Chapter 11: Save her

Zeus’s Point Of View

"Thank you for bringing my sister to us, Zeus," January said, his voice heavy with sadness.

"She's my friend. I'm sorry for what happened," I replied, handing over the unconscious body of November. “And I knew she was suffering. 

"I understand," he nodded, forcing a smile that never reached his eyes.

"I can’t face November when she wakes up," his mate whispered to him. Her voice trembled as tears spilled freely. "All this time, I kept praising Emerald, telling November what a wonderful Luna she would be. I should have seen through her lies..."

"It's not your fault," January said, pulling her into his arms. "You couldn’t have known. And November will understand... in time."

I watched them disappear inside, carrying what remained of the woman I wanted—a woman who deserved so much more. ME. 

"November is hiding something from us?" my Dragon said quietly as we stood in the darkness.

“And what is it?” I asked. 

“The envelope she hid inside her apron yesterday. Something might have been there that weakened her,” he replied. “Whatever it is, it must have hurt her and her wolf. I hope she’ll survive this after agreeing to our proposal.”

"Let’s hope so," I replied, clenching my jaw. "We barely made it through when Emerald rejected us."

"I like her," my wolf said, a low rumble in his tone. "Her wolf—independent and fierce—just like her human. If it’s not her... I’ll accept no other she-wolf." He vanished into the depths of my mind, leaving me and my dragon in awe since my wolf became invincible after our own rejection.

“He finally made an appearance,” my dragon rolled his eyes.

“Let him be. He’ll be fine once we proceed with our plan.’

It was never part of the plan to meet Knox’s mate in peculiar circumstances. She was purchasing a large amount of Wolfnips. I smiled. I only tried to see Emerald one last time in my dragon form hovering above one last time, to confirm the part of me that loved her was dead and buried. That was the final step of healing from her rejection. But fate had other ideas. Then I saw November emerge from the forest. I knew instantly—she was his mate.

November.

She was one of the few she-wolves who dared to live in her pack despite the situation she was in. Most she-wolf withered away or died after being unwanted and beinf cheated on. I’m surprised she lasted most of she-wolved wouldn’t. But she did it. And I respected her for it. I befriended her not because she needed me, but because she was someone worth knowing. Behind those pain, and sorry, I could see a smart, funny and strong woman.  She had every quality of a true leader—qualities Knox was too blind to recognize.

The moment my wolf sensed her, he chose her as our second chance. We both knew how Knox operated. Sooner or later, he’d reject her. And we’d be waiting.

But the woman I used to know was gone.

I started watching November from her bedroom window—not out of obsession, but out of worry. I needed to know if she was holding on.

Thanks to the masking perfume my best friend gave me, I could move undetected. No warrior caught my scent. No one knew I was there.

But weeks passed. November did not heal.

Every day she sat by the window, unmoving, her once bright eyes now dull and lifeless. Some nights she cried herself to sleep. Others, she just stared blankly into the void. I hadn’t seen her smile in weeks.

"She’s slipping," my wolf murmured. "Do something. Save her. She deserves a second chance."

"I will," I promised. "I’m just waiting for the right moment."

That moment came on a frigid night.

I saw January’s car pull away, and soon after, November emerged from the house. Barefoot. No coat. Just a thin shirt clinging to her body as she stepped into the cold night. She rubbed her eyes, struggling to see.

She couldn’t.

Her wolf was gone. Without her spirit guide, she was nothing but human. Vulnerable. Blind in the dark.

Still, she pressed forward, stumbling through the woods. I followed silently, staying downwind, my senses alert.

She stopped at the edge of the trees, her eyes locked on the packhouse. Laughter and celebration spilled from the windows. Tonight was Knox and Emerald’s son’s christening.

Did she know?

I don’t think so.

She dropped to her knees, sobbing silently. Then, slowly, she rose, cast them one last look, and turned away.

"I’ve got a bad feeling," my wolf warned.

I didn’t answer. I was already moving.

She headed east—toward the ocean. A dangerous stretch of land beyond Killian’s territory. No one went there. It was where the wild things stayed wild.

Then—shouts.

"Trespasser!"

"Damn it!" The masking perfume was wearing off. I could smell my own scent again. That meant the warriors could too.

"Shit!"

I veered north to avoid detection, circling back through another no man’s land. But I’d already lost sight of her.

Panic clawed at my chest.

Then I caught her scent—barely—and ran.

"The cliff! She’s at the cliff!" my wolf howled.

When I arrived, the world stood still.

November’s body floated in the ocean, face down, motionless.

I shifted back and dove in, the icy water numbing my skin.

"Come on!" I gasped as I pulled her out. "Come on, November! Breathe!"

I performed CPR, pounding on her chest, cursing between each breath.

"Come on! Don’t you dare give up now! Come on, November—fight!"

And then—she coughed. Water spilled from her lungs.

Relief nearly crushed me.

I scooped her up and ran, not stopping until we reached the hospital.

"Thank you again, Zeus," January said, his voice shaking.

"She was about to turn feral," I told him flatly. "She told me she’d rather die than become a mindless rogue."

January looked at her lying on the hospital bed. Her eyes were open, but they weren’t seeing. Just blank. Hollow. Her irises had begun to bleed red—one of the early signs. Soon, her mind would disappear, and she would shift... a wolf with no soul.

"I don’t know what to do," January whispered, breaking. "She’s all I have left. I can’t lose her too..."

I did know how it felt. I nearly went feral once. My parents almost gave up on me.

But I survived.

"I can help her," I said.

January turned, startled.

"But only if she wants to be helped."