Chapter 6: Eastern Horizons
Chapter 6: Eastern Horizons
(Samantha’s POV)
I sat across from Hector Grayson in the private dining area of The Silver Fang Restaurant, my fingers nervously twisting the napkin in my lap. The elegant space overlooked Hong Harbor’s glittering waters, but I barely noticed the view.
“So,” Hector said, his deep voice breaking the silence between us. “You want to collaborate on a healing project?*
I nodded, gathering my courage. “Yes. I’d like to return to my healing career.”
His dark eyes studied me with unsettling intensity. “And what would your husband think about that?”
The question hung in the air between us. I swallowed hard, looking down at my hands.
“Ethan and I are… going through some difficulties,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Hector raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed yet somehow still commanding.
“Why me, Samantha?” he asked. “There are many healers you could approach.”
I took a deep breath. “You remember our work during the Silver Plague outbreak. We saved lives when traditional methods
failed.”
A flicker of something–recognition, perhaps even pride–crossed his face.
“That was three years ago,” he said.
“And it was groundbreaking,” I countered. “Our combined techniques are still being studied in healing schools.”
I hesitated before continuing. “Also, Ethan has… complicated things for me in the Northern Territories. Every healing
establishment has suddenly filled their positions.”
Understanding dawned in Hector’s eyes. “So you need me as a shield from your husband’s influence.”
“No,” I said quickly, then sighed. “Well, not just that. Our partnership was successful. We could do important work
together again.”
Hector leaned forward, his face inches from mine. “Are you using me as a stepping stone back to prominence, Luna
Reed?”
His words stung with their directness. Before I could answer, a server approached with a steaming platter of venison.
“Your meal, Alpha Grayson,” the server said, bowing slightly.
The interruption broke the tension. Hector leaned back, his expression unreadable once more.
Throughout dinner, Hector remained aloof, offering little conversation. I found myself stealing glances at him, noting how the years had changed him. The youthful eagerness I remembered had been replaced by a controlled power that
commanded attention.
“Would you like to see the Hong Harbor skyline?” he asked as we finished our meal.
I nodded, grateful for any break in the uncomfortable silence.
Outside, the night air was cool against my skin. Hector led me to a viewing platform overlooking the harbor, the city lights. reflecting in the dark water below.
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Chapter 6 Eastern Horizons
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, momentarily forgetting my troubles.
*15 Puntos >
Hector stood beside me, his presence warm in the cool night. “The view from Territory Tower is even better,” he said, “I
could take you tomorrow.”
I turned to him, surprised by the offer. “I’d like that.”
After our brief sightseeing, Hector escorted me to SilverCrest Hotel’s Eastern branch. “My assistant arranged your stay,”
he explained.
“Ryan?” I asked, remembering the name from his text.
Hector nodded. “He handles my affairs.”
Before parting, I gathered my courage. “Hector, what healing projects are you working on now? I haven’t seen your name in medical journals recently.”
A slight smile touched his lips. “Good night, Samantha.”
He turned and walked away, leaving me with more questions than answers.
In my hotel room, I immediately searched online for information about Hector Grayson. Strangely, I found little beyond our Silver Plague project. For someone of his status and abilities, his digital footprint was remarkably small.
What had he been doing these past three years? And why had he agreed so readily to meet with me?
My phone chimed with a message from Hector: “I have a prior obligation tomorrow morning. I’ll take you to meet
someone in the afternoon.”
I stared at the cryptic message, wondering who this “someone” might be.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Territories, a very different scene was unfolding.
(Ethan’s POV)
I stumbled through the front door of Blackwood Manor, the moonlight wine I’d consumed making the world tilt around
- me.
“Sam?” I called, my voice echoing through the empty foyer. “I’m home, Sam!”
Martha Thompson appeared from the kitchen, her face creased with concern. “Alpha King, Luna Reed isn’t here.”
I blinked at her, my alcohol–fogged brain struggling to process her words. “What do you mean? Where is she?”
“She left two days ago, sir,” Martha said gently. “Don’t you remember?”
The memory crashed over me like a wave–Samantha’s tear–streaked face as she packed her bags, her voice cold as she
told me she was leaving.
“Right,” I mumbled, running a hand through my hair. “Of course.”
I made my way upstairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. Our bedroom door stood open, exactly as I’d left it that morning. I’d half–expected–hoped–to find Samantha there, her anger cooled, ready to talk things through.
Instead, I found only emptiness. Her side of the closet remained half–empty, her nightstand bare of the books she usually kept there.
I collapsed onto our bed, burying my face in her pillow. Her scent still lingered–lavender and something uniquely her–but it was already fading.
The manor felt wrong without her presence. The same furniture, the same walls, but hollow somehow.
I reached for my phone, scrolling to Samantha’s number before I could think better of it.
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< Chapter 6 Easter Horizons
She answered on the fourth ring, her voice thick with sleep. “Ethan?“.
“Sam,” I breathed, relief washing over me at the sound of her voice. “I’m so sorry. Please come home.”
