Chapter 10

Estelle's POV

By the time Logan and I rushed to the manor, the entrance to the east wing was already in chaos.

The hallway reeked of medicine. Healers from several packs were coming and going, and the butler stood by the door, his forehead drenched in sweat, the white handkerchief in his hand nearly twisted to shreds.

"The high fever that started yesterday afternoon just won't break." His voice trembled when he saw Logan. "Alpha Bruce's old leg injury suddenly became infected. He's been unconscious for half a day. The Healers have all come, but there's nothing they can do."

My steps faltered.

On the large bed in the east wing's master bedroom, Alpha Bruce lay there, his face frighteningly pale, his lips burned red with fever, a sheen of cold sweat on his forehead, and even his breathing carried an abnormal heat.

My chest constricted sharply, as if someone had reached through my ribs and squeezed my heart.

Logan had already strode quickly to the bedside, his cobalt blue eyes reddening, his Alpha aura bursting forth as he snarled at the Healers, "Didn't you say the injury had stabilized? Why did it suddenly get infected?"

"It's a relapse of the old wound." An elderly Healer wiped his sweat. "Alpha Bruce has a strong constitution. With proper care, he's usually fine, but once the pressure becomes too great and the condition flares up, it becomes even more severe. We've used fever reducers and cleaned the wound, but nothing's working."

I stood in the doorway, my fingertips digging into my palms bit by bit.

Something suddenly flashed through my mind.

I remembered being in the back mountains of Gray Valley County when my herbology teacher held up that greenish plant, tapping the lectern and saying, "Cooling Blood Grass is most effective for high fevers caused by infected battle wounds, but it's rare and difficult to preserve."

I jerked my head up.

"I have medicine."

Several people turned to look at me simultaneously.

My throat tightened, but my words came quickly. "My grandmother sent me a bundle of dried Cooling Blood Grass last year. It's in my luggage in my school dormitory. I'll go get it right now."

A Healer frowned. "Miss, this isn't something to experiment with..."

"Do you have any other options?" I stared at him, my palms slick with sweat. "If this continues, the fever will become more dangerous, won't it?"

The Healer fell silent.

Logan grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it hurt.

"Will it really work?"

"I don't know." I bit down hard. "But I want to try."

He stared at me for a second, then abruptly released his grip.

"I'll have a car take you."

I turned and followed Logan as he ran out.

By the time I returned to the manor, it was already dark.

The atmosphere in the east wing was even heavier than before. The Healers' faces looked worse than ever, and someone said in a low voice, "If the fever continues, even his wolf soul could be damaged."

I clutched the medicine package tightly, my fingertips white.

"Let me try."

The kitchen quickly heated the medicine pot. I stood guard beside it, watching the rolling bitter black medicinal brew, my nose filled with the astringent smell of herbs.

Once the medicine was ready, Butler Lee personally carried it in.

I stood by the door, watching as he fed the medicine into Alpha Bruce's mouth bit by bit.

His jawline was taut, and even unconscious, he still radiated that intimidating pressure that kept people at bay.

But now, he couldn't even open his eyes.

Half an hour passed, and a Healer touched his forehead, exhaling a long breath.

"His temperature has dropped a little."

Another immediately took his temperature, his tone finally relaxing. "It's working. It's really working. We've stabilized him for now."

The air in the room suddenly came alive.

Lee's hands trembled, nearly dropping the tray.

Logan stood by the bed, his shoulders visibly relaxing, and when he turned to look at me, the tension in his eyes finally cracked open.

"Estelle."

Before I could speak, he had already strode over and pulled me into an embrace.

"Thank you." His voice was pressed low, breathless. "You saved him."

I stiffened for a moment, then slowly raised my hand to pat his back.

"Don't celebrate too soon. Didn't the doctor say we still need to keep watch?"

As if responding to my words, a Healer walked over, his expression still grave.

"This is only temporary stabilization. Someone must keep watch tonight. If the fever returns in the second half of the night, it will be even more troublesome."

Logan was about to nod when his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, his expression instantly darkening.

"What is it?"

Whatever the person on the other end said made his brow furrow tighter and tighter until he finally cursed.

"I'm coming now."

He hung up the phone, and when he turned around, his entire body had tensed up.

