Alpha Raven | #1 in the Trueblood Series

Charlotte turned her head towards the clock hanging on the wall. She has been lying awake since 5 in the morning and it was 7 now. The pain in her leg has reduced, thanks to all those medicines she has been taking but it was nowhere near how it used to be. She doubted it would ever be like it used to be. She was sure she wouldn't be able to walk normally before two months.

Feeling someone's eyes on her, Charlotte jerked her head towards the door. All she could see was a shadow from the small glass pane, but she had a good idea who it could be.

A few seconds later, the door opened and revealed Azraiel. He looked fucking handsome in the classic white button-up shirt paired with black trousers and black shoes. His hair was still damp indicating that he had taken a shower, his eyes were still on the handle of the door and his lips looked incredibly soft. The rolled-up sleeves offered a glimpse of inked arms that were holding some.....books?

Charlotte finally looked up to his face to find him staring at her with an amused expression. She could see a hint of a smirk on his lips. Having no idea what had happened, she kept staring at him with furrowed brows.

"I said Good Morning." Azraiel cleared the confusion with his deep voice which sounded even deeper right now.

"Oh...Uhh...Good Morning." Charlotte replied, avoiding his eyes. She was sure her face has turned red and was going to be like that till he is in her room.

"I didn't think you'd be awake. I'll ask someone to bring your breakfast on my way out." Azraiel said wanting to be in the room for as long as possible.

Charlotte just nodded her head, not because she didn't want to talk but because she had no idea what to say after their conversation yesterday.

"I just came to drop these books for you. I spoke to Dr. Humphrey yesterday and she said you should be up and walking by the next week. Until then, it would be best if you try to get an understanding of the werewolf world from these books.

I'll be happy to answer any questions when I'll drop by in the evening." Azraiel said, revealing the purpose of his visit.

"uh...ne..next week?" It wasn't only her voice that was stammering. Shouldn't it take longer than that considering the severity of her injuries?

"Yes...The werewolf venom has started spreading out in your body. It is pretty much responsible for your speedy recovery." Azraiel cleared her doubts, completely ignoring the fact that she was stronger without the wolf too. Her aura spoke for her.

"Okay...That's..that's great...I mean it's good that there is nothing wrong with me...right?" Charlotte asked, already feeling a bit more hopeful than she felt a few minutes ago.

Azraiel's lips stretched into a beautiful lazy smile at the question. He nodded his head, aware that he was giving her false hopes, but it was really important for her to believe that she could live. Only when a person loses hope, he loses everything.

Azraiel moved forward and quietly dropped the books on the empty chair placed beside her bed. He secretly inhaled a lungful of the air to smell her. His wolf groaned and started wagging his tail, dying for his mate's attention.

I know buddy...I know.

He gave her a small smile, "I'll see you in the evening", and turned around to leave. His hand has touched the handle of the door when she called out for him.

"Alpha?" He turned around and tilted his head.

"Thank You." Her smile was small but filled with gratitude.

"You're welcome and you can call me Azraiel." He watched her nod her head and left the medical wing with the brightest smile on his face.

Alone in the room, Charlotte moved on the bed a little to lift the books he had left. She put them on the unoccupied space on the bed and lifted the first one to read the title. A small smile crept on her face as she read the title. "Basics of the Werewolf World" was a fifty-page introduction book for children at the Orchid Primary School at the Blue Orchid Pack.

She leaned back and started reading about the new world she was going to be in for the rest of her life.

*******

Azraiel asked a helper to take breakfast for Charlotte and continued to walk to the packhouse. Originally, werewolves lived together in a big house known as a packhouse. The logic behind this living arrangement was that it not only provided a sense of togetherness but it also was safe to stick together to avoid any enemies. It was also helpful to keep the newly turned werewolves in check. However, with time their human side became more sensible and their wolves became less ferocious. With the ever-changing world and modern nuclear families coming into existence, everyone now valued their privacy more than anything else.

The packhouse has now become more of a clubhouse for young werewolves and teenagers. Some wolves that had no families chose to live in the packhouse. It was the same with warriors. They would sometimes stay here when they got injured in fights. The parents were happy since their kids were always under the supervision of their Alpha, Beta, or Gamma and the kids were happy since no one was nagging them in their free time here. The hall on the second floor of the packhouse was currently being used as a dining hall for all warriors. Of course, other members who wanted to eat at the packhouse were most welcome but only at prior notice. The packhouse was most crowded during the evening since it was the time that warriors and guards returned from their training and children waited eagerly to meet their friends after school.

Azraiel liked working from the packhouse. It not only helped him to know what was going on with his young population but it also soothed the loneliness quietly raging in his heart.

It was quiet inside when he entered the packhouse. The warriors were on the training fields and the children in the school. He quietly pushed open the door to his office and placed himself on the chair.

Azraiel pulled out the small planner and a diary from his drawer. He needed a plan. A plan to make sure that his mate survives not only the next two months but the entirety of her life besides him.

He already had a plan in his head. He just wanted to put it on paper to make it concrete, a bit more real. He would share it with Charlotte in the evening. She needed to be prepared for everything, the pain, the perks and everything that being a werewolf would offer her.

Azraiel spent the next hour preparing a detailed one-month plan for his mate. It included everything from lessons on werewolf history to training on pack grounds, from the balanced diet to sessions for her mental health. He hasn't left anything out. In fact, he was the one taking most of her sessions. He was guilty of wanting to spend more time with her, but he also knew that being with him would make her relax. There was another motive too, he wanted to know the entire truth. He knew she would tell him in due time, but for that he wanted her to trust him.

The next thing Azraiel did was to make a list of people he needed to contact. He believed that half of Charlotte's story was true and that put her in danger. Now that she was in his territory, whoever was behind her would definitely try to reach her. This put his pack in danger. He has to make arrangements for the safety of his mate and pack fast.

He had just finished his list when Matt knocked on the door and peeked his head inside. "Good morning, Alpha." Matt looked neatly showered.

"Good morning Matt. Come in." Azraiel replied distractedly. Once he was done arranging his list, he put a few papers aside and spoke, "Matt, I want you to ask someone to clean the cottage behind my house. I want Charlotte to move in there from next week.We have no idea who is after her and my wolf wouldn't feel at ease knowing she is living alone under these circumstances."

Matt just nodded his head simultaneously trying to mind link one of the cleaners to clean the cottage.

"This is a list of people I want you to contact and ask the questions I have written below their names." Azraiel thrusted the list he earlier kept aside towards Matt.

Azraiel smirked when he heard Matt groan.

Matt hated witches. Especially a certain witch with a sharp tongue and pretty green eyes.