The Diagnosis

 

For a moment, it was as if everything around me disappeared. I could see the pack doctor's lips moving, but no sound reached my ears.

In my mind, a single phrase repeated itself: my wolf is dying, and I, a powerful Lycan, was dying with her. And who was to blame?

Me, only me.

“Luna Camila.”

The doctor's call made me jump a little in my chair. I looked at him, trying to force myself to breathe, telling myself that we would find a way. With that in mind, I stared at the doctor and said:

“How do I fix this? There has to be a way, this can't be the end.”

The doctor looked at me again with a mixture of pity and frustration. He was new to the pack, a renowned doctor. Carlos, my mate and Alpha of the Blood Heart pack, had boasted about getting the famous Dr. Rodrigo Sales to take over the pack's hospital.

I looked at the doctor again. He was young, I would say handsome if I didn't only have eyes for Carlos, but something in the way he looked at me irritated me, because he looked at me like a woman who was causing her own death.

“Camila.”

His voice sounded louder, dispensing with the title. Now his cold eyes stared at me and he said:

“Your wolf must have shown signs, must have stopped communicating, your healing must have slowed down. How long has it been since you last transformed?”

I twisted my hands in my lap and looked away. I tried to call my wolf, but only silence answered. Then I tried to remember the last time I transformed, and by the Moon Goddess, it had been ten years. The last time I remember running free in my wolf form was before I married Carlos.

The doctor in front of me sighed and said:

"You only have one chance. It's a very rare medicine, but I have contact with the people who produce it. Its application is extremely dangerous, only I will be able to do it safely. You need four doses, one per week. We will administer the first one as soon as I can get the medication. Until then, you should not travel or exert yourself, and it would be good to try to reconnect with your wolf."

When he finished speaking, I just nodded. My mind was spinning. I wondered how I had let it get to this point. I, who had a reputation for being rebellious and fearless, was now standing in front of a doctor who seemed to be making an effort not to shake me. I thanked him and promised to return for the next appointment. I got up to leave, but before opening the door, I stopped, looked at him, and said:

"Doctor, please don't tell Carlos. He's at an important moment in his life, he's about to receive the Council of Wolves. I don't want to be a burden to him, and my son is still too young to understand the situation."

He looked at me as if he were about to say something, but I just begged him with my eyes and smiled with relief when he nodded.

I left the hospital and saw Carlos' driver waiting for me. I smiled as usual. He opened the door and asked:

“Is everything okay, ma'am?”

I just lied:

“Yes, of course. They were just routine tests. Let's go home, Charles.”

As the car drove away, it was impossible not to remember how it all began ten years ago at a ball given by the Alpha King.

I was stunning and smiling in a way I hadn't done in a long time. Enrico, my brother, a powerful Lycan and Alpha of the most powerful pack, proudly showed me off in the ballroom until my clumsy best friend spilled wine on my dress. At the last minute, the only outfit I had left was one of the maids' uniforms. I even found it fun to go unnoticed, and that's when I saw him: Carlos. His scent immediately enveloped me, his eyes fixed on me, and it was as if everything around me disappeared.

Carlos approached like a predator.

“Mate.”

I still remember what it was like to hear that for the first time, it was as if my world exploded in ecstasy.

He soon took me away from the party. I realized he thought I was an omega, but before I could correct him, I said I preferred it that way, I hated the pompous Lycans and Alphas who despised his small pack.

And it was then, at that very moment, that I made the decision not to tell him that I wasn't an omega, but a Lycan, sister of the most powerful Alpha after the Alpha King.

I still remember the hungry way Carlos kissed me. His hands ran over my body with mastery, eliciting whispers and moans from my throat. So I accepted. Carlos explained to me that the marking process was too intense, so it was normal for some she-wolves to faint when they were marked and the bond was complete. I was so happy, but my she-wolf was furious. She demanded that I tell our mate the truth, that he should accept us as we were. But I didn't listen, I postponed the decision and silenced her.

The car stopped in front of the mansion where I live with Carlos and our six-year-old son, Tiago. I bit my lip until I tasted blood, took a deep breath, and got out of the car with a smile on my face.

Tiago was sitting in the living room watching cartoons.

“Son, turn off that TV right now, you need to take a bath. Don't forget that Daddy has an important dinner tonight and said he would take you with him.”

Tiago rolled his eyes and said:

“Mom, you're so annoying, couldn't you be nice like Daddy's friend?”

Before I could ask who this cool friend was, Carlos' authoritative voice rang out from the front door:

“Tiago, obey your mother right now, and never talk to her like that again or you'll have me to deal with, young man.”

Tiago jumped off the couch. He respected and adored his father, and he was usually loving towards me. He must have been stressed about something at school, so I didn't pay much attention to his rebellious behavior and smiled as I watched him run to his room.

It didn't take long to feel Carlos's arms wrap around my waist, his nose burying itself in my neck where he took a deep breath. He always said that my scent calmed him down.

“I heard you went to the doctor. Is everything okay? I've noticed you've been more tired lately.”

I smiled. Carlos could be authoritarian and arrogant at times, but he was always caring and possessive of me. At first, my wolf said there was something strange about our mate, but then she melted for him just like I did, and she fell silent.

The thought made me tense, and Carlos growled softly. I hurried to say:

“It was just a routine checkup. I'm fine.”

Carlos turned me in his arms, kissed me possessively and passionately, and then said:

“Stay home tonight and rest. I'll take Tiago with me, it's really a boring dinner.”

I felt guilty for not accompanying him, but I just nodded and went upstairs to help Tiago get ready.

Hours later, I was alone in my room, staring at the mirror. Those ten years had been transformative. I was no longer the rebellious girl and had become a perfect housewife, an exemplary mother... but at what cost?

I tried to talk to Carlos about my identity, but he was proud and hated being weaker than the Lycans. I hated my brother, who, when he found out that Carlos was my mate, was against it and tried to persuade me to reject the bond, saying that Carlos was petty and weak. I, of course, broke up with my brother and ran away with Carlos.

“Dwelling on the past won't help, Camila.”

I said to my reflection and decided to go to the kitchen to get some water. The house was quiet, but as I approached, I heard voices coming from there. I smiled; it must be the omegas working. I thought about telling them to go rest, but I stopped when I heard what they were saying:

“Did you see? Since Maura came back, the Alpha only has eyes for her.”

“Yeah, and that idiot Luna Camila stays at home playing maid while someone else takes the spotlight.”