Emma's pov

　　I don't know how long I stood there, staring at the photograph of the unknown woman. My heart races and calms down several times. I tuck the necklace into my pocket after my questions remain unanswered.

　　"Accalia, do you remember seeing this woman anywhere?" I ask my wolf, who shakes her head negatively within me. "She's not from our wolf pack, I'm sure of that!"

　　My wolf confirms it. That woman was never part of the Moonshadow pack. Why would Ava have a photograph of someone who wasn't from our pack? Who wasn't her family?

　　Accalia gives me directions to return to the Night Howlers Pack, and with each step I take, my concern about Ava and the new photograph is replaced with my arrival, or rather, my return to the Night Howlers Pack.

　　"Do you think they'll accept me back?" I ask my wolf nervously. The fear and apprehension that something terrible may have happened begin to grow stronger as I approach the entrance to the Night Howlers Pack.

　　The smell of blood is strong. The entrance to the Night Howlers Pack's territory is heavily damaged. Some parts of the wall are shattered, and blood stains the entrance floor. As I approach, I am greeted by armed warriors ready to arrest me if I show any threat to the pack.

　　I quickly raise my hands, a sign of redemption and peace. "It's me. Emma Smith! I'm not here to cause harm!" I declare with a firm but calm voice.

　　Lights are pointed in my direction, and I'm forced to put my hand in front of my face to avoid hurting my eyes. Accalia is also uncomfortable; she had been using her lupine vision for us until now, and the eyes are sensitive in this mode.

　　"Lower your weapons, there's no need for that!" Liam declares a few steps behind the warriors guarding the gate. "Emma, we were worried about you."

　　I blink in surprise at his statement. Beta Liam approaches me, and I notice his injured face. He has a swollen black eye and a deep cut on his left cheek. I'm impressed by that and freeze in place for a few seconds. The realization that things have been really brutal between the Moonshadow Pack and the Night Howlers Pack washes over me like a wave.

　　"Come, we'll take you inside," Liam announces and leads me into the pack territory. I walk cautiously beside Liam, still apprehensive about my fate. He doesn't say anything to me as he leads me into the main house, to the Alpha Matthew Anderson's house.

　　"Is everyone okay? I'm so sorry about all this. My brother, James, he... well, he kidnapped me and—" I start to speak hurriedly and anxiously. However, Beta Liam interrupts me with a raised hand, and I quickly fall silent.

　　"Michael and his stupid gang were faster than we anticipated. Matthew, he..." Liam informs with irritation in his voice, he doesn't finish the sentence, and it causes a great deal of anxiety in my chest. I now realize that Liam has led me into Matthew's house, but more importantly, Beta Liam has brought me directly to Alpha Matthew's room. "I believe you two need to talk about your stay here from now on," Liam's voice is full of authority, and I become even more scared of what happened here in my absence. Beta Liam knocks on the door of Matthew's room, and a pack member opens it.

　　The first thing my eyes see is Matthew lying on the bed covered in blood, the second thing is the strong smell of blood permeating the room. There are many bandages and white cloths stained with blood scattered on the floor of the room and on the ground.

　　I stand still in front of the door of Alpha Matthew's room, observing the scene presented. "Where is the doctor?" I ask, catatonic, not understanding how or why Matthew is not being cared for. He's the damn alpha, damn it!

　　"He refuses to be treated by the doctor until all the other werewolves have been taken care of," Liam replies with irritation in his voice; he also doesn't approve of his alpha's command.

　　What a stupid idea! Understanding Matthew's altruistic but wrong decision, I march into the room with firmer steps. Alpha Matthew has his eyes closed, his slightly parted lips showing me a weak breath. As I approach him, there's an armchair near the headboard of the bed; at this moment, my disbelief and anger soften as I realize Matthew's condition.

　　"Bring me the first aid kit, more clean clothes, and if there are still healing potions, bring them to me," I request firmly. Matthew's eyes open upon hearing my voice, his dark green eyes meet mine, and I feel my heart skip a beat.

　　"Emma... are you okay?" he asks with a low, tired voice. Before I can respond, Beta Liam appears with the first aid kit. "No, I don't want this to be used on me until all the—" Matthew tries to move my hand away from his body.

　　"Don't be a stupid alpha, Matthew! It won't do any good if you continue with these injuries, not even to irritate and provoke me," I reply firmly. A slight smile appears on Matthew's lips.

　　"So I'm irritating, huh?" Matthew provokes me, and I bite my lip to avoid responding. I open the first aid kit and take out an antiseptic solution stored in a bottle and soak a damp towel.

　　There's a huge cut on Matthew's abdomen that will likely need stitches if there are no more healing potions. I place the damp towel soaked in antiseptic solution over this cut, Matthew's whole body tenses, and a growl escapes from his lips. "Damn it!" he roars in pain for a few seconds. But I keep my hand steady on his cut.

　　"I said you irritate me, not that you're irritating," I reply after cleaning some of the cuts on his abdomen. There are large bruises all over Matthew's body.

　　My heart races as I tend to his wounds. Matthew's breathing becomes heavy with my touch; slowly, I clean his minor wounds, my hand gliding subtly and gently near the hem of the underwear Matthew is wearing, the only piece of clothing on his body. The bulge of his penis stands out even though it's not in an erect state.