Chapter 19

Aliyah's POV

I screamed as the pain ripped through me, it felt like fire ants were chewing on my veins from the inside out. My body arched off the hospital bed, sweat soaking the sheets, and I clawed at my shoulder where the bandage was already stained with fresh blood.

It was day two since the doctor's verdict, and the venom was spreading faster than anyone expected. My wolf whimpered inside me, she was weak and I could feel her fading, she was becoming distant by every second.

"Aliyah! Hold on!" Kelly burst into the room, her hands shook as she grabbed a wet cloth from the basin and pressed it to my forehead. "Breathe, girl, just breathe through it!"

Becca was right behind her, fumbling with a vial of some murky liquid. Probably an antidote. I had been getting fed those for two days straight now. Though it was obviously not working, seeing how it hurt so bad right now.

"We got this from the black market shaman downtown. He swore it heals rogue toxins. Open your mouth, Ali!"

I gasped, trying to focus on their faces, but everything blurred. "It hurts... so bad... I can't... Kelly, make it stop!" I continued screaming in pain.

I didn't know when Tyler came in but he shoved past them, his face twisted in raw panic. He knelt by the bed and gripped my hand, his fingers interlocking with mine. "Aliyah, look at me. Squeeze my hand. We're trying this now." His voice was steady, but his eyes--- those emerald eyes---- were scared and desperate. No jokes, no smirks. Just fear.

Becca tipped the vial to my lips, and I swallowed the bitter liquid. It burned going down my throat, but for a second, the agony eased. I slumped back, panting. "Is it... working?"

Kelly paced at the foot of the bed, biting her nails. "It has to. That shaman cost us a fortune. We told him everything--- you being a Zeen wolf, the rogue bite, how your wound wasn't healing for days now. He said this liquid is from ancient pack recipes. He mentioned the names but I wasn't paying attention."

Tyler didn't let go of my hand. He brushed a strand of hair from my face with his free one, his touch was gentle and that added to the ease from the bitter liquid. "Do you feel anything different? Your wolf---- can you sense her stronger?"

I closed my eyes, reaching inward. Maya's whimper was still there, but it was fainter now. Then suddenly the pain rushed back, twice as hard, this time it felt like knives were twisting in my gut.

I cried out, curling into a ball. "No! It's worse! Ah!! Get it out.... please!"

"Fuck!" Tyler slammed his fist on the bedside table, knocking over a cup. "That was our best shot. Kelly, call the shaman back. Tell him it failed---- demand something else! Something that works this time for fuck's sake!"

Kelly yanked out her phone, dialing frantically. "Hey, Viktor, it's Kelly--- we tried the brew on my friend. It's not working, she's in more pain! What do you mean, no refunds? We need another option, now!" In my moment of excruciating pain, I saw the tear slip through Kelly's eyes as she screamed at the shaman.

Becca sank into a chair, her face was now wet from tears. "Ali, I'm so sorry. We drove all night to get that. If this doesn't work... what if nothing does?"

I reached for her, but my arm trembled too much and the more I moved, the worse the pain got. "Don't apologize, Becca. You guys... you're trying. But I'm scared. What if this is it? I don't want to die, Becca. I haven't even... lived yet."

Tyler leaned in closer, his forehead pressing against mine. "You're not dying. Come on, say it with me--- I'm not dying." His breath was warm on my skin.

"I'm... not dying," I whispered, but tears streamed down my face. "Tyler, it feels like I'm being torn apart. My wolf--- she's slipping away. I don't want to lose Maya." I said as my lips quivered.

He cupped my cheek, his thumb wiping away a tear. "I know. And it's killing me not being to fix this." His voice cracked, and he kissed my forehead, lingering there for a second.

Kelly hung up, her eyes were red. "Viktor says that's all he's got. He's suggesting a blood ritual that our ancestors, but we'd need a full moon and rare herbs from the forbidden woods. It's risky---- also the council banned it years ago."

"Then we do it," Tyler said immediately, standing up. "I'll get the herbs. Tell me what we need."

Becca jumped up. "Tyler, you can't! The woods are rogue territory. And the ritual---- it's dark magic. People die trying it."

