Ruby
“I’ve got the flower right here,” he replied, pointing at a bag tied around his waist. I gazed at him suspiciously, my brows furrowing as I wondered how he managed to retrieve the flower so quickly. It seemed too convenient, especially considering the fact that Damian had risked his life just to obtain it.
“And why are you with it?” I pressed, my tone edged with skepticism. James’s response would determine whether I could trust him or not.
“It’s not what you think,” he said, noticing my doubtful expression. I remained silent, waiting for him to explain himself further.
“The truth is, Damian went to the forest of darkness to get the Flower of Life, not just to bring back his dead mate but also to save his sister.”
“His sister?” I echoed, surprise evident in my voice as I processed James’s revelation.
“Yes, he has a sister, and he would tell you about her himself when he wakes up-if he wakes up,” James muttered, his tone tinged with concern, and I could see the fear flickering in his eyes.
I couldn’t help but feel shocked by Damian’s selflessness in risking his life to save his sister. It painted a picture of him that I hadn’t fully comprehended before-a devoted brother willing to go to extreme lengths for family.
However, it was evident that the journey had taken its toll on him. The question lingered in my mind: why would he jeopardise his own safety so recklessly? It was a noble act, no doubt, but it also left me questioning his priorities-did he value others’ lives more than his own?
Moreover, the fact that he didn’t inform me of his plans added another layer of complexity to the situation. It made me wonder if he truly cared about me or if he saw me as merely a pawn in his game.
He may be a good alpha and brother, but his actions, which spoke volumes, make it clear that he was certainly not a good mate-at least not to me.
“Fine, but time is running out, and his life hangs in the balance. Where is the fucking doctor? How long does it take him to get here? We need to do something and help him, and we need to do it now,” I exclaimed, frustration lacing my words as I looked around the room anxiously.
James nodded, running his hands through his hair in frustration as he glanced back at Damian’s unconscious form. “Yes, let me go get the doctor myself and find out why he is taking his time,” he responded, his voice tinged with urgency.
“And I would use that opportunity to send a flower to Selene, who is in urgent need of it, but while I am gone, my alpha would be in your care, and I hope to make it back on time.” With that, he hurried out of the door without waiting for my reply, leaving me alone with Damian.
As I watched him leave, suspicion gnawed at me. His priorities seemed misplaced-shouldn’t his alpha be his first concern? And what if Damian doesn’t make it? Wouldn’t he use the flower of life to bring him back? Why send it to his sister when Damian’s life hangs in the balance?
But what struck me as odd was his trust in me to watch over Damian, especially after revealing such sensitive information. Did he not realise the extent of my jealousy as Damian’s second chance mate and my determination to protect what was mine?
I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of anger at the thought of him bringing back his dead mate while having me by his side. The desire for revenge bubbled up within me to ensure this was Damian’s final moment and make sure his promises didn’t come to pass, but I quickly pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.
Turning my attention to Damian’s sleeping form, I couldn’t help but notice how peaceful he looked. For some reason, he was more handsome in his sleep.
A pang of guilt washed over me as I entertained the fleeting thought of ensuring he never woke up. I shook my head, banishing the dark notion from my mind.
I dashed back to the door, desperately searching for the doctor. Panic gnawed at my insides with each passing second, knowing Damian’s condition was rapidly deteriorating. But the doctor was nowhere to be found, and Damian’s condition continued to worsen-he was sweating profusely, and his temperature was steadily rising. Time was running out, and I was at a loss for what to do.
My wolf howled in pain for us to save him, and at that moment, I knew I had to do something and try to save him myself, so in desperation, I raced to my new room to retrieve my grandmother’s old book of healing remedies, which I had hidden among my clothes.
I returned to the room where Damian slept peacefully, and with trembling hands, I flipped through the pages, searching for any spell or incantation that could save his life.
After a few moments, I came across a page that seemed relevant to Damian’s condition. Though I’d never tried anything like this before, as this case was so different from that of the children I had saved before, I knew it was worth a shot.
Taking a deep breath to steady my shaking hands, I began to recite the ancient words from the page, my voice trembling with both fear and determination.
With each word, I could feel the energy in the room shift, as if the very air around us was charged with magic. Sweat dripped down my forehead as I focused all of my concentration on the task at hand.
I felt blood dripping from my nose, a sign of the toll the spell was taking on me. Despite the drain on my energy, I persisted, and as I uttered the last word of the incantation, a soft glow enveloped Damian’s body, illuminating the room with a warm, golden light. I held my breath, praying to the moon goddess, who would listen, and hoping for the spell’s success. And miraculously, it did.
Slowly, but surely, Damian’s breathing began to steady, and colour returned to his cheeks. The energy in the room evaporated as relief washed over me, tears of gratitude streaming down my face. I had done it.
Against all odds, I had managed to save Damian’s life. And as I looked down at his peaceful face, I knew that I would do whatever it took to protect him, just like I would do for my son.
But unlike my son, whom I would protect no matter the cost, I wouldn’t be foolish and make the same mistake Damian had made in risking everything for his dead mate. Instead, I would ensure he owed me his life.
I wiped the blood from my nose as I watched him sleep, a plan forming in my mind. I needed a way to ensure Damian owed me a debt-a debt he couldn’t escape, and in this case, it would be his life.
My thoughts raced until I settled on a blood oath. Immediately, I made my way to Damian’s office before his beta or any doctor could arrive and ruin my plan. The door was locked, but that didn’t deter me. I broke it down and entered, quickly searching through his desk until I found a blank piece of paper.
Returning to Damian’s bedside, I retrieved a needle and pricked his thumb, ensuring a drop of blood stained the paper. Carefully, I pressed Damian’s thumb onto the paper, leaving behind a bloody imprint.
The act was simple yet binding-a blood oath. In ancient times, it settled disputes among alphas who dared to break their word, often resulting in their deaths. However, it was banned when misused by those who were not true mates, leading to their demise when they betrayed their ex-lovers who they made an oath with for their real mates.
Now that I had saved Damian, he owed me his life. He wouldn’t be free to make drastic and careless decisions or act without considering my wishes. On top of that, I had the power to compel him to do as I desired.
I walked to my room, and after securing the paper among my clothes along with my grandmother’s book, I returned to Damian’s room. When exhaustion finally caught up with me, I sank down beside Damian’s bed, the events of the day weighing heavily on my mind. Despite my best efforts to stay awake, the weariness was too much to bear, and soon, sleep claimed me.