Ruby
I hurriedly returned to the werewolf academy, feeling the pressure of time as the watch on my wrist relentlessly ticked away, counting down the precious hours I had. Let’s just say it wasn’t much.
I hated the fact that Nelly had given me this match because, on my part, it was mocking, but at the end, the ticking clock served as a constant reminder of the limited hours I had left, and they were running out too fast for my liking.
Shit.
The moment I stepped into the academy, I could feel doubtful eyes on me, and whispers of uncertainty surrounded me from the staff, professionals, and even the students.
Disgusted looks greeted me at every turn, but I had to ignore the negativity and make my way to the sick bay. The atmosphere inside was no better, with increased noises and the medical staff sharing collective disbelief at the seemingly impossible task ahead of me-proving my ability to cure the children.
I knew it was impossible, but it never hurt to try.
“I thought the rumours were right and that she had run away out of shame, but truly, this omega is what they said she is-truly shameless and desperate to increase her social ladder. Curing those children? Is she serious?” A stout nurse remarked, exchanging glances with a silver-haired man, presumably the doctor, given his white coat.
What happened to Williams?
Their conversation unfolded as if they were oblivious to my presence, yet their occasional glances in my direction spoke volumes about their intentions-that they weren’t bothered by the fact that I could hear them clearly. They wanted me to.
“I’ve witnessed many things, but this is beyond belief. I’ve dedicated my life to studying medicine, and I couldn’t discover a cure. Yet, this audacious individual insists on insulting me by proclaiming to be a magician, wasting everyone’s valuable time. She’s delusional,” the silver-haired doctor remarked, fixing me with a stern glare.
“She’s just an omega with an empty head who knows nothing and would end up disgracing herself and that of her generation, so don’t feel threatened by her stupidity.” Another nurse with red hair whispered as I took a seat at an empty desk, trying to focus on the task ahead.
Now I knew why these children remained sick-because they wasted all their precious time gossiping instead of finding solutions. I wouldn’t need to be doing this if they had done their job properly.
The silver-haired doctor, still casting disapproving looks, approached me. “You really believe you can cure these children? Your confidence is admirable, but I hope you understand the consequences of false hope.” I met his gaze with determination but said nothing, and after a while, he walked back to meet the other nurses.
The judgmental glances and hushed conversations created a tense atmosphere, making me feel like an outsider on my own mission.
Clutching my grandmother’s healing book tightly, I sought solace and guidance in its weathered pages and shut down all the negative energy around me.
The hushed murmurs around me became a distant hum as I focused, seeking inspiration, and with time, their voices seemed to disappear and everywhere became quiet.
As I delved into the pages of the book, the doubts that once lingered in the room filled my mind, challenging me to prove them wrong.
Hours passed, and as I neared the end of the book, the elusive answer remained beyond my grasp. Frustration and doubt began creeping in, a heavy weight on my shoulders as the ticking of the watch echoed the passing time, a constant reminder of the dwindling time.
Knowing I had less than two hours left increased my anxiety level from lack of solutions, and despite the efforts I had spent in hours of reading, inspiration eluded me, leaving me on the verge of despair.
At this point, I was desperate-desperate for help-as I couldn’t be a disgrace to my generation. I would be a laughing stock at the werewolf academy, and this would also affect the chances of my little boy having a normal education here even though no one knew I was his mother.
If they found out that I was his nanny after this ridiculous failed challenge of mine, they might make his life hell and unbearable just to piss me off.
I could never allow that; over my dead body.
Amidst my frustration, a flicker of inspiration illuminated my mind. I recalled the advice my grandmother gave me during my struggles with Luna’s exams in the past. She suggested that I close my eyes while reading and feel the words through my palm. Though I knew the chances of success were slim, I decided to give it a try.
I closed my eyes and, in the depths of my thoughts, silently called out to my grandmother.
“Help me, Nanny. I need your guidance more than ever.” My plea echoed through the bond we shared, a desperate prayer for a miracle to illuminate the path ahead, which was impossible considering the distance between us.
“Nana, I need your help now,” I pleaded, my eyes welling up with tears.
“I won’t let those children suffer. There must be a solution here.” I asserted, opening my eyes wide as I delved into the ancient book, desperately seeking an answer.
