(5) The Poison And Life Saving

The Nightbane estate stood beneath the moon like a sleeping giant.

Yet tonight, the silence surrounding it felt wrong. It wasn't peaceful nor restful.

It was the kind of silence that came before a storm. The kind that settled over battlefields moments before the first sword was drawn.

Moonlight spilled across the ancient symbols, which glowed faintly beneath the pale light... wards forged by ancestors long dead, promises etched into stone by wolves who had sacrificed everything to protect future generations.

Tonight, those protections felt meaningless.

Because no enemy stood outside the walls, the danger had already entered.

Fear... Fear for a daughter... Fear for a Luna.

Fear for a girl who had spent her entire life protecting everyone except herself.

The massive oak doors exploded open with enough force to rattle the stained-glass windows.

Several servants jumped in alarm, and a vase shattered somewhere in the distance.

Cassian stormed into the estate carrying Kaelara in his arms.

Everyone who saw him froze at the sight.

Because Cassian Nightbane was not a man who panicked.

He was a warrior... A general.

A wolf who had walked through battlefields drenched in blood and emerged without a tremor in his hands.

Yet now...

Now his arms tightened around his sister as though he was terrified she might disappear if he loosened his grip even slightly.

Her head rested limply against his shoulder. Her skin was pale. Far too pale.

The sight alone made something primal twist violently in his chest.

"Move!"

His roar echoed through the entrance hall, and servants scattered immediately.

"Where's Mother?"

Nobody answered fast enough.

"WHERE IS SHE?"

"I'm here." Elowen's voice came from behind him.

She immediately rushed forward, passing her husband and kids.

The moment her eyes landed on Kaelara again, all color drained from her face, and her fear intensified.

For one terrible second, she simply stared.

She was a mother. Not a healer. Not one of the most powerful magical practitioners in the pack.

Just a mother seeing her child covered in blood. She had been holding it in all the way home. But now... she was on the verge of breaking apart.

Then instinct took over. "Healing room NOW!"

Cassian was already moving as the rest hurriedly followed.

*******

The healing chamber burst into activity.

Candles were lit, ancient runes awakened, and magic flooded the room.

The moment Cassian laid Kaelara on the stone slab, Elowen pressed both hands against the wound.

Then immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

"No."

The single word sent ice through everyone's veins.

Darion stepped forward instantly.

"What?"

Elowen's expression tightened. "The wolf'sbane." Her voice sounded strained. "It's still there."

"What do you mean it's still there?" Thorne demanded.

"It means exactly what I said." Elowen didn't look away from the wound.

"The poison hasn't fully left her system."

Lyra paled. "But she heals on the battlefield always. She inherited your prowess, mother."

"Not completely." Fear flickered across Elowen's features. "The healing stopped the bleeding." She swallowed. "But the poison remained."

She didn't say anything more after that. Because the truth was more horrifying than anything.

It wasn't only wolf 'sbane in her daughter's body. There was something else. The wolf'sbane was mixed with something horrifying.

But her family didn't need to know that. She didn't want to scare them more than they already are.

Then Darion spoke. "Can you save her?"

Elowen's hands trembled.

For the first time since any of them had entered the room, they realized something horrifying.

She wasn't sure.

The realization hit like a punch.

Thorne slammed his fist into the nearest wall, and the stone cracked instantly.

"Damn him!"

"Thorne—"

"DAMN HIM!"

The room shook with his roar. "He left her there!" His eyes burned. "She was dying, and he walked past her."

"Thorne."

Darion's voice cracked like thunder.

The younger wolf froze. Not because he was afraid. Because he understood.

Darion was barely holding himself together.

One more word... One more accusation. And someone was going to die.

Elowen took a shaky breath. Then closed her eyes. "Summon the elder priestesses. NOW!"

Lyra ran immediately.

Within minutes, two elderly women entered the chamber.

Their silver hair gleamed beneath the candlelight as ancient power radiated from them.

Neither asked questions nor needed explanations.

One look at Kaelara was enough.

"Dearest gracious Goddess! We call upon you. Selene, preserve us."

The older priestess moved forward after the incantations.

"How long?"

"Too long," Elowen answered hurriedly.

The second priestess immediately began preparing the ritual circle.

Candles ignited around the slab one after another.

Twelve flames.

Twelve bloodlines..

Twelve ancestral blessings...

The room seemed to breathe as the air thickened and power and magic gathered around them.

Elowen closed her eyes. Then whispered:

"Begin."

The chanting started immediately.

Ancient words filled the room, and old magic awakened.

Silver light erupted from the priestesses' hands and poured into Kaelara's body.

At first... Nothing happened. And somehow that was worse.

Cassian remained beside the slab. Never moving or blinking.

His hand gently brushed strands of hair from Kaelara's face.

"Come on, baby sis." His voice cracked. "You've survived worse than this." His thumb brushed her cheek. "You hear me?"

No response, making his throat tighten.

"Kae."

Still nothing.

"You promised we'd race horses next month." His laugh sounded broken. "You're cheating if you die before then."

Silence answered him.

"Kae..."

Across the room, Thorne turned away. Unable to watch or listen.

Because hearing his brother beg was somehow worse than seeing the blood.

Then suddenly... Kaelara arched violently.

A scream tore from her throat, and the room exploded into movement.

"Hold her tight!"

The priestesses increased their power, and silver light blazed brighter.

Suddenly... Dark poison surfaced beneath Kaelara's skin like black veins.

Fighting, resisting, and refusing to leave.

Elowen gritted her teeth. Sweat poured down her face. But she never gave up. This was her daughter. She'd use the rest of her lifespan to save herself at all costs.

"Push harder!"

"We are!" The priestesses screamed.

"Again! Harder! Elowen ordered.

The chamber shook, runes ignited, and ancestral magic surged even more fiercely.

Kaelara cried out again.

"AAAAGGGGHHH!!!"

And hearing such painful screams from his daughter, Darion nearly broke.

"Kaelara! Princess! My little wolf... I need you to be strong and hang on!" His voice sounded rough and painful.

The general approached the slab. His large hand closed around hers.

"You stay." His eyes glistened. "You hear me, baby? We still have many battles to fight."

Nobody spoke. Because this was Darion Nightbane... The strongest wolf most of them had ever known only shows vulnerability when it comes to his family.

"You stay." He squeezed her hand a little tighter.

"That's an order from you, General!"

For a moment— Nothing.

Then Kaelara's fingers twitched, and everyone froze.

The priestesses pushed harder, making the poison retreat, as if they were afraid.

After what felt like eternity and many incantations, the black veins faded slowly.

The wound slowly began closing. Flesh knitted together. Breath by breath. Second by second... Life returned.

Finally...

The darkness vanished completely, and the wound sealed.

Silence crashed into the room as they watched on with bated breath.

Then one of the priestesses collapsed into a chair, exhausted.

"She'll live."

The words shattered the tension instantly.

Elowen nearly collapsed, but Darion caught her immediately.

Cassian released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Thorne sat down heavily as life returned to his eyes.

Lyra covered her face and started crying.

And for the first time that night...

The family could breathe.