He whirled on her. "And Aliyah dies if we don't! Look at her--- she's fading right now. I'm not sitting here watching her slip away."

I grabbed his sleeve, pulling him back. "Tyler, no. Don't risk it for me. Dark magic is too dangerous."

He knelt again, his hand covering mine. " I'd risk everything for you, Aliyah." His eyes locked on mine intensely and he leaned in, brushing his lips against my knuckles. "I'm not letting that fire you have in you go out. Not on my watch."

Tyler squeezed my hand one last time before bolting out the door. "I'll be back soon."

Kelly and Becca sat on the bed, Kelly holding my other hand. "We'll keep you comfortable. Becca, get more pain meds from the nurse."

Becca nodded and rushed out, returning with a syringe. "This is the strongest they have. It might knock you out for a bit."

She injected it, and the edges of the pain dulled, but it didn't stop the pain completely. I felt colder, weaker and my breaths felt shallower. "Guys... what if Tyler doesn't make it back? What if I end up... dying?"

Kelly shook her head fiercely. "Stop that. You're not alone. We're here. And Tyler--- he's crazy about you. That mate bond is unbelievably strong. Did you see his face? Man's desperate."

Becca sat on the bed's edge. "Yeah, he's not faking it. He kept asking us for updates every hour when he's not here. We tried calling pack healers earlier--- nothing. Even begged the council for an exception on some forbidden cures. They refused."

"Those old selfish bastards." Kelly muttered.

I nodded weakly, the word 'selfish' suddenly reminding me of someone. "Skylar... he doesn't care, does he? Of course, he doesn't. He hasn't even checked in on me once."

Kelly's face hardened. "Fuck him. He's a coward. Tyler's the one fighting for you. He's the one you should focus on."

I nodded sadly.

Hours dragged on. The pain had subsided but each hour left me more exhausted than the previous.

Kelly paced again. "Where the hell is Tyler? He should be back by now."

Then as if in cue, the door flew open, and Tyler stumbled in, I gasped when I saw him covered in dirt and scratches, he was clutching a satchel. "I got them! Wolfsbane root, silverleaf, and moonbloom petals. I got them!"

I gasped. "You're bleeding!"

He waved it off. "Doesn't matter. Let's do this ritual fast. Kelly, draw the circle on the floor with this chalk. Becca, light the candles--- position them like a pentagram."

They scrambled, clearing space and setting things up. Tyler helped me off the bed, his arm around my waist as he held me up. "Lean on me. We've got this."

I clung to him, my head on his shoulder. "Tyler... thank you. For everything."

He tilted my chin up, his eyes searching mine. "Don't thank me yet."

Kelly cleared her throat. "The circle's ready. Let's not waste time."

Tyler pulled back, helping me into the center. "Sit here. I'll chant the words. Repeat after me if you can."

He started the ritual, crushing herbs into a bowl and mixing with my blood from the wound. The air hummed with energy as he chanted: "Luna vocat, venenum expelle. Lupus surge, vita redi."

I echoed weakly, but I had only chanted midway when pain suddenly exploded in my chest.

I collapsed on the floor, gasping for air as my chest felt tight. "My chest! It burns!" I screamed in pain.

Tyler kept chanting, his voice rising by the second. "Hold on! Just push through!"

Becca knelt outside the circle. "Ali, fight it! We see smoke from the bowl.... I.... I.... think it's reacting!"

But it wasn't! My vision was blur, I could barely see anything and my wolf's presence was a mere myth now. My chest felt tight and it felt like my lungs was losing air so fast. "I can't... it's too strong. Tyler, please stop--- I can... barely.... breathe...." I choked out.

He broke the chant and rushed to me. "No! We were so close!"

Kelly sobbed. "What now?! We tried everything--- herbs, shamans, rituals. Nothing's working!"

Becca hugged her knees. "Aliyah... please don't leave us."

Tyler lifted me back to the bed. "Aliyah, stay with me. Talk to me--- anything." His voice sounded like a far away echo that I could barely hear.

The room spun around me and my breaths became short and shallow. I felt the pain everywhere now, even under my feet. I felt my heart slowing, the room was starting to fade.

My eyes fluttered shut and darkness closed in.