him her puppy eyes. "Are you still angry? I'm sorry about last time brother", Reina snuggled in her brother's suit. "I even cut off my salary to finish the projects as early as this weekend", pouting her lips, waiting to be applaud and forgiven.
"Quit it", Scott said pushing her away. Reina accepted it as truce, and smiled. She never really get angry with any of her brothers for too long, no matter how upset she may be. Especially Scott, who's typically the closest to her.
"Okay, thanks! So, what's your plan on your birthday tomorrow? Because if there's none, I have!", Reina exclaimed, as she have always planned for the Devlins' occasions.
"I have plans.", Scott shrugged her off, as he walk towards the door.
"That's what you always say, and still, you don't have anything to do!", tailing Scott out of the conference room. "Last year, was at the night club. Then two years back was in the hotel.. way back from that, was in the island… Let me see.. why don't we have it at the mansion? By the lake?" Reina said as she clung to Scott's arm. "Or would you like to have in a different country?".
Stopping in the middle of the long grey marbled hallway with black striped walls, Scott just looked at her sister, and blinked a few times. On his birthday, he just wanted to spend the entire day with Diana. "I have plans".
"Yea?! Okay, great!! I'll prepare everything!! See yah!", Reina ran off as she took her phone making some calls, as if she didn't clearly heard what Scott said.
"I said no, Reina!", Scott shouted, scoffing at the back of his bothersome sister. He turned away, heading to his office. Just when he remembered to call for an update from his pack about his Luna, he was flabbergasted seeing several missed calls and messages from Cory.
MEANWHILE
Still in her bloodied clothes, Diana sat on one of the lounge chairs in of Dr. Blackwell's office, rocking back and forth. Trying to take it all in, she kept wringing her hands with her eyes on Dr. Blackwell who's still lying unconscious on the couch. Austin and David took care of the mess in the stockroom, as they come up with some psych-patient-gone-wild excuse who caused quite a mayhem. Cory, on the other hand, stayed with Diana waiting for Dr. Blackwell to wake up.
The pack told Diana that it is in the wolf's nature to naturally heal on their own. The surgical methods may impend their healing abilities, and so they convinced their Luna to wait for the old doctor recuperate from wounds somewhere private instead. Seeing the deep cut on Dr. Blackwell's chest, Diana was totally not in favor of believing in magic healing. She strongly believed that they will lose the old man if he doesn't get blood transfusion and surgery. As they were transporting Dr. Blackwell to the OR, Diana was astonished to see that his wound is closing on its own. A miracle that if seen by other people, may cause a big ruckus.
Almost an hour later, Dr. Blackwell's color returned. His wound was no longer in sight. His temperature have gone down, and his breathing returned to normal. Then he opened his eyes, as if nothing happened. "I.. I am thirsty", he said.
Diana fetched the doctor a bottle of water from a small fridge right by his office table, and handed it to Dr. Blackwell. "How do we explain about a missing doctor who turned to ash, Dr. Blackwell?", she asked.
"I got that Diana, do not worry", Dr. Blackwell smiled as he find his comfort on the couch as he finish his drink. He winces at every gulp, feeling some stinging pain on his chest each time he breathes in. "It seemed like you're not surprised to see me change", he added, tossing the bottle in the open bin.
"I was, actually, I have no idea that you are wolf.", Diana laughed incredulously, returning to her seat beside Dr. Blackwell. "I've seen a person transformed to one, though", she said, as she glance at Cory. "Do you know each other", she asked.
Standing by the door, Cory flinched turning his head at the two. "Sorry Luna, I'm Cory. Alpha sent me to protect you. Remember me from the island? ", Cory nodded with wide eyes.
"Oh..", a short memory of men with chiseled bodies flashed in her head. "I now remember".
"Alpha eh.. Thanks, boy. If you didn't come on time, I would be six feet under the ground now he he he", Dr. Blackwell laughed, wincing on the pain on his rib. Feeling humbled with his heroic act, Cory just replied with a bashful smile.
"Dr. Blackwell, how well do you know my parents? I know you were colleagues. But, seeing you as a wolf tells me a different story", Diana asked.