“Come on, Nana, guide me. Just this once,” I muttered, my brow furrowed in determination, fingers tracing the pages with a mix of hope and desperation as I sought for a way to help the suffering children.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the room, flipping the pages of the ancient book until it settled on an empty page that I had never seen before. As if nature itself conspired to assist, sunlight poured in through the window, illuminating the blank space. To my astonishment, words began to form on the once-empty page, unveiling a solution that left me gasping in shock.
“An Alpha and Luna’s blood is a powerful key to curing strange diseases.” It said.
This revelation hung in the air like a secret waiting to be unravelled.
“Alpha and Luna’s blood… a powerful key?” I repeated out in shock and disbelief as I held the book with shaky hands. Unexpectedly, the book slipped from my hands, falling to the ground with a soft thud. The rustle of pages seemed to echo through the silence of the room.
The weight of the revelation settled heavily within me as I pondered the words on the page and slowly bent to pick up the book.
Confusion clouded my thoughts as I grappled with the realisation that I needed an alpha and Luna’s blood. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on me-to save the children, I had to seek help from those who didn’t trust or like me.
Damian, who was an alpha, was out of the question because the last conversation I had didn’t sit well with me and I was yet to have an answer for his unexpected questions, and Lilith, my least favourite person, wouldn’t willingly offer her blood just to help dying children for my sake. It seemed the path to the cure was impossible, just like the disease itself was paving the way for unforeseen challenges.
What about me?
I was once a Luna, but now I am an Omega.
Before I could fully process the newfound knowledge, the door creaked open, and Liam, my ex-mate, stood by the door. Our eyes met for a moment-longer than I would have wanted-reminding me of the unfortunate events of our past that lay heavy in the air, creating an unexpected tension between us.
Why was he here? I had no time for his games.
Liam walked into the room, his eyes still locked with mine, sending a wave of unwanted emotions through me as I stared at his steel grey eyes. In the moment of my distraction from being lost in his eyes, the book slipped from my hands again, and the pages rustled as it hit the floor, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Oh right. Liam was alpha, and as he stepped close to me, his alpha presence was evident, surprisingly, despite the fact that a part of me had thought he had lost it due to Lilith holding his guts and his balls, and I couldn’t help but entertain the thought of seeking his help.
As an alpha, he possessed the blood that the ancient text referred to. However, the uncertainty lingered: would he be willing to assist his ex-mate, who was now an omega, especially after our tumultuous history? What would people here say? Would he care about what they said just to help me?
My mind wavered between the urgency of the situation and the complex dynamics between us. The clock was ticking, and I needed to make a decision that could potentially change the course of the children’s lives.
Liam’s eyes widened in surprise as he took in the sight of me with the open book, surrounded by the watchful eyes of the academy staff, who sat at a far corner.
The gravity of the situation seemed to dawn on him, and a flicker of concern crossed his features.
“Ruby, what are you doing here?” He inquired, a note of genuine curiosity in his voice. I paused, considering how much I should reveal, but the urgency of the situation pushed me to be straightforward.
“I’ve found something in my grandmother’s book that might cure the children,” I confessed, my eyes meeting his with a mixture of determination and uncertainty. He furrowed his brow, processing the information.
“Cure? How? What are you talking about?” he asked, and I gestured to the pages before me. “It mentions the need for Alpha and Luna’s blood.” Liam’s expression shifted from surprise to understanding.
“Are you doing this because you need a job here?” he questioned with amusement.
“Yes and no.” I said, running my hands through my hair in frustration.
“Don’t worry about that. I’m the owner of this academy, and I can arrange for whatever you need.” He gave me a charming smile, which made him appear a bit younger.
For a moment, the weight on my shoulders seemed to lift slightly, and a sense of gratitude flashed in my eyes. Despite our complicated history, Liam’s willingness to help me right now brought a surprising comfort.
“There’s no need for that. I think I have found the cure.” I said.
As I made my declaration, his gaze shifted to the open page, a realisation slowly dawning on both of us.
“You mean the alpha and Luna’s blood? There’s no way that’s possible because these children have been sick for a long time,” he questioned, and I nodded my head.
“It will. I believe in this book, and that’s the key,” I asserted.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am confident.”
Silent emotions passed between us-astonishment, confusion, and a shared sense of responsibility for the children’s well-being.
“So, how can I be of help?” He inquired.
“I need your blood, Liam. If you help me just this once, I might forgive you for what you did to me, but not for killing Andrew. That, I can never forgive, not even when I die.”