Semua Bab He Called Me Weak, Now I Hold His Fate: Bab 81 - Bab 90

Nadia’s pov Varic’s breathing was shallow again and I counted each rise and fall of his chest, clinging to the rhythm and hoping he would get better. I had invited many healers and they came in shiftsone leaving, another entering murmuring about herbs, modern and ancient remedies, their faces tight with uncertainty. I had not left his side for more than a handful of minutes in two days. Every time I did, a gripping fear lodged deeper in my chest. The fortress was quieter than usual, but it wasn’t the calm of peace it was the stillness of anticipation, the kind that comes before a storm. The whispers reached me even here through the doctors. It was claimed that Varic's illness would cause a power shift and then even some believed that Varic’s time was ending, those who thought the best way to “secure the bloodline” was to put Helen in his bed and let her carry his offspring. Disgust churned in my stomach. Not just for her, but for the vultures that sent her.By nightfall, I had

Nadia’s pov I had moved my office to the room right beside Varic’s. Close enough that if anything happened, I could be there in seconds. The doctors kept saying rest was the only thing that would get him back on his feet cause they had exhausted every possible medical alternative that they could give and we could only hope that he would respond to treatments and get better. The papers on my desk were stacked high, smelling faintly of ink and old dust. My PA stood at my side, flipping through the ledgers while I went line by line through the monthly reports. The columns of numbers bled together after hours of staring until I saw it.I frowned. “Iron Blood Pack hasn’t paid their taxes for two months.”My PA hesitated, shifting on his feet. “I’m sure it’s just a clerical delay ”“No.” I tapped the paper hard enough to make the ink smear. “This isn’t a mistake. This is deliberate.”He didn’t meet my gaze. “There are… rumors. That they’re testing the Alpha’s control. Some think ”“That

Nadia’s povThe conference room smelled faintly of polished wood and paper, the air thick with the sort of tension that pretends to be civility. I took my seat at the head of the long table, folding my hands in front of me. My gaze swept over the council, some faces stiff with calculation, others merely curious. I addressed a few small pack concerns first, matters I’d resolved earlier this week, before leaning back slightly.“Well,” I said evenly, “you requested an audience. Let’s hear it.”Councilor Doran, his greying hair slicked back like he thought it made him more authoritative, leaned forward, his eyes fixed on me. “We were wondering… how exactly you plan to handle the Iron Blood Pack negotiations. This was a delicate matter, wouldn’t you say? It’s something that we have to handle with care and right now Varic is bedridden and we're standing in a bad position. ”A faint smile tugged at my lips understanding what there were implying. “I’ll handle it,” I said simply. “You don’t

Nadia's pov My desk was filled with parchment, seals, paper and ink stains. My hand ached from signing decrees, and my eyes blurred from reading line after tedious line of reports before signing them. These were documents that had stacked up for a while now and Varic didn't have time to look through them and they doubled after he fell sick. I looked through the financial reports as well as the reports of the running of the pack to make sure everything was handled properly and after long nights. At last, I slumped back into my chair, releasing a long, weary sigh as I stared up into the ceiling. The pack was behind in a lot of paperwork and a lot of things needed to be signed and approved. Although my PA helped greatly in reducing the workload. “Elara,” I muttered, dragging my hand across my forehead and then tying my hair with a ribbon. “Bring me my coffee before I collapse. And tell my uncle I won’t be attending another meeting today. I’m sick of them every hour wasted listening

Caleen's pov She stood rooted before the mirror, watching her own reflection. Her eyes were distant and unfocused like they were lost somewhere far, just standing there and staring blankly into space. “Helen,” I called softly, but my voice slid off her like water on stone. She did not even move and stood there lost. She definitely didn't hear me call out to her. I clicked my tongue and stepped closer, my footsteps deliberate against the stone floor. “Helen,” I repeated, increasing my tone this time, though still she did not answer.Reaching her, I lifted a hand and tapped her shoulder. She startled just as I expected and blinked rapidly, snapping back to the present as though waking from a dream. “It’s me,” I said smoothly, leaning down just enough to meet her eyes in the mirror. “Caelen.”Her lips parted, but no words came. She only nodded, hesitant, uncertain, like a child caught wandering where she should not.I allowed myself a small smile. She was a soft one and easily bent,