A long silence followed, broken only by her soft breathing.
“I can’t,” she finally whispered. “It’s too late.”
The call ended abruptly, leaving me staring at the darkened screen.
+15 Puntos >
I woke the next morning with a throbbing headache and the stark realization of Samantha’s absence hitting me anew. The sun streaming through the windows felt like a personal affront.
I grabbed my phone, calling James Quinn.
“Any word on Samantha?” I asked without preamble.
“Good morning to you too, Alpha King,” James replied dryly. “Luna Reed took a flight to Hong Harbor yesterday. Eastern
Territories.”
I sat up straighter. “Hong Harbor? What’s she doing there?”
“I don’t know, sir,” James said carefully. “But if I may speak freely… it looks like she might be leaving you.”
I laughed, the sound hollow even to my own ears. “Don’t be ridiculous. She has nowhere to go, no one to help her there.”
“If you say so, sir.”
After ending the call, I scrolled through my social media feed. On impulse, I snapped a picture of October, our pet dog cub, sniffing the bouquet of flowers I’d bought for Samantha days ago.
“October misses mother, and so do I,” I captioned it before posting.
Within minutes, the first like came from Rebecca Taylor. Curious, I clicked on her profile and felt a surge of anger. She had
changed her profile picture to mirror one Samantha had used months ago–same angle, same soft smile.
“Unbelievable,” I muttered, quickly replacing my own profile picture with a close–up of October and the flowers.
The message was clear: my affection remained with Samantha alone.
I blocked Rebecca from my accounts, then tossed my phone aside, rubbing my temples. This situation was spiraling out
of control.
(Rebecca’s POV)
I stared at my phone in disbelief. “Account not found.” The message glared back at me from Ethan’s profile page.
Had he blocked me? After everything we’d been through together?
My hand drifted to my stomach, where his child grew. Surely this was a mistake. I was carrying the Blackwood heir–his
heir. I was important to him now.
My phone rang, startling me. James Quinn’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hello?” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Rebecca,” James said, his tone clipped. “I’m calling regarding your social media activity.”
I frowned. “What about it?”
“Change your profile picture,” he said bluntly. “It’s causing distress to Luna Reed, which in turn upsets the Alpha King.”
“I don’t understand,” I began, but James cut me off.
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Chapter 6 Eastern Honzons
“Let me be clear,” he said, his voice hardening. “You are carrying Alpha King Blackwood’s child, but you are not replacing Luna Reed in his heart. She holds a special place that you cannot fill.”
The words stung like a physical blow.
“The Alpha King loves Luna Reed beyond your comprehension,” James continued. “The child you carry is important to
him, but make no mistake–it doesn’t mean you are.”
I swallowed hard, fighting back tears. “I understand.”
“Good,” James said. “Change the picture. Today.”
Chapter 7: New Horizons
Chapter 7: New Horizons
(Samantha’s POV)
Warm sunshine streamed through the hotel window, bathing me in golden light. For the first time since discovering
Ethan’s betrayal, I felt a sense of peace. The new day in Hong Harbor seemed to promise possibilities that had been
absent in the Northern Territories.
I stretched languidly, savoring the comfort of the plush hotel bed. After a restful sleep, my mind felt clearer, my resolve
stronger.
Reaching for my phone, I scrolled through social media. Ethan had posted another picture of October, our rescued pet
dog. The caption read simply: “Missing mother.”
My heart clenched at the sight of October’s soulful eyes. I missed her too–her excited barks when I returned home, the
way she would curl against me during thunderstorms.
I noticed Ethan had changed his profile picture to one of just him and October. Rebecca Taylor was conspicuously absent
from his likes list, as if she had never existed.
“Too little, too late,” I whispered, setting the phone aside.
The damage was done. The trust was broken. No amount of social media manipulation could erase the reality of Rebecca
carrying his child.
Standing before the bathroom mirror, I studied my reflection. My eyes were clearer today, the shadows beneath them less
pronounced. My skin had regained some of its natural glow.
“Time to start anew,” I told my reflection, determination replacing the uncertainty that had plagued me.
After a refreshing shower, I wrapped myself in the hotel’s plush bathrobe and called the front desk to have my clothes cleaned. I had packed light, not expecting to stay long in Hong Harbor.
A knock at the door came just minutes later.
“That was fast,” I murmured, pulling the bathrobe tighter around me.
To my surprise, two hotel staff members arrived with several carts of food rather than laundry service.
“Compliments of Alpha Grayson,” one explained with a bow. “He arranged for a selection of Hong Harbor’s famous
dishes.”
The thoughtful gesture touched me unexpectedly. The carts held steaming platters of venison dumplings, aromatic herbal teas, and delicate pastries filled with berry preserves.
I thanked them and began sampling the food with a renewed appetite. The flavors were complex and satisfying, unlike anything available in the Northern Territories.
Another knock came as I was savoring a particularly delicious dumpling. Assuming it was more hotel staff, I answered
without hesitation.
