SHADOW
“What is it, Dr. Sallie?” Califf was the first one to ask.
“I’d never seen anything like this before.” Dr. Sallie got up from her chair, working on the microscope.
“What do you mean?” I was still confused, but judging by the look on her face, there was more bad news to come.
“See it for yourself.”
I went first and looked through the lens. “What am I seeing here?”
“I saw a different blood cell in Calder’s blood.”
“Well, he’s half-human,” Califf replied, “but that’s not what you meant, is it?”
“Yes. I also found another substance in his blood.”
“I passed my biology subject, but there are lighter and darker blood cells in here,” I told them, even if I didn’t fully understand what was happening. I stood up and motioned to Califf, but he waved his hand.
“What else in there, Dr. Sallie? Make us understand in a very simple explanation.”
“Okay.” Dr. Sallie breathed before she spoke again. “Since we have another chain and genes in our DNA that carries another genetic factor that made us shift from human to wolf without killing us. Our human and werewolf blood blended and combined without an adverse effect. That’s the simplest scientific or medical explanation.”
“That one, I understand. Then what’s wrong with Calder’s blood?”
“In his case, the first two-”
I raised my hand. “Wait. There’s another one than a substance?”
Califf stole a glance at me, grunting for interrupting the doctor’s explanation.
“I’m sorry. Please, continue, Dr. Sallie?”
“Look, I was curious about you, so I took a sample of your blood while you were healing and checked it for myself. Forgive me, I should have asked.”
“It’s okay. You just saved us time from finding out what’s wrong with him.”
“Then that blood.” She pointed at the slide under the microscope. “There’s a Lycan blood.”
“Wait.” This time, Califf was the one who interrupted the doctor. “You mean to say he’s Lycan and werewolf? But I have his DNA, and my man from the lab didn’t mention such a thing.”
“Because it’s not supposed to be there. And he’s not a Lycan.”
“Someone did it,” I suspected.
“Either he did it, or someone who knows about your existence did it with Calder’s permission or involuntarily, but someone is experimenting on him,” she affirmed.
“Who would do such a thing?” Califf’s jaw ticked, eyes narrowing. He crossed his arms over his chest, vibrating in anger.
“I wish I could tell you more, Alpha. And then there’s a small trace of Wolfsbane in his system.”
“That’s what’s killing him?”
“No. Maybe it hurts and weakens his wolf, but it won’t kill him instantly. He could be long dead if it were the cause of a Wolfsbane.”
“What do you mean kill him?”
“The Lycan blood isn’t his match. It’s like having a Blood transfusion reaction in the worst possible way. It’s attacking his blood cells, and I have a feeling it will kill him sooner. Instead of transforming him into Lycan, making him strong.” She gestured at me. “Unlike her, it’s destroying his wolf.”
“What should we do?”
“I don’t know, Shadow. This case is beyond my scope of practice. I’m an ER doctor, and this is not something like broken bones or punctured liver that I know how to treat it. What he has is a blood disease that I’d never seen before. Given that he’s taking Wolfsbane essence, his wolf doesn’t heal. I’m sorry if I can’t help. This is a Hematology case, maybe oncology or geneticist. He needs to be seen by a specialist before it’s too late because it’s rapidly spreading at an exponential rate.”
Califf’s silence unnerved me. It spoke volumes. He didn’t say a word but rubbed his chin.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” His voice was stern.
“Talk to my father. Maybe he can enlighten me about this.”
“You can’t do it here?”
“I’ll be right back in a minute.”
I dialed my father as soon as I got out of the infirmary. “We need to talk.”
“Well, hello, child. How’s the party?”
“I need your second opinion, but it’s urgent. I’m here in the compound.”
“What is it all about?”
“Father, please? Just come over. I know your witch can portal you right now.”
“How can I say no to you, daughter?” He hadn’t hung up. The portal appeared before me, and he just stepped out without thinking that people in this compound might see it.
The portal disappeared, and I was still glaring at him.
“Now I’m here. What’s this all about?”
“Can you be a little more discreet next time? You’re showing them something hard to understand.”
“I like to make a hell of an entrance.” He swiftly looked down at his wristwatch before he focused on me dryly. “Now, speak, daughter.”
“Going somewhere?” I glared further because I had a feeling he knew something about what was going on with Calder.
“I have meetings to attend, but I give you five minutes. Unlike you, I have businesses to run, important people to meet, and Lycan Council to grace my presence.”
“I don’t know there’s such a thing as Lycan Council.”
“We’re not barbaric, Shadow. We have laws and rules to follow. Your mate has Werewolf Council. We have, too, but it’s a group of Lycan alphas that makes me the leader, which is more sophisticated and has a bigger scope. We have bodies of assembly that make and revise laws. Once you’re crowned, you will meet them all.”
