The White Wolf Chapter 62: The Forest Healer

Enzo was not sold on the idea of leaving the palace after he had lost sight of Alexia the day before, but would never tell the queen no. Skepticism rang clear in his eyes as he was briefed on the queen’s wishes. He, however, decided to bring an ostentatious amount of guards to follow them. He had heard tales of the healer that lived in the forest as well and told that to Harley when she spoke to him to make the necessary arrangements for their outing. Reluctantly, he began the necessary preparations but refused to notify the king. That would have to be done by Alexia herself.

Caspain had seemed less inclined to let them leave the palace but with the assurance of Enzo to bring an excessive amount of guards and his promise to skin the gamma and turn him into a bath mat if anything happened to his mate, he relented.

They drove through the palace gates with an entourage of SUVs. The parade weaved its way in and around the buildings of the capital. Citizens stopped and gawked at the procession of cars and quickly identified the royal seal that was located on the outside of the vehicles and the flags that waved in the breeze above the headlights.

Chants and waves quickly went up as many began to stretch to see into the darkly tinted windows. Alexia waved to her people but did not stop the motorcade in fear of a stampede that may arise.

As she watched, Alexia realized that she had not interacted with the wolves of her kingdom. Her kingdom. The thought was still daunting but real.

"Harley, we need to schedule more outings where I can interact with the people." She told her assistant.

"Of course your Highness," Harley replied before scribbling away on a notepad in the seat adjacent to the queen in the SUV.

Inside the vehicle was quiet, almost suffocating. Enzo sat at the front with the driver and two guards were placed in the rear. Each had a face as if it had been made of stone and did not prompt Alexia to start a conversation.

Slowly, the buildings became more and more spaced apart till trees lined each side of the road.

The place they arrived at was a small cottage tucked snuggly away in the forest made out of dark wood. Ivy traveled up the walls of the outside stonework and a chimney made from stone emitted smoke from the top.

The area was peaceful. Flowers sprang to life all across the front in various colors. The guards still made sure to spread out and search the area. Enzo stood next to Alexia's door till he was given the all-clear and opened the door, offering her hand as she stepped out.

A guard had already walked and spoken to the cottage's resident and waited to escort the queen and her assistant inside. Most of the guards stayed outside to monitor any change while Enzo and another guard accompanied them inside.

The path towards the entrance was a mix match assortment of stepping stones that were threatened to be overtaken with grass.

The door to the cottage was made of solid wood with a small window in the center that would allow one to look out into the world.

A bell rang as they walked in. It smelled like a forest with a mixture of moss and leaves. Plants and jars were all over the dwelling. An old orange cat stood up from a nearby shelf and moved into a stretch before turning around and curling up once again into a ball. Once inside Enzo and the guard placed themselves by the door. They were greeted by the resident of the cottage soon after walking in.

Alexia took in the scrawny girl with untamed wild hair in a long beige dress. Her body was adorned with many beads that rattled when she walked with sandals on her feet.

"Your Highness, it is my pleasure to greet you here in my humble home. Is there anything I can get you? Some tea perhaps? I grow my herbs." The female in front of her said with a bow clasping her hands in front of her and gestured to a small seating area with two chairs and a small table between them in front of the fire.

"Thank you for seeing us, and some tea would be lovely," Alexia responded as she sat down into the chair and Harley placed herself behind the back. The woman walked over and put a kettle on the fire that was burning in the hearth.

Even though she had no interest in tea, she did not want to seem rude. Alexia watched as the kettle came to a boil and she removed it from the heat placing it on a tray. The tray was placed on the table between the chairs and held two teacups containing dried tea leaves and herbs. Carefully she poured the hot water over them before placing the kettle back and offering a cup to the queen.

Harley eyed the cup skeptically from her spot and held her breath as the queen accepted the refreshment.

“Thank you,” After a minuscule sip of the tea, she looked at the woman again. “I know you,” Alexia said recognizing the girl from when she was a child. “Tammy right? We played together as children.”

Accessing her again, she remembered her father was a beta or gamma in another pack and they had met at different functions throughout the years.

“Yes, but now I am known as Blossoming Fern, servant to the moon goddess. You may call me Blossom though if you like.”

A pause from Alexia. “That’s nice, I had some questions I was hoping you may have the answers to. Do you perhaps know anything about stags?”

"I am a friend to all woodland creatures, what about the stag that interests you?" The old cat sauntered over to its owner, earning a scratch behind the ear.

Based on how she had acted in the little time she had been around her, Alexia believed she was indeed a friend to all woodland creatures.

"I was in the forest yesterday, and I came across a stag and was hoping you would be able to tell me about the different species in the area." She began to recount her adventure the day before, leaving out where she left her guard and her mate was not pleased with her.

She hoped someone could tell her about this stag. After all the time she had been in the woods, she had never come across such an odd creature but she guessed some could say the same about her.

Tammy or Blossoming Fern had a faraway look in her eye before interrupting Alexia's story.

"Forgive me, but I cannot concentrate because the energy I am feeling from you is unmatched?" Her voice was soft but confused.

Enzo kicked at the old cat that walked over to him, earning a hiss in response before the animal scurried away.

"Excuse me?" Alexia asked leaning back from the she wolf as Enzo took a step closer ready to attack. Harley's eyes jumped around not knowing what to do.

"I've never felt an aura like this before..." She held her hands up before quickly putting them back down realizing what she was doing and her eyebrows scrunched in concentration.

Uneasy, Alexia leaned back and decided to redirect. "Perhaps, it was the stag I saw yesterday. I was hoping you would be able to help me discover more about it." A weak attempt and by the look on Enzo's face he agreed but it seemed to work as Blossoming Fern looked the queen in the eye.

She did not seem convinced but nodded her head in agreement as if willing to be the answer. "What did it look like?"

"It was pure white, I only saw it for a moment but it was beautiful."

"White? You say?" Puzzlement was on her face.

Alexia waited for her response wondering if this was a good or bad idea.

"I have not come across any such Stagg. All the stags I have come across are either grey or brown. Are you sure it was white and not just the sun or something else?"

"I am sure, there is no mistaking it," Alexia said confidently in her own eyes.

"There is an old story, but it is just a tale..." Blossom trailed off with a lack of confidence in her voice.

"Tell us," Alexia ordered.

*Author’s Note*

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