Chapter 3

Lyra's POV

"You're a genius!" Seraphine grabbed my hands excitedly, her eyes gleaming with manic intensity.

I gently pulled away. "You're reading too much into it. It was just luck."

"Luck? Getting a child who hasn't spoken in three years to talk isn't luck!" Seraphine paced the room frantically, completely wired. "Darian must be impressed with me now. I need to strike while the iron's hot!"

Watching her excitement, an inexplicable unease settled in my chest.

"What are you planning?" I asked.

"You must have other tricks, right?" She stopped and stared at me intently. "You definitely know how to make men fall for you!"

I shook my head in confusion. "I've never been in a relationship. How would I know these things?"

Seraphine looked disappointed but quickly rallied. "Then what do you think I should do?"

I thought for a moment, then found myself saying, "What if... we make him soup?"

"Soup?" Seraphine frowned. "He's not sick."

"He looks exhausted," I continued, my voice growing more confident. "And caring for someone is the most direct way to show concern. Warm soup can comfort the soul."

Seraphine's eyes slowly lit up. "That makes sense! Men love being taken care of! You're brilliant!"

She pulled me toward the kitchen. "Come on, teach me how to make it!"

The Shadowpine pack's kitchen was larger than I'd expected.

High ceilings, spacious counters, various spices arranged neatly on wooden shelves. Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting warm light on the jars and bottles.

"What ingredients do we need?" Seraphine asked, clearly clueless about cooking.

I stopped before the spice rack, my fingers brushing over familiar bottles. Angelica root, goji berries, red dates, dried tangerine peel...

"These." I picked up each needed spice one by one, my movements fluid as if I'd done this countless times.

"How do you know to use these?" Seraphine asked curiously.

"It's a form of healing. All healers need to understand this," I replied while processing the herbs.

Slicing the angelica root, washing the goji berries, pitting the red dates... my hands automatically knew each step, as natural as muscle memory.

"Your technique is so skilled," Seraphine watched in amazement. "Like you do this regularly."

The water in the clay pot began to boil. I added the herbs in a specific sequence.

"Heat control is crucial." I lowered the flame. "You need to simmer slowly so the nutrients can fully release."

The broth gradually turned amber, filling the kitchen with the herbs' fragrant aroma. I stirred occasionally, adjusting the heat, each movement precise.

Three hours later, I tasted the soup—perfect. Not too bitter, but potent enough.

"Perfect." I nodded with satisfaction.

Just as I was about to ladle the soup, a maid rushed into the kitchen, face pale:

"Something terrible has happened!"

We both turned to her.

"The Alpha has a high fever!" the maid gasped. "It's severe, and several healers can't do anything!"

The clay pot nearly slipped from my hands.

My heart began racing, an unprecedented urgency flooding through me.

Seraphine's reaction was completely opposite—her eyes instantly lit up, barely contained excitement crossing her face: "This is our chance!"

She immediately ordered the maid: "Quick, ladle the soup. We're going to care for the Alpha!"

Walking toward the Alpha's bedroom, my hands wouldn't stop trembling.

Seraphine excitedly planned her "care strategy" beside me, but I didn't hear a word.

"Remember, this is soup I made," she stopped before the door, looking at me seriously. "Tell him I personally made it for him."

I nodded, but my heart was in turmoil.

The maid gently pushed open the door, and stuffy air hit us.

The Alpha's bedroom was simpler than I'd imagined. Besides essential furniture, there were almost no decorations. Heavy curtains blocked most sunlight, only a few candles flickering weakly in the corners.

The man on the bed made me gasp.

Darian's face was alarmingly red, sweat beading his forehead, his breathing rapid and irregular. He seemed to be in a feverish sleep, but his brow was furrowed, clearly in great pain.

"My God, how did he get so sick?" I couldn't help stepping forward.

"Be careful." An elderly healer stopped me. "We tried to approach earlier, but his Alpha aura was too strong—we couldn't get close."

Seraphine walked to the bedside without hesitation. "Darian? It's Seraphine. I'm here to take care of you."

She reached out to wipe his sweat, but the moment she touched him, Darian's eyes snapped open.

"Leave..." His voice was terrifyingly hoarse as he weakly pushed away her hand.

Seraphine stumbled back several steps, her expression darkening.

Seeing this, my concern overrode everything else. I walked straight to the bedside:

"Alpha, we're here to help. I'm Lyra."

Darian struggled to open his eyes and look at me. In the candlelight, his blue eyes were somewhat unfocused from fever, but when he saw me, his pupils contracted slightly.

He didn't push me away, just managed a weak nod.

Seraphine immediately whispered in my ear: "Remember, tell him I made the soup, that I'm worried about him."

I nodded absently, but my attention was entirely on Darian.

The others tactfully withdrew, leaving just the two of us in the room.

I sat beside the bed, carefully observing his symptoms. Besides the fever, his heartbeat was abnormally fast, breathing shallow and rapid, but I saw no external injuries.

"This doesn't seem like a common cold," I murmured.

I took out a towel, dampened it with warm water to help cool him down. The moment my hand touched his forehead, his body visibly trembled.

"Let's bring down the fever first." I began gently wiping his forehead and neck, my movements soft as if afraid of disturbing something precious.

Suddenly, he spoke:

"Lily..."

My hand froze mid-air.

Lily?

"Lily... I'm sorry..." His voice was heartbreakingly broken, tears beginning to leak from his eyes. "It's all my fault... I should have protected you..."

Seeing Darian like this, my chest inexplicably tightened. This Alpha who appeared strong as a mountain to everyone else now seemed like a helpless child.

"Lily..." he continued murmuring. "Don't leave me... please... don't leave..."

I didn't respond, continuing to focus on cooling his fever.

"I should have died with you..." Darian suddenly became agitated, trying to sit up, but the fever had left him too weak.

Seeing him in such pain, I couldn't bear it anymore.

"Don't say such things." I soothed him softly while continuing to wipe away his sweat. "You still need to care for Kai."

Miraculously, hearing my voice, his breathing gradually steadied.

I took the opportunity to channel my healing ability, warm light flowing from my fingertips to his body. But this time felt different—usually my power could only heal physical wounds, but now I could vaguely sense his inner pain.

That pain was deep as an abyss, almost enough to drag someone down.

"You finally came back..."

Suddenly, he sat up abruptly and pulled me into a confused embrace.

I froze completely.

His embrace was so warm and strong, yet trembling with desperation. I could feel his racing heartbeat, smell the faint pine scent on him.

"I've missed you so much..." his voice was right by my ear, choked with tears. "These three years... I've thought of you every day..."

"I'm not Lily," I said softly, trying to remind him.

But he couldn't hear me, continuing: "Don't leave me again... I can't bear losing you a second time..."

Hearing his broken words, my heart felt like something was squeezing it tight. This pain... why could I feel it too? Why did seeing him like this break my heart as well?

"I'm here," I heard myself say, voice soft as a feather. "I won't leave."

Amazingly, my words truly calmed him. His tense body gradually relaxed, his breathing became steady, and his temperature began to drop.

I continued comforting him while channeling my healing ability until his fever completely broke.