Reborn- His Scarlett Moon

“Hold still, Tristen. This wound needs cleaning and stitching. I thought you were an Alpha, why are you whimpering like a child? ”

Ryan roared, trying to hold Tristen down at the inn while the healer cauterized the first wound at his abdomen.

Tristen winced as the healer tended to the wound.

Ryan sat across on his chest, levitating while eyeing him suspiciously.

“So, Tristen, care to tell us how you managed to escape while the rest of your men fell to the Grey wolf hounds?”

Tristen pulled his hand away from the healer’s grip and eyed Ryan with counter suspicion.

” Does my vulnerability give you the perfect opportunity to question me like this?”

He snapped at Ryan.

” Don’t try to ignore me by giving this conversation another angle Tristen! ” Ryan pinned him with his eyes.

Tristen stood up, pushing the healer aside and held Ryan’s collar differently.

“What’s your problem, Tristen? Why do you always have to pick a fight?

Tristen winced in pain as he fell back,

“You. My problem is you, Ryan. You’re always acting like you’re better than everyone else. And I’m not picking a fight, I’m just defending myself.” He said

“Defending yourself? You came at me like this while I was just asking you a simple question. And don’t try to play the victim . Grow up. ”

Tristen gritted his teeth,

“I didn’t do anything. ”

“That’s not true, and you know it. I have control over my actions. Unlike you, who can’t even handle a simple conversation without resorting to violence.

Tristen growled,

“You think you’re so superior, Ryan. But you’re not. You’re just a bully who likes to push people around.”

Ryan took a step forward, but then stopped himself ,

“You know what, you’re not worth it.” He backed off saying that.

“That’s right, back off. You know I could take you any day.” Tristen yelped.

Ryan rolled his eyes,

“Whatever you say, Tristen. I’ll just be over here, enjoying my drink and your childish behavior.”

Ryan went to the corner and sat in silence. Trsiten looked lost at Ryan’s sudden retreat. He too sat back as the healer got back to his work. This time he calmly let the healer do his job and did not protest. A look of deep guilt and shame was showing over his handsome face. He avoided making eye contact with Ryan who was glaring at him from a distance.

After a few moments, Tristen gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. “Ok fine, I admit. I did what I had to do to survive, Ryan. I’m not proud of it, but I couldn’t just let those beasts tear me apart. With me gone, my entire pack would be left vulnerable. I couldn’t let that happen with those vicious creatures around. ”

He finally admitted.

Ryan raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly did you do?”

Tristen hesitated for a moment before finally admitting, flipping the table beside him in anger,

” I left them to be devoured by them while I ran with my tail between my legs like a coward. ” He paused, then added, “It was the only way to get out of their reach.”

Ryan scoffed. “You expect me to believe that a seasoned soldier like yourself , ran to escape ?”

Tristen glared at Ryan. “Believe what you want, but that’s what happened. I may have abandoned my men, but I am not forgetting their sacrifice. I’ll make sure to eradicate the last of their line.”

The healer finished stitching up Tristen’s wounds and gave him some herbs to ease the pain. Tristen thanked him and tried standing up, ready to leave but he stumbled and fell.

Ryan watched him carefully.

“We’ll talk about that later, Tristen. For now, you need to rest to regain your strength. You wouldn’t want your pack to see their Alpha in this state. Come with me to my pack. Leave when you want after that. ”

***

Tristen sat with Ryan in the healers room.

Both men sat silently, sipping the wine that was on the table between them.

None spoke, just exchanged different flavors of their moods through their looks.

Suddenly, the door to the healer’s hut burst open, and one of the pack’s scouts rushed in, panting heavily.

“Alpha, there’s been another attack,” the scout gasped out between breaths.

“What? When? Where? Is everyone okay?”

Ryan spelled out in one breath. Tristen stood up on his feet as well.

“It’s the pack to the north. They’re saying it’s the same thing that happened to us. There were many casualties and many disappeared.”

Tristen’s eyes shot open. He stumbled on the ground again, then he struggled to sit up. “We have to help them,” he said, determination etched on his face.

Ryan placed a hand on Tristen’s chest to keep him still. “You need to rest, Tristen. We’ll go and help. You do not leave this hut, not until you’re healed.”

Tristen glared at Ryan, but he knew that Ryan was right. He lay back down, his eyes still fixed on the scout.

“Tell me more about the attack. Did anyone see anything?”

The scout shook his head. “No, it was just like last time. Not many tracks. It’s like they just vanished into thin air.”

Ryan’s mind raced as he considered the possibilities. “We need to send a scouting party to investigate. I’ll lead it myself.”

Tristen nodded in agreement, and Ryan turned to the scout. “Gather the best warriors we have. We leave at first light.”

The scout saluted and rushed out of the hut, and Ryan turned back to Tristen.

“Rest now,” He instructed again before leaving.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Tristen closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. “Be careful, Ryan. You don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

Ryan nodded solemnly. “I know you know more about these things than I do. And I know that you are not ready to talk yet as well. I hope you can make up your mind by the time I get back. We need to find a way to end this . Your help would be appreciated.”