Silverbloom Root

ELARA’S POV

Anton wasn't healing. The wound had been fatal. He was looking pale by every passing hour. Hopefully, my mother would know what to do—I got my gift from her. She’s a gifted healer.

I was wrong. My mother had run out of spells and herbs by the second day. His wounds had turned dark and he burned.

Anton’s getting worse.

As I press a damp cloth against his wound, Mateo comes in. 

“Alpha,” I said bowing.

“How is he?”

“Not good.” I choked back my tears. 

“I’m sorry, Elara. I sought help from other packs. I've asked for their most gifted healers to come. We will find a solution.” He said.

“Thank you, Alpha.” I said, wiping my face.

“He'll be fine,” Luna Kyra said.

I didn't hear her walk in. Mateo pats my shoulder and leaves.

“So,” she continued. This can't be good. Kyra's never really liked me since we were kids. “I heard you're mated to the Alpha of Ironfang—our sworn enemies. You must really be cursed, Elara.” She said with so much disgust on her face.

Of course. She's come to rub it in as if finding out you're mated to the enemy wasn't enough, then he goes ahead to rip the bond apart like it's nothing, and now my brother's dying.

Since we returned, I've been getting looks and whispers around the pack like I was some disease. Yesterday, I overheard two girls talking about me like I betrayed the pack for being mated to an Ironfang.

How is it my fault?!

“He-um, he rejected me.” I said. It's taken everything in me not to fall apart. Enemy or not. I've only heard of the pain but now I finally understand. It feels like a part of you is gone. I felt empty… heartbroken. Words fail to describe my emotions right now. Yes, It may have been to the enemy, but It hurts just the same.

“Good. Thornshade and Ironfang don't mix. It's an abomination.” She rubs Anton's face slowly, turns and leaves. 

***********

My mother kneels across from me, her red hair in a bun, palms trembling as she feels for his pulse. The look on her face is one I’ve seen only once before—when my father died.

“Mother,” I couldn't mask the fear in my voice. 

“The venom is spreading,” her voice breaking.

“What do we do?”

She wipes her eyes and stands. “We’ll stabilize him until help arrives.”

“It might be too late then. You know we can't heal him. Not without the silverbloom root.”

My mother frowns. “That’s extinct—”

“In Thornshade, yes,” I cut in. “But the Ironfang forests still grow it.”

She freezes. “You’re saying I should let you cross into Ironfang lands?”

I nod grimly. “It’s the only way. If we don’t get the herb soon enough, Anton won’t live to see another moon.”

“No.”

“Mother, please—”

“No! If they catch you, they'll kill you on sight.”

“I'll be careful—”

“I forbid it.” She half yells.

“He'll die.” I yell.

“He won't!” She takes a deep breath, “I’ll keep slowing the venom down. Help will come.” Then she leaves.

I turn and look at my brother, pale and sweating. So, I go to Mateo.

“What you're asking is impossible.” Mateo said, frowning.

“I will kneel before him. Please. Anton's dying.”

“I've already asked for help. But, I will not ask Draven for anything. I will not feed that blood sucking monster's ego and have him humiliate me.”

“You don't have to ask. I'll do it. Just please set up the meeting. Please Mateo, my—”

“Enough!” He thundered. I flinch. “The answer is no, and that's final.”

So I leave.

If they won't help. I'll do it myself. I'm not letting my brother die over this feud.

By midnight I had snuck into Ironfang.

The Ironfang territory wasn't that different from Thornshade except in size and over the years wealth. But still, their woods breathe darkness. 

As a kid, I was very adventurous. I hung out with Mateo and Anton a lot, so I liked hunting, running, playing rough but failed terribly at swords and fights. And as a member of a high ranking family, it hurt my father to see me fail at being a warrior but he tried to hide his disappointment—failing miserably at.

I found this path to Ironfang at fifteen. I used to sneak out to take a peek at them but I never went over the border. They fascinated me then. I stopped when they became more brutal—showing no mercy to any, especially Thornshade who trespassed but tonight…I'll take that risk.

Crawling through the thick bush into Ironfang, I scaled the wall,l followed the stream north until I found what I was looking for: a cluster of blue-silver leaves shimmering faintly in the dark. 

Silverbloom root.

I drop to my knees, heart pounding, hands shaking, and begin to dig carefully around its roots. The herb comes out giving off a faint, cold glow. I was relieved.

Almost there. Just one more pull—

A branch snaps behind me.

I freeze, and that familiar dark scent slides through the air. My stomach drops.

No. No, no.

I quickly snatch the herb into my pouch turning to run—but a low growl stops me cold.

“Run… and I’ll rip you apart.”

Chill runs down my spine.

“Well, well. What do we have here? A thieving Thornshade healer.”

His voice.

Deep, gravel-rough, and all too familiar.

I turned around, heart hammering, and there he was—Draven in all his masculine glory, his eyes burning with fury. Two sentinels flank him, massive and silent, claws gleaming.

“Step forward,” he commands. 

I force my legs to move even though my knees tremble. “I, um, I came only for the herb. My brother—he’s dying.”

Draven’s eyes remain cold. “So you trespassed.”

“I didn’t come for trouble.” 

“You crossed into Ironfang. That is trouble already, healer.”

His wolves close in. I back away, clutching the pouch to my chest. “Please, just let me go. I won't come back—”

He moves faster than I can blink. One second he’s several feet away; the next, his hand is around my wrist, the heat of his skin searing through me. The bond—already broken—flashes to life for an instant, burning where our skin touches.

He feels it too because his jaw tightens and he yanks my hand away.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” he growls. “Bring her.”

The guards drags me through the woods, and to his court. They force me to my knees.

A beautiful lady with golden eyes asks….

“What is she doing here?”

“Relax, Zuri.” Draven says sitting on his magnificent throne. 

I lift my chin up. I'm not dying here today.

“She's stealing our silverbloom.” He says.

“I'm not a thief. I’m trying to save my brother's life.”

“Ironfang does not spare anyone who trespasses, especially a Thornshade,” he says.

“You could forgive and let me go,” I snap, defiant despite the fear. “But then again, you don't know how to save a life...only to take it.”

I didn’t even see her move.

Just a blur of motion—then SMACK!

The sound splitting through the hall like a whip, sharp and final. My head snapping to the side as my hair comes undone from its bun. I taste iron. And my face burned with humiliation.

The lady he called Zuri stood before me, her chest rising and falling, her hand still trembling from the slap. 

“Don’t you dare raise your voice at him,” she spat.

I straightened slowly, my cheek was throbbing, the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. The urge to strike back flared hot and wild in my chest—but I swallowed it.

When I finally looked up, my voice came out calm, too calm. “You hit me once,” I said, meeting her glare. “Don’t ever try it again.”

“Back down, Zuri.” Draven said. She returns back.

He strode towards me. “What's your name?”

I frown. The more time I waste, the more Anton draws near death.

“Elara Everstorm.”

“Well, Elara. I don't like thieves. Especially Thornshade's.”

“I’m sorry. But I need this to save my brother's life…please.”

His eyes flare dangerously. For a moment, I think he’ll drag me by my throat.

But instead, he leans in close enough for me to feel his breath against my ear.

“Let’s see if you can save your own.”

He turns sharply to his guards.

“Take her to the cells.”

“No, please—”

“Bind her hands. She’s not to be harmed,” he adds darkly. “Until I decide what to do with her.”

The guards seized and dragged me out. They threw me in a cell, closed the gates, slammed the lock shut as darkness swallowed me whole.