"There's sudden Rogue activity at the border. I have to go immediately." He looked at Alpha Bruce on the bed, then at me, his Adam's apple bobbing heavily. "Estelle, can you help me watch over Alpha Bruce? I'll come back as soon as I'm done. I'll definitely be back by tomorrow morning."

I froze.

Alpha Bruce on the bed still had his eyes closed, his black hair matted with sweat against his forehead, the veins on his neck faintly straining.

My fingers curled.

"...Okay."

Logan seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief. He reached out and hugged me quickly, the embrace rushed.

"Thank you. I'll bring you a gift when I come back." With that, he hurried away.

The sound of footsteps receded into the distance, and soon the entire east wing fell quiet.

Only me, and the unconscious Alpha Bruce.

The deeper the night grew, the harsher the room's lights seemed.

I sat on a chair not far from the bed, clutching a damp towel in my hand, my eyes alternating between the clock and Alpha Bruce on the bed.

The medicine's effects lasted through most of the night.

But in the second half of the night, Alpha Bruce's breathing began to grow irregular again, and sweat quickly beaded on his forehead once more.

I shot to my feet, reaching out to touch his skin. The heat made my fingertips recoil.

"Alpha Bruce?"

He didn't wake.

A muffled, indistinct low sound rolled from his throat, as if he were calling for someone, or perhaps just in severe pain. His arm also began to lift unconsciously, grasping randomly in the air.

I quickly re-soaked the towel in cool water and walked over, bending down to replace the one on his forehead.

Just as I approached the bedside, my wrist was suddenly seized.

Before I could react, a brutally forceful pull yanked me forward.

In that dizzying instant, I crashed heavily onto the bed.

"Ah..."

The cry that had just surged to my lips was forced back down my throat.

Alpha Bruce rolled over and pinned me down.

His scalding body, heavy as a mountain, pressed me straight into the mattress.

The next second, the scent of cedarwood slammed down on me.

Overwhelming.

Carrying the pressure of an out-of-control Alpha, crushing as if it would pulverize the very air.

My entire body went limp, the strength in my limbs drained in an instant, even my fingertips beginning to tingle.

"Alpha Bruce... let go..."

My voice trembled, my hands pressing against his shoulders, but I couldn't budge him at all.

His head lowered, his burning breath falling against the side of my neck in waves, so hot my scalp prickled.

The instant his teeth grazed the skin of my nape, my entire body went rigid.

"No, don't!" I struggled desperately, tears rushing to my eyes. "Alpha Bruce, let me go! I'm Logan's girlfriend..."

He seemed not to hear at all, the hand gripping my wrist tightening further.

The next second, sharp canines bit down viciously.

"Ah!"

Searing pain exploded.

Something like a ball of fire branded itself directly into my flesh, burning from the side of my neck all the way down my spine, then drilling into my limbs and bones.

The pain whitened my vision. Tears spilled uncontrollably down my face. My body shook beyond my control, my nails digging desperately into the sheets, my throat filled with broken gasps.

It was a mark.

The word stabbed into my mind like a knife.

It's over.

I don't know how long it lasted before he finally released his bite.

I collapsed on the bed, even my breathing in disarray. The patch of skin on my neck still burned, as if embers were buried beneath, scorching me with pain.

Alpha Bruce, however, seemed to have exhausted all his strength. He rolled onto his side, his breathing settling back down, as if he had fallen unconscious again.

I lay there frozen, unable to move for a long time.

My hand slowly lifted, touching the side of my neck.

Wet, hot, with clear tooth marks.

Tears streamed down from the corners of my eyes, no matter how much I wiped, they wouldn't stop.

I stared at the harsh white light overhead, my chest feeling as if something had been completely hollowed out.

Everything was over.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, I had already packed my things.

The east wing was still quiet. Bruce hadn't woken, and Logan hadn't returned yet.

No one would stop me from leaving.

I shouldered my bag, the scarf wrapped tightly around my neck, and when I walked out through the manor's main gate, my legs were weak.

As the taxi drove toward the school, the scenery outside the window receded inch by inch.

I sat in the very back row, my fingertips pressing hard against the bite mark on my neck.

It still burned, like a brand, like a thorn that couldn't be pulled out.

I stared at my blurred reflection in the glass, my throat clogged with pain.

I had to run.

Run from this place.

Run from Alpha Bruce.

Never come back.