Two Worlds into One

All she could do was watch her surroundings as they became more familiar, remembering the trek she'd made here with her pack - well, her former pack - and the battles that had raged all around. That incident had sparked a change within her. Now helpless and at the mercy of Celestial, Sterling remained rigidly silent, as though awaiting judgement. She knew she would need to maintain an apologetic stance, even if Paladin had assured her that all would be well. Her stomach flipped, and she could nearly feel the life drain out of her face when the male called for Celestial's leader. Would it really be okay? Sterling had no choice but to believe that Paladin had really meant everything he'd said - after all, he'd never struck her as dishonest - and she clung to the instinct that told her she needn't fear, so long as the healer was there with her.

The waiting was killing her, but between the pain in her body and all of the nonsense flooding her anxious mind, she was too exhausted to pay much mind to her thoughts and worries any longer. Her adrenalized state had given way to trembling weakness, and all she wanted now was to rest. She could feel her eyelids growing heavier, and it was getting harder by the minute to keep herself from dozing. However, the last thing she wanted was to be approached by the Alpha male while she was half-asleep.

At last, the massive, crimson form of Regulus broke through the mist, his imposing gaze revealing nothing as he eyed Paladin, then circled around and came to stand beside her. The much smaller female had to crane her neck back to look up at him, feeling dwarfed not just in size, but in pure presence. There was a regal confidence surrounding the Alpha, which made Sterling wish that she could just disappear. But, such was not the case as his sapphire gaze bore into her wide-eyed, emerald stare. When a single word from him broke the silence, the she-wolf scrambled to answer. "I-I had a nasty fall," she explained hastily, "Paladin was the only wolf nearby." Her ears folded back as fell silent, waiting for what would come next - it never occurred to her that Regulus had really meant for Paladin to explain.