Chapter 4

Adrian brought me to the infirmary.

He furrowed his brows, his expression pained. “Your body is still weakened from the silver exposure, and the wolfsbane has only aggravated your condition. There’s nothing more I can do for you...”

My face showed no emotion.

Since learning that I had been poisoned with aconite for the last seven years, I knew death would claim me sooner or later.

In those two days I was in the infirmary, Kieran never once visited.

Sage came to me and told me that Ronan had fallen ill. Kieran and Celeste had been keeping near him the whole time.

I nodded, acknowledging the news.

As I got out of bed, my knees buckled, and Sage caught me. “Alpha Voss has given orders that you should stay put here. He will come for you in time.”

I curled my lips.

“I just wish to see Moonlight.”

Moonlight was the horse I raised, my faithful companion who had been with me through everything and my move to the Frostfang Pack. When she grew too frail to run, Kieran had settled her into a stable.

Sage wanted to fetch Adrian to go with me, but I stopped her.

“I won’t be going home. Just take the things I had you pack and deliver them to my mother.

“You should leave as well. You don’t need to stay with me.”

Sage’s tears spilled from her eyes.

“Luna, I don’t want to go. Alpha Voss loves you. He’s just too mad to recognize that. Once he cools down, he’ll come back for you.”

I smiled without a word.

There was a time when I believed in that so deeply that I learned to keep myself in check, content to remain at his side in silence.

However, I couldn’t care less anymore.

I made my way to the table at a slow pace, each step an agonizing struggle.

Moonlight had lost her sight, but she still recognized the sound of my voice.

I gently stroked her head, and she nuzzled her snout softly against my shoulder.

Sitting on the floor, I put my weight against Moonlight and felt her breathing grow shallow.

I started to reminisce about the good old days when Moonlight often carried me across finish lines, claiming victory after victory.

My wolf gradually faded into nothingness.

Closing my eyes, I kept my arms around Moonlight’s neck.

…

Inside Celeste’s quarters, Ronan drank the potion and slowly got better.

Kieran sat on the couch, rubbing his temples wearily.

Celeste was thoughtful enough to offer him a glass of water. “Still upset about Raina?”

Kieran remained silent, but Celeste was always great at reading the room. She smiled and added. “Raina’s been spoiled rotten by her family. I don’t blame her.

“She’s grown up a lot these years. Give her a bit of time, and she’ll be back.”

Kieran furrowed his brows.

For some reason, he couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling.

He reached for his hip.

Kieran had carried the same wolf fang as mine on him for years.

However, it struck him now that the wolf fang had split in half.

Kieran grimaced while getting up. “I’m going to bring her back.”

Just then, Cael stumbled into the room, his face pale.

“Alpha, we’ve cleared up the incident with the messenger raven. Raina had nothing to do with it.”

Kieran broke into a smile. The only thing on his mind was to fetch me and make it up to me.

As he stepped out, Cael came in his way.

Kieran frowned. “Whatever it is, it can wait. I need to get to Raina now.”

Cael’s voice shook.

“There’s no bringing her back, Alpha.

“Raina… She’s dead.”