Chapter 114

Lionel’s POV

My heart dropped to my stomach at the sight of her.

My cousin was laid out on the ground. Her chest rising slowly. An unhealthy flush to her pale face.

“Scarlett!” Her mate ran to her.

“We were talking and she just-just collapsed.” Nan stammered out.

“Call her doctors!” I growl at my staff.

Nan goes to check on Scarlett. But I pull her back just in time. Her mate growls lowly at Nan.

“Don’t touch her right now.” I warn Nan. “His instincts are in overdrive.”

It is the only reason my own wolf does not recoil with protective rage. A wolf is never so dangerous as when their mate is in danger. I still carefully keep myself between Nan and him at all times.

“Adrien,” I call out. “Take her to her guest rooms.”

It is a true testament to his devotion to her that he does not even blink at my command. He lifts her in his arms and rushes off. I grab Nan’s hand and follow a few feet behind.

We stop just outside the doorway. Watching Adrien begins the process of checking over her. The back of his hand on her forehead and the other on her wrists.

He does not look at us when he speaks. “She’s burning up. Her pulse is a little fast.”

“I’ll update her doctors.” I say. The phone call is quick.

“Lionel, what’s going on?” Nan’s stunned voice breaks the silence.

I sigh. “Scarlett is in poor health.”

Scarlett had been born much too early. The entirety of her first year of life had been spent in and out of hospital stays. There had not been much hope she would live to see her second birthday.

The entire pack rejoiced when she began to take a turn for the better.

I remembered being a young pup and meeting my frail little cousin for the first time. She was so light. Even to a young pup like me.

All of us were told we had to be very careful with her. That Scarlett was delicate. The entire pack treated her as something precious.

She is the jewel of our pack.

She is also the greatest kept secret. The elder’s had viewed Scarlett’s poor health as a sign of weakness. One the pack could not afford to reveal.

Scarlett had grown to resent this. I know she hates the hypocritical nature of our pack. That she resents her own weak body.

I related all of this to Nan. Her face went through a range of emotions. Surprise, sympathy, outrage, compassion.

The doctors arrived by then.

Their examination was grave.

“What will happen if it gets worse?” Adrien growls. “The last time she could barely get out of bed for months!”

“If her fever does not go down, she may go into seizures.” The doctor says cautiously.

Adrien chokes. “You said last time that the next seizure might kill her!”

“She had responded well to our treatment since then.” The doctor reminds him gently. “She’s stronger than last time.”

Then the doctor sighs.

“But it would have serious consequences for her. She would struggle greatly with daily tasks. Her chances of losing some of her motor skills are high.”

Tears escape Adrien’s eyes. I feel my own face paling. The implications just too horrible.

‘Scarlet would hate that,’ I think sadly. ‘She already hates being weak…her spirit would break if she was trapped in a broken body.’

My heart clenches. That had been one of her worst fears. Becoming so sick she could never live a reasonably normal life.

The doctors leave the room. They administer the drip IV. Hoping the medicine will do its work.

I can see from Adrien’s face that he knows it’s hopeless. I do too. Scarlett’s health had been on a slow decline for a decade now.

This might be the last serious illness her body could handle.

Nan’s POV

It’s the saddest thing I have ever seen.

One moment we were smiling and the next she was on the ground. It was so fast. I hadn’t seen that coming.

I could not get the image out of my head. The throbbing veins in her neck. The discomfort still on her face even when unconscious.

The panic and pain carved into her mate’s face as he cradled her. The shining devotion and love in his every touch. This man loved Scarlett more than life itself.

It was awing. Precious. Something every bonded couple should strive for.

It was heart-wrenching.

Lionel’s explanation made me ache with sympathy. I understood her better at that moment. I knew then that she was telling me the truth earlier.

‘We’re not all blind to the hypocritical rhetoric.’

Her own bitterness made sense. She was treated as a treasure and like a dirty secret at the same time. I’m sure her list of trusted confidants was tiny.

Just Lionel and her mate, Adrien. ‘And perhaps me,’ I think hopefully. ‘One day.’

My hope died down. Would there be a one day? I am unsure.

Adrien’s devastation cautioned me otherwise. Lionel’s own hopelessness weighed in the bond like a heavy stone. Painful.

‘No,’ the thought hits me. ‘This will not be.’

Not when the love of her mate touched a tender part of my heart. The knowledge of her possible demise or debilitating illness making him desperate and broken before our eyes. It could not be when Lionel himself was so grieved by the possibility.

Scarlett had shown herself to be a good-natured person in the short time we conversed. Thoughtful, humorous, and kind. Owning a cheerful disposition despite the struggles she had been dealt with.

Someone I would not mind calling a friend.

This would not stand.

“Lionel,” I whisper. “Let me through.”

His eyebrows furrow. “Nan, that might not be the best idea. Adrien is not in the best state of mind.”

I stare at him resolutely. “Do you trust me?”

“With everything.” He answers immediately.

“I think I can help.” I say.

That catches Adrien’s attention. “You say you can help?” He asks roughly.

There is skepticism in his gaze. Years of false promises haunting him. And a dreadful sort of hope.

A man on his last legs. One willing to give anything to save his mate. Willing to give hope one more chance.

It only makes me more determined to help.

“I make no promises.” I say. “But I will give it my best shot.”

“How?” Lionel asks.

I shake my head. “I can’t explain right now. I’ll do it later.”

Lionel watches me quietly. “Alright.” He says reluctantly.

I do not take it personally as I might have months ago. His emotions are screaming concern, trust and protectiveness. I know he is only worried about how I will feel if I fail.

“I have to try.” I repeat firmly.

He nods. I turn to Adrien. His attention goes back and forth between me and Scarlett.

“May I try?” I ask softly.

He swallows nervously. Runs his hand across her strawberry blonde ringlets. There is a tired slant to his green eyes now.

“Go ahead. I doubt a tiny thing like you could harm her worse.” He tries to joke.

I smile half-heartedly. “Thank you.” I say sincerely.

My powers are humming beneath my skin. Sensing my intent. A storm brewing in my chest.

I reach out to touch her hand. My vision whites out. I am only just able to stand on my feet. \

There is an insidious darkness behind my lids. One that leaches and thrives off pain. Somehow, I know that this is what is plaguing Scarlett.

It’s evil. Wrong. Twisted.

‘You do not belong,’ I think angrily.

The storm around my heart is like lightening. Powerful and bright. Ready to strike.

I let it out. It surges out of my chest with vengeance. Nothing at all like the gentle leaking of healing Vera’s skin or the calm pulse of saving wilting flowers.

It strikes at the darkness. Violent and unforgiving. Destroying every trace of the dark.

I do not stop there. No…I see the scars left behind too. My instincts take over once more.

The lightening turns gentle. Like soothing moonbeams compared to the burning sun. I see the scars slowly fade.

I do not stop until every ounce of damage is healed. It draining. But I just can’t stop now.

I only pull back once it is all healed. Lionel is there to catch me as I stumble. Adrien is already gripping his mate’s hand.

I see now that Scarlett’s eyes are open.