Chapter 6
558words
Liana had just stabilized when my mother's chronic condition suddenly flared up.
A storm raged outside that night, the humidity aggravating the old silver burns in her lungs.
Her breathing became ragged and shallow.
Her face turned a terrifying shade of purple.
She grabbed my hand, gasping for air, her nails digging into my flesh.
"Son... save me... I can't breathe..."
In the other room, Liana clutched her chest, leaning weakly against the headboard and weeping.
"Kaelen, I feel terrible too. Did the shock make the wolfsbane poison spread?"
Two women down at the same time.
I was pacing like a trapped wolf.
My father was furious, ordering the warriors to drag every healer in the pack to the main house.
Just as my mother was about to go into shock and was being wheeled into the emergency room, I ran into an elderly man in a long robe in the hallway.
It was the legendary Master Herbalist, known across the entire continent.
I didn't care about my Alpha dignity.
I dropped to my knees and hugged his legs.
"Master! Please save my mother!"
"She is the former Luna. Her old injury has relapsed. Liana asked you for medicine before, do you remember?"
The Master stopped.
His cold gaze swept over my face before he frowned.
"Are you... Elara's mate?"
I froze for a second, then a surge of hope rushed through me.
"Yes! I am Elara's Alpha! Since you know her, please save my mother for her sake!"
The Master scoffed, his tone dripping with undisguised mockery.
"Know her? Elara contacted me half a month ago. She begged me to visit the former Luna when I passed through Silvermoon territory."
"I only declined invitations from other packs because I was moved by that girl's devotion."
"But I recall she messaged me two days ago, saying the patient here no longer needed me. What is going on?"
Hearing his words, I felt like I had been struck by lightning.
I knelt there, stiff and cold.
"You say Elara contacted you? That's impossible... Liana said she was the one begging for the medicine!"
The Master was clearly offended by my doubt.
He shook his sleeves in annoyance.
"Are you implying I would lie at my age?"
"That girl organized your mother's medical history more thoroughly than any professional healer."
"Since you are so ungrateful and treat her kindness like dirt, I have no reason to meddle."
Without another glance, the Master and his assistant strode away.
I collapsed onto the cold floor.
Regret gnawed at my heart like a venomous snake.
Elara hadn't lied.
She had been silently sacrificing for this family, even when we misunderstood and humiliated her.
I went mad trying to chase the Master, but my father rushed over and slapped me across the face.
"You useless pup! You're going to kill your mother!"
"I told you Elara was the Head Healer for a reason! She was always better than that Liana, but you wouldn't listen!"
"Now look! If your mother dies, you are the murderer!"
My father's roar mixed with the shrill crying of Liana's son.
The scene was chaotic.
My hands shook as I pulled out my phone, trying to call Elara for help.
Only she could contact the Master now.
But the receiver only gave me that endless, cold busy tone.