"Uhh.. Well, your father was my colleague and an old time friend. He's one of the pioneers of this hospital before he moved back to our small town.", he answered. "We're wolves, Diana. If that's what you wan to hear".
"Why can't I transform to a wolf? Why do I not smell like a one?", Diana anxiously asked as she lean forward. Cory kept his ears up, almost feeling like he shouldn't such conversation.
"That I don't really know, Diana. I also wondered about that myself for a long time. When you were little, you did smell like one. But then, when I saw you and your mother again after a long time of no contact, there's no ounce of wolfness on either of you anymore", the old man said. Cory peeked on Dr. Blackwell as he narrate his side of the story about Diana. Diana is indeed a complicated Luna, he thought. "I remember Daniel saying, he doesn't want to live a life being a wolf. He even abandoned the pack to live a normal life as a doctor. He's an Alpha, you know? We were young then. He even had a girlfriend that time, but when he imprinted to your mother, who's also an Alpha, he had no choice but choose his destiny. We decided to build this hospital in the city, then years later, your parents suddenly decided to move back to our small town. Losing contact and all, Daniel and never saw each other. I never saw you then, until you're in med school", he added.
"My mother, what is she like?", she asked.
"Alva? Back then, she's a very sweet and loving woman who's simple and always smiling. Daniel would always hurry home with a bunch of red roses for her.", Dr. Blackwell smiled as he remember the good memories with Alva. "I'm actually surprised seeing her again after a long time. She changed drastically. Her taste in fashion and food preference were too extra. She's became allergic to flowers... a little bit hostile and ill-tempered. She even asked me not to mention anything about wolves when you're around", he clicked his tongue and furrowed his brows. "It's probably because of Daniel's death. She had to go through a lot to raise you alone", he continued. "But I can never understand her fondess to a vampire"., he curved his lips down rubbing his rib. "She's fond of Calvin. I hope you know he's a vampire".
"Yes, I just found out", Diana answered. Diana thought that something might have happened to her and her mother back in the small town making her forget some of her memories, affecting her mother's behavior and suppressing their wolfness. Now, the answers to her questions lie to the secrets kept in their old hometown.
"The Alpha, protecting you. Is he your mate?", Dr. Blackwell made a side-eye glance at Cory.
"I'm not..I am.. I'm not.. no!" Cory stuttered walking out of the room, before getting stuck in whole lot of misunderstanding.
"Yes, Dr. Blackwell. He's name is Scott Devlin", Diana told her trusted mentor.
After a few more revelation exchanges between Dr. Blackwell and Diana, they both decided to go on and clean after themselves. Diana returned to her office, tired and weary. Thankfully, Kate isn't there to see her in such state. She would be drastically in panic if she sees Diana covered in blood. Diana changed into a blue scrubs that she kept in her cabinet. And tossed her self on the chair, drained with all the energy she have left.
MOMENTS LATER
Cory told Diana that Scott won't be able to pick her up considering something came up. He insisted to accompany her home instead, however Diana refused. Again, Scott didn't sensed her dangers. She took a cab and went home at around 7 in the evening. On her way up, she saw a couple of men kissing inside the elevator. The other guy embarrassingly went out, as she went in. Diana remained calm as she flash her keycard on the sensors going to the 21st floor. Flustered from getting caught in a cumbersome circumstance, the guy inside the elevator was caught off guard seeing where the new neighbor lives.
"Are you new here?", the guy asked breaking the ice.
"Yes", clearing her throat.
"He's uhh.. I'm uhh..", scratched his head as he tried to explain his affair.
"I don't mind really. I won't judge you with your sexual orientation.", she smiled and winked at her neighbor. The guy smiled back in her friendliness.
"Are you a doctor?", taking a peek on her bloodied white coat.
"Yes, are you?", she looked at him intently.
"No, but I wished", he smiled.
"It's never too late", Diana smiled back at her cute neighbor who look so red like a tomato.
"I'm Sebastian", he offered his hand for a handshake.
"Diana ", she shook his warm hand.
The elevator opened and he said, "This is where I go, see you around?".
"Definitely, Sebastian", she nodded as the elevator closes.