1. Curse of blessing?

“Help me! Somebody help me! I can't swim! Please help! Mommy!”

The icy river swallowed the ten year old Raya whole, dragging her deeper with every panicked gasp. Her little limbs thrashed, lungs screamed for air, but the weight of the water wrapped around her like chains. The current tore at her little body, relentless and cold, until all she could see above was a distant shimmer of light…then nothing.

Darkness.

“Raya!”

She woke up choking, a scream caught in her throat, soaked in sweat that clung to her skin like the river never let her go.

Raya sat upright, shaking. The dream again. After ten years, it still clung to her like it had only just happened.

“Raya.”

Her heart stuttered. She turned toward the doorway, and there he stood, Noah Vale.

Her breath caught for a very different reason. Even now, even after everything.

“Noah?” she whispered.

He was sitting beside her on the bed. Seems like he has just entered the room. But he stood up the moment she realized her surroundings. His silhouette cuts a sharp line through the flickering firelight.

“Noah, what are you doing here?” She asked in a confused tone, wiping away the sweat from the corner of her forehead.

“I need you to come with me.” He said in a dark tone which held a bit of urgency which made her frown.

She blinked at him, unsure if she was still dreaming. “Why?”

"It’s Nora,” he said. His voice, always unreadable, betrayed no emotion. “She’s in pain. We need your help.”

Raya's chest tightened. Not because of the pain, though that lingered like a bruise in her soul, but because of the name. Nora. The one the Moon Goddess had chosen for him. The one fate had gifted with his love. The one Raya had stood aside for, smiling through the ache.

‘He didn't even ask about you, Raya. He didn't ask why you were crying in your sleep. He doesn't care.’ her wolf growled in anger but Raya pushed her away, at the back of her mind. Raya doesn't want to acknowledge the truth, it hurts more than seeing Noah caring so much for Nora.

Her hands curled into the sheets. “I’m not sure I can, Noah… I'm still in pain from last time helping her.” She mumbled looking away. She wasn't lying. She was in a burning pain from healing Nora last time.

Raya is special. She has this special power of healing people. She found out about this power at the age of sixteen when she shifted for the first time.

But this power turned out to be her life's biggest curse. Because even though she can heal others, it's at the cost of her own health. She takes away their pain instead. It's not that bad for her as it is for others but all the pain of others piles up. So, she finds herself in pain almost everyday.

He looked at her, his expression unreadable. “You’ve done it before.”

Her head throbbed with the echo of the last time she’d reached for Nora’s pain. She had carried it for days, hidden it behind closed doors while her own body rotted from the inside. She still hasn't recovered.

They have just found Nora a few days ago, by the border. She has run from her previous pack because she was an omega there. They used to bully her a lot there hence she escaped. That's what she said.

She was attacked by rogues on her run. So, when they found her she was badly injured. She was almost at the verge of death when Raya healed her, costing her big time.

“Noah,” she said slowly, “I’m still recovering. You don’t know what it does to me.”

He didn’t flinch. “I know. But she’s worse. She’s not responding to anyone.”

She looked away. “You have pack doctors and other healers.”

“None with your gift.”

She bit her lip. She hated how easily the guilt wrapped around her. Ten years ago, he had pulled her from the river. Ever since, she’d owed him. Or maybe she’d only convinced herself of that, just to stay close.

“I really can't, Noah… can't you see I'm in so much pain? You don't care about me at all?,” she whispered, her voice cracking in pain.

“Raya, don't forget that-...” He started saying something but she cut him off.

“You saved me…” She completed the sentence for him.

He has used that so many times already.

“Yes and now I’m asking you to save her.”

It wasn’t a request. Not really. With Noah, it never was.

_____

When they reached the pack hospital, it was quiet. Too quiet. Inside, Nora was curled up on the bed, her body shaking. Her cheeks were hollow. She was whimpering in pain.

Noah was immediately beside her. Just like how Raya always wanted for herself.

“Raya, help her!” Noah ordered with urgency, this is the first time he has shown emotions today.

“What happened?” Raya asked, kneeling beside her, her body shaking from the burning pain.

“She was attacked again. By rogues when she was taking a walk in the garden. They have followed her scent till here,” Noah said behind her. “When we found her... It was already too late…” Noah's voice shook, making her confused.

“Too late for what? What do you mean?” Raya asked with a frown. She looked around and everyone was looking at her with pity. She was feeling restless, so was her wolf.

“Her wolf was dead.” Noah breathed out, hugging Nora close to his heart.

Raya’s breath caught. Her hand trembled as she reached out, brushing Nora’s arm. A jolt of grief surged through her, enough to make her flinch. The bond was weak, but there—barely clinging to life.

“She’s losing herself,” Raya murmured.

“You can stop it.”

She turned to him, a bitter laugh escaping. “You mean I can suffer so she doesn’t?”

Noah didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.

Raya stood up slowly. The pain already clawed at her chest again, the beginning of a burn she knew too well. “I’ll take enough to ease her through the night. But after that…”

“She needs more than that,” someone said behind them, Elias, Noah’s Beta.

Raya turned to find several pack members gathered, their faces stricken, hopeful.

“She needs a wolf,” Elias said.

“Huh? What do you mean? Where will we find a wolf for her?” Raya asked, her heart dropped to her stomach as she feared what was to come next.

“We don't have to find it, Raya.” Noah spoke up and looked dead into her eyes, “Give her your wolf.”