Darrian's POV
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The scent of blood still lingered in the air even after the battle had long passed. The night sky was quiet now, but my mind was anything but. I stood on the edge of the pack house balcony, overlooking the grounds as my warriors moved in coordinated shifts. There was no rest. Not until I was sure Marcus was gone-or dead.
And until then, I wasn't taking chances.
"Double the guards at every post," I ordered lowly to my Beta, who nodded and relayed the command through the link. "Especially around Heather's wing. No one gets in or out without clearance."
My wolf snarled with possessiveness and protectiveness. Marcus had already gotten too close to her once-he wouldn't get another chance.
I made sure of it.
Four warriors flanked her door at all times now, and more patrolled the perimeter of the estate. Traps had been reset. Runes recharged. Every inch of the pack territory was being watched.
But I still couldn't breathe easy.
Mikaela had been dragged from the battlefield by a group of guards, still snarling, still bloodied, her pride shattered as her own betrayal sealed her fate. I had her taken straight to the dungeons-no trial, no hearing. She'd answer for her treachery, and I wouldn't let her near Heather again.
She wasn't even worthy of saying her name.
But the worst of it wasn't the enemies outside.
It was the worry blooming like sickness inside our walls.
Heather wasn't healing.
Her wounds, though tended by the best medics and healers we had, remained raw. Angry. Like the battle had cursed her somehow. Like something foreign still lingered in her body, preventing her wolf from knitting her flesh back together.
The healers were panicked.
They wouldn't say it aloud, but I saw the fear in their eyes.
My Luna-my mate-was fading.
And I didn't know how to stop it.
I'd gone to see her three times that day. Each time, she smiled at me weakly, trying to reassure me she was fine. But I saw through her bravado.
She was in pain.
And I was helpless.
Not a single enemy could bring me to my knees. But the thought of losing her-not to war, but to some slow-burning poison I couldn't see-nearly undid me.
I clenched my fists and turned to the guards. "No one enters her room unless I approve it personally. Not even the healers."
The guards stiffened and nodded.
Something was wrong.
Something dark.
And I would tear this entire world apart to save her.
Something was different today though. I had expressed to my Beta how I was going to go see Heather and spend the day with her.
"Pack doctors have refused to let anyone see her" he was hesitant for a moment before finishing with "including you"
I snorted "and what are they going to do about it I'm the alpha"
"They'll stop treating her" he replied causing my rage to boil over the top
The door to the medical wing slammed open so hard it rattled the hinges.
The healers inside flinched, heads snapping up, and the scent of their fear hit me instantly. Good. They should be afraid.
"You refused me entry to my mate's room?" I growled, storming into the center of the room.
A young healer stepped forward, trembling, her hands clasped tightly together. "Alpha, please understand-"
"No," I snapped. "You will explain yourselves. Now. Why are you keeping me from Heather?"
Silence fell.
The elder healer, a gray-bearded wolf named Thalos, finally stepped forward, his expression grim. "Because we don't know what's wrong, Alpha. And whatever it is... it's spreading."
The words hit like a punch to the gut.
"Explain," I said again, lower now, more dangerous.
Thalos exchanged a glance with the others. "She's not healing. Not just physically. Her energy, her wolf-it's being suppressed. Drained. We believe it's a lingering effect from whatever silver or magic Marcus used on her. It was no ordinary poison."
My hands curled into fists. "So fix it."
"We're trying," another healer stammered. "But every remedy we've used has failed. Her body rejects our healing. Her wolf... it's there, but distant, like it's trapped."
My chest tightened.
"She fought in the war. She shifted. Her wolf was stronger than ever."
Thalos nodded. "Yes. But that strength may have come at a price. Something Marcus did before the shift, or during the battle, may have triggered a curse. If it is a curse, it's old. Forbidden. We're consulting the ancient texts, but nothing's worked."
I stormed past them and reached Heather's door. Two guards stood aside, but the healer lunged after me. "Alpha-please! She's getting weaker. We're afraid your presence might-"
I turned slowly, snarling. "She's my mate. If she dies, your entire wing dies with her."
I shoved the door open.
Heather lay on the bed, her skin pale, her breathing shallow. Her once-vibrant aura flickered dimly around her like a dying flame.
I dropped to my knees beside her, taking her cold hand in mine.
"I'm here, little wolf," I whispered.
She didn't stir.
But a single tear escaped her closed eye and slid down her cheek.