Chapter 4: Black Veins

Mabel

Cora’s eyes were fixed on me as I devoured the food. I was starving, perhaps I hadn’t eaten for days. We were back in the room where I had first woken up.

“Are you going to keep staring at me like that?” I asked, feeling increasingly uncomfortable under her intense gaze.

“Are you going to leave once you’re better?” she asked.

“Of course.”

“Where will you go?”

The question hit me hard. I realized I had nowhere to go. None of the territories were safe for me, and you couldn’t just cross into the human realm without going through certain procedures, one of which required permission from the great elders.

I dropped my spoon. “I don’t know.”

“Exactly. You have nowhere to go,” she retorted. “But you can stay here.”

“Your brother doesn’t want me here,” I interjected.

I knew she was only keeping me here in hopes that I’d become her brother’s mate. If I didn’t, she might throw me out herself.

“I’ll talk to him, I’ll convince him,” she said, slamming her hand hard against the table.

Cora’s eyes tightened, and she whimpered like she was about to cry. She was desperate to find a mate for her brother.

“What if I’m not his mate?” I asked.

Cora sat back down. Silence stretched between us as she stared at me for a few seconds. “My brother is running rogue. He’s gone ten years without a mate,” Cora explained, her voice trembling. “If he doesn’t find a mate within three months, he’ll go mad, and the great elders will kill him before he does.”

“Why would the great elders kill your brother?” I asked. “He’s not the first wolf to go rogue.”

Many wolves had gone mad, either contained by their pack or left to run wild in the forbidden land.

“Do you know why my brother is called the Demon Alpha?” Cora leaned in.

“He’s a powerful, cruel tyrant,” I replied, shuddering as I recalled his cold, dark aura.

“Of course not.” Cora rolled her eyes. “He’s a heartless wolf.”

I didn’t understand the difference between being heartless and cruel, but whatever makes her sleep at night.

“We’re saying the same thing,” I pointed out.

Cora smiled. “He literally doesn’t have a heart. And he’s not just a wolf, he’s a lycan.”

My eyes widened at the revelation, and suddenly my appetite was nowhere to be found. Canes were regular wolves. Lycans were almost mythical—wolves who had sacrificed something for great power. They were faster, stronger, and could transform without the moon's aid. But their power came with such a cost that few wolves sought it.

“So, unlike other wolves, if he goes mad, we might not be able to contain him,” she added.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not the savior you think I am.” My voice came out thin.

“Is it because you don’t have your wolf form?” Cora cupped my hand. “I can help you find it. There are exercises, rituals that can help you.”

I pulled my hand away. “Please stop,” I pleaded.

The last thing I needed was anyone discovering that I was an abomination.

“Mate,” I muttered as my heart tightened. “I was just betrayed by my mate.” My voice cracked as I remembered Trevor’s betrayal.

“That’s why you need to find another, so you don’t go mad,” Cora advised.

My temper flared. I swiped my arm, sending the plate flying and shattering it.

Cora’s eyes widened.

I quickly shut my eyes, sensing they were about to change color. I took a few deep breaths, reminding Lilac to remain hidden. After a while I settled back on the seat.

“I’d rather go mad than be paired with another wolf,” I muttered.

My eyes flew open as Cora pulled me into a hug. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt someone’s warmth. I wanted to enjoy it, but something held me back.

“I’m sorry. You must have been through a lot,” she said, stroking my hair. “What’s it like to be without a wolf?”

My breath hitched. I didn’t have the answer to that question, so quickly I changed the topic. “Wait, are you serious about your brother not having a heart?” I asked.

“Mmm-hmm.” She nodded.

I’d always heard people call him heartless, but I had taken it metaphorically, just like everyone else.

“How is he even alive?” I questioned, my curiosity piqued.

Cora was about to reply when the door burst open.

“Cora, your brother is having another episode!” the little boy from earlier shouted.

Cora’s eyes widened and they paled, swallowing every reflection of light. Never have I ever seen one so scared. She jumped up and ran out of the room.

I was left alone with my thoughts—something that hadn’t happened since I woke up. And yet the first thought that popped up was what Demon was he fighting that made him sacrifice his heart for powers?

After a few minutes, Cora burst into the room her white pale face was all red. She crashed into the chair and sighed heavily.

“How is he?” I asked.

“Not fine. He’s in great pain.” Cora announced. “It keeps getting worse with each episode. If he continues like this, he might die.” She burst into tears, her sobs lining the air.

I couldn’t imagine what she was going through since I had no siblings. The only person aside from Alpha John that I cared about—loved—is the man Im about to kill.

“Can I see him?” I asked.

“I might be able to help him,” I added

Cora’s eyes brightened up. “How?”

“I am good with herbs,” I replied. “I could ease his pain.”

When I realized I was a weak wolf and no matter how hard I trained, I could never match up with other wolves, I sought to compensate in other ways. I decided to study under one of our pack healers— Healer Aglaia. She had traveled the seven territories, learning their herbs and she finally returned home. Because of her grumpiness, most people didn’t want to work with her.

Caro rose to her feet and led the way.

After taking multiple turns inside the big mansion, we arrived at the door.

Inside, Malia sat beside him, her hands cupping his.

“What is she doing here?” Malia demanded, springing towards us.

“Mabel is good with herbs; she said she can ease my brother’s pain,” Carp replied.

“We already have our pack healers.” Malia retorted before turning to me. “If you are so good with herbs, why did they kick you out?”

“Like I said, they wanted to get rid of me as Luna.”

Malia turned to Cora. “Are you going to let a stranger touch your brother?”

“Yes!” Cora screamed. “We are losing him.” She choked on her voice.

“W—.” Malia began.

“I have told you to stay out of family matters.” Cora interrupted; her tone deepened as her eyes turned a sharp yellow hue.

How I admired the hue—the hue that signifies power.

Malia stepped back and I moved towards him.

He winced with every breath that escaped his sharp, pointed nose. A small gasp escaped my lips as his eyes fluttered open, the coldness in them melting under the weight of pain. Time seemed to stand still as he weakly gripped my hand, his touch oddly warm

My eyes widened. This couldn’t just be madness—there had to be more to it. But he was a lycan, and his body, like those of other wolves, might manifest different symptoms.

Different contrasting emotions ladened in my veins—I felt an instinctive urge to protect him but also a deep-seated desire to kill him. But, I swallowed them down, deciding to deal with these feelings later.

My eyes fell on the black veins creeping across his body, and tracing his handsome face.

They looked familiar, but I couldn't place where I had seen them before.

With Cora’s help, I prepared a potion, though it was missing one key herb. Despite that, it was still potent enough to be used.

“I’ve never treated a Lycan before,” I confessed, my heart pounding as if it were in a race. “I can’t predict what will happen.”

“What do you mean?” Cora asked.

“It might work, or it might not,” I replied.

"And you waited until now to say that?" Malia's voice rose. "If anything happens to him, I'll take your head." Malia growled, her eyes burning yellow.

“Let’s try it,” Cora said, clasping her hands together.

Swallowing hard, I administered the potion and waited. My stomach twisted, as I waited for a reaction.

The air hung, heavy with tension. I bridled my mind from going chaotic with unbidden thoughts.

And then, Lev began to tremble violently, the bed creaking beneath his weight.

Cora’s scream tore through the tensed air as black blood began to drip from his nose.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. He shouldn’t have reacted like this.

Unless he had been poisoned.