Hector Grayson stood in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space. His eyes widened slightly as he took in my
bathrobe–clad form.
“Oh!” I gasped, clutching the robe tighter. “I thought you were the hotel staff.”
Hector averted his gaze quickly, though not before I noticed his eyes lingering on my lips where a smudge of berry
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preserve remained,
“I apologize for not warning you,” he said, his deep voice sending an unexpected shiver down my spine. “I finished my morning appointment earlier than expected.”
He turned away, giving me a moment to compose myself. “Should I come back later?”
“No,” I said quickly. “Just give me ten minutes.”
I closed the door, heart racing as I rushed to find something suitable to wear. My options were limited–just the clothes I’d
brought from the Northern Territories.
Ten minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom dressed in a white and purple dress, the skirt adorned with delicate iris patterns. I’d styled my hair with a wooden pin I’d found in my bag, a simple yet elegant solution in the absence of my
usual moonstone hairpins–gifts from Ethan that I’d deliberately left behind.
Hector stood by the window, his powerful frame silhouetted against the morning light. He turned as I approached, his
dark eyes taking in my appearance with quiet appreciation.
“Thank you for the food,” I said, gesturing toward the half–empty platters. “It was delicious, though I couldn’t finish it all.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he replied, his expression softening slightly. “Are you ready to go?”
“Go where?” I asked, curious about his plans for the day.
“I’m taking you to see someone,” Hector explained, his tone revealing little. “Diana Grayson. The renowned Master Healer
of the Eastern Realms. My aunt.”
I stared at him in surprise. Diana Grayson was a legend in the healing community, known for her revolutionary healing techniques that had saved countless werewolf lives and bridged the gap between human and werewolf medical
practices.
“Your aunt? I didn’t know,” I said, genuinely surprised. “I’d be honored to meet her.”
Hector’s expression grew somber. “She’s ill. That’s why I want you to meet her now.”
The news saddened me. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
At Crescent Moon Medical Center’s Eastern branch, we were led to a private room in the VIP wing. Diana Grayson lay in bed, her once–vibrant presence diminished by illness. Despite her frail condition, her eyes lit up when we entered.
“Samantha Reed,” she said, her voice weak but warm. “At last.”
I approached her bedside, taking her outstretched hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Master Grayson.”
“Please, call me Diana,” she insisted. “I’ve wanted to meet you for some time.”
She gestured to a leather–bound tome on her bedside table. “That’s for you. ‘The Ancient Arts of Soul Healing. I compiled these techniques with you in mind.”
I accepted the book with trembling hands. “For me? But my practice has been so limited.”
Diana smiled knowingly. “A gift like yours doesn’t fade. This contains healing arts that practitioners have been waiting generations to learn.”
She squeezed my hand, her grip surprisingly strong despite her illness. “Never lose yourself for a man, Samantha. A man’s love is fleeting, but a woman’s strength and healing abilities are her own.”
Her words struck a chord deep within me. How had she known exactly what I needed to hear?
“I hope you and my nephew will consider continuing my research,” Diana continued. “It would fulfill the wishes of both the
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healing community and myself.”
We spent the afternoon with Diana, discussing ancient healing techniques and her vision for advancing werewolf
medicine. By the time we left, my mind was spinning with possibilities.
+15 Puntos >
With my healing practice and Diana’s ancient techniques in hand, I realized I had a chance to revolutionize werewolf medicine alongside my own practice–if Hector approved, of course.
His silence on the matter made me anxious as we walked through the hospital corridors. Would he support this venture?
Or was he only interested in our potential healing collaboration?
As we entered the elevator, Hector pressed the button for the top floor rather than the ground level.
“Where are we going?” I asked, confused.
“You’ll see,” he replied cryptically.
Following him through a series of security doors, we emerged onto the Grayson Tower Helipad where a sleek helicopter waited, its blades already beginning to turn.
“Hector, where are we going?” I asked again, raising my voice over the growing noise of the rotors.
Standing in the doorway of the helicopter, his features partially obscured by shadows, Hector resembled a powerful figure
looking down at me. The wind whipped around us, playing with my dress and revealing my slender legs and the faint red
mark around my left ankle.
I stared back at him, wary and cautious. After several long moments, he finally replied.
“To see the night view,” he said, his voice cool yet softening toward the end. “From a unique vantage point.”
The helicopter soared over Hong Harbor’s vibrant cityscape, where the lights of skyscrapers twinkled like stars against the night sky. As we reached the confluence of two rivers, a brilliant light illuminated the sky, followed by a breathtaking
fireworks display that painted a magnificent panorama across the night canvas.
“Hector, look!” I exclaimed, awestruck by the beauty.
He leaned closer, his hand resting on the glass, his scent enveloping me. His simple acknowledgment, a low “Hmm,” sent
shivers down my spine.
As I instinctively leaned back, I found myself pressed against his firm chest. Turning around, my lips nearly brushed his
ear.
In that intimate proximity, his warm breath grazed my neck.
