Chapter 29: Healing

SERA

Lila looked so small on the clinic bed.

Elena had cleaned her up, checked for injuries, nothing serious. Just bruises, exhaustion, the lingering effects of whatever drug Vivian had used, but she was pale, weak, trembling even in sleep.

My little sister, the girl I'd raised after our mother died. The one person in the Silvermoon Pack who'd never treated me like I was worthless and I'd almost lost her.

"She'll be fine," Elena said quietly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "She just needs rest."

I nodded, not trusting my voice. My hands were shaking as I reached out to touch Lila's forehead. She was too cold, too fragile.

I wished I could do more, wished I could take away her pain, her fear, everything Vivian had put her through.

The thought sparked something inside me. A warmth in my chest, spreading down through my arms, silver light began to glow around my fingers that touched Lila's skin.

"Sera," Elena said, her voice was filled with surprise. "What are you…"

The light intensified, flowing from my hands into Lila like liquid. I watched with shock as color returned to her face. Her breathing evened out, the bruises on her arms faded from purple to yellow to nothing.

She looked peaceful now, truly peaceful.

The light faded and I swayed, suddenly dizzy.

"What did you just do?" Elena asked, moving to check Lila's pulse.

"I don't know, I just wanted to help her and.." I stared at my hands. "Did I hurt her?"

"Hurt her?" Elena laughed, the sound shocked. "Child, you healed her completely, she's not just stable, she's recovered." She looked at me with wonder. "Silver Bloods could heal, I'd forgotten, It's been so long since.."

"I can heal people?"

"Apparently." Elena glanced across the clinic to where Maya still slept, bandages covering her injuries. "Can you do it again?"

I moved to Maya's bed. She looked much better than when she'd arrived, but still hurt.

I placed my hands on her shoulder and thought about healing, about making her whole again.

Silver light answered immediately. It poured into Maya like I was filling an empty vessel. I watched the swelling around her eye reduce, saw cuts close and bruises fade.

When the light died, Maya looked like she'd never been hurt at all.

But I felt like I'd run for miles. My legs were weak, my head spinning, I sank into the chair beside Maya's bed.

"Easy," Elena said, steadying me. "Healing takes as much energy as fighting, maybe more. You need to rest."

"I'm fine."

"You used your power a lot, you're not fine." Elena handed me water, "Drink then rest, that's not a suggestion."

I drank it and the dizziness slowly cleared. Across the clinic, Lila stirred, her eyes opened.

"Sera?" Her voice was small, confused.

I was at her side immediately. "I'm here, you're safe."

Lila's eyes was filled with tears. "I was so scared, Vivian, she..she kept saying she was going to kill me, that she'd make you watch."

"She's not going to hurt anyone ever again," I said, pulling Lila into a gentle hug. "I promise."

We stayed like that for a long time, just holding each other. Eventually, Lila fell asleep, real sleep this time, peaceful and healing.

I stayed with her until Elena insisted I leave.

"She's fine now, very much okay, thanks to you but you need rest too." Elena shooed me toward the door. "Go, I'll watch over them both."

I walked through the quiet compound. It was late, past midnight. Most wolves were asleep, though guards still patrolled the walls, everything looked peaceful, normal.

But nothing was normal anymore.

I found myself walking toward Kade's office. Light showed from under the door, of course he was still awake.

I knocked softly.

"Come in."

He was at his desk, papers spread before him. He looked tired, the eye bags under his eyes were deeper than usual but when he saw me, his expression softened.

"How's Lila?"

"Healed," I said. "I healed her and Maya too."

His eyebrows rose, "Can you heal now?"

"Apparently Silver Bloods could do more than just destroy things." I moved into the room, suddenly nervous. "Elena said it's another ability awakening."

"Are you okay? Healing might consume.."

"I'm fine." I stopped in front of his desk, "Kade, I need to say something."

He stood, coming around the desk to face me. "What is it?"

"Thank you.." The words came out shakier than I intended. "For helping me save Lila, for not trying to stop me from going after her, even though it was dangerous, for trusting me to handle it."

"Sera.."

"And I'm sorry," I continued. "For raising my voice at you, for being stubborn, for…" My voice broke. "I was terrified, the thought of losing her, of something happening to her because of me..I wasn't thinking clearly."

"You don't need to apologize," Kade said quietly. "I would have done the same thing, hell, I have done worse for people I care about."

"Still you helped me when you didn't have to. You could have told me it was too dangerous, that we should wait, that.."

"Sera," He moved closer, close enough that I had to tilt my head to look up at him. "You're my.." He stopped, something flickering in his eyes. "You matter, your sister matters, of course I was going to help."

The air between us changed, filled with tension. I was suddenly aware of how close he was standing, how his eyes had dropped to my lips before returning to meet my gaze.

"Kade," I whispered.

"You scared me today," he said, his voice rough. "Watching you walk into that warehouse, knowing Vivian could have.." He stopped, jaw clenching. "I've lost people before, I can't.."

He didn't finish, didn't need to.

I moved closer, closing the small distance between us. "I'm here, I'm okay."

His hand came up, hesitating just before touching my face, like he was afraid, like this was a line he wasn't sure he should cross.

"Sera," he said again, my name almost a warning, but I was done being careful, done pretending I didn't feel this, done holding back.

I closed the little gap between us.

He held his breath. I saw his control waver, saw the war in his eyes between holding back and pulling me closer.

His hand cupped my face, thumb brushing my cheek. The touch sent excitement through me.

"Tell me to stop," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "Tell me this is a bad idea."

"I don't know."

His expression changed, his other hand slid to my waist, pulling me against him. We were pressed together now, no space between us, both breathing hard.

His eyes searched mine one last time, giving me a chance to pull away.

I didn't.

His thumb traced my bottom lip, and I felt him tremble.

Then he was leaning down, his forehead touching mine and I was rising on my toes, the space between us was disappearing and…