“That can wait. I have more pressing matters at hand. That’s why I call you.”
“Yet you haven’t spilled it to me. You said you want my second opinion?”
“Not exactly. Do you know any Lycan that conducts experiments on werewolves or half-bloods?”
He tipped his head. “Why do I feel that you’re accusing me, daughter?”
“Are you guilty, father?”
“You’re accusing a Lycan King. Your own father. That’s pretty low, child.” He hissed at me, rage filling his eyes.
“Then why are you mad?”
“I’m the Lycan King, Shadow. You’re maybe my daughter, but you don’t have the right to know my business, and if I do, why would I tell you if you do not even formally have a royal title?”
“Just answer me, then you can go wherever the hell you want.” I felt hurt. I didn’t know I cared for him this much.
He let out a sigh. “No. We don’t do experiments. I know why you’re accusing me of something vile because I want to have more enforcers, and I want to have grandchildren, but I won’t go that far. If any Lycan did such horrible things, such as experimenting on humans or werewolves, I will make sure they will pay for that crime.”
I nodded. It wasn’t because the words came directly from the King but because I believed him. “Thanks.”
“With whom they experimented on?”
“Califf’s brother.”
“Calder.”
“You know him? You’ve met him?”
“You mentioned him to me. But of course, you’re my daughter. I should know the people you talk to, your acquaintances, everyone around you, and the relatives of your beloved.” He motioned his hand. “Lead the way.”
“Don’t you have places to be, people to meet? I thought you had business and Conclave waiting for the majesty’s arrival.” I scoffed as I walked with him towards the infirmary.”
“That can wait.”
Califf met us in the hallway. “Your Majesty.”
“I’m your father-in-law, Califf, and this is not a formal meeting. What can you tell me about Calder?”
“He has a Lycan blood in him.”
“Did you ask him if he did it, or how did he get access to a Lycan blood?”
“He’s still unconscious. We tranquilized him earlier.”
“Then give him something to wake up. Narcan. I want to hear it from him, and I will know if he’s lying.”
“Just go easy on him, okay?”
My father just smiled at me. “You’re nice to his brother but terrible with me. I assumed you two made up.”
“Shut up.” I rolled my eyes at him.
“Okay, darling. I wanna see him first.”
“We’re going there now,” Califf said.
Zack acknowledged my father’s presence before opening the solitary door. Everlee stood up the moment she recognized my father and bowed her head.
“At ease, Beta.” He looked at Calder, still sleeping. “He’s your mate.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Tell me what exactly happened.”
“I said something that made him mad. His eyes were red, and it was terrifying. I know he would come here, so-”
“Because of your past with Califf?” How in the hell did he know that?
Califf and I shared a look.
“Yes, My Lord. Then we went out this morning to find him. He almost bit Alpha Califf.”
“He shifted.”
“Yes. But something was wrong with his wolf. He’s sick,” I told Sebastien.
“I see. Smells rotten, fur falling off, drolling?”
“Yes,” With wide eyes, Califf answered, shocked that my father knew.
“Then I’m afraid he won’t be able to shift back to Calder after the full moon.”
“What do you mean?” Califf asked instantly.
“Call Zarah,” he specifically told me.
“Why?”
“Because medical and science can’t help him, daughter. This is mystical. Yes, he’s poisoned, maybe experimented on, but given that he didn’t embrace his wolf side for a long time, let’s say he’s cursed, and his wolf is paying the price.”
“What about the Lycan blood in his system, father?”
“He’s not bitten, so I don’t know how it is in his system.”
Everlee stared at me. “How does he have Lycan blood? I thought he only took Wolfsbane essence.”
“That, too, poisoning his wolf. It’s not just putting his wolf in a coma. Whoever helped him do this, it’s not entirely the main agenda.” He went closer to Calder and held his hand. Then he closed his eyes as if to concentrate. It didn’t last ten seconds. He let it go.
“Did you feel his wolf?”
My father looked at me. “He’s dying. One more uncontrolled shift, I’m afraid, he will be forever in his wolf form.”
“No.” Everlee broke out crying, shaking her head. “He can’t die. Please help him. I will do everything to make him okay,” she begged my father, which I never saw coming.
“I’m afraid I can’t do anything right now.”
When my eyes misted, I shifted my gaze at Califf, who looked devastated.
“No, Shadow. You can’t.” He softly shook his head. “He’s maybe my brother, but you can’t risk and break the natural law again.”
“I know.” I typed a short text to Zarah.
Just a few minutes later, Zarah walked in. “What the hell is going on? And you, little missy, missed your training.”
“Well. Hello, witch.”