Chapter 43
TESSA’S POV
A wave of horror washed over me. A pup transforming on a full moon? It was unheard of. Yet, Heather’s terrified eyes held a desperate truth. She wasn’t lying, she had no reason to lie. Kneeling by her bed, I squeezed her hand. gently in assurance.
“Heather, listen to me,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “You won’t hurt anyone. We’ll be here with you. We understand now why you wanted to go home, but you’re safe here. We’ll figure this out together, alright? Just don’t take any drastic measures like trying to run again, alright?” I said softly.
Heather nodded and clung to my hand, her fear slowly giving way to a flicker of hope. I stayed with her for a while, talking in soothing tones to her, and distracting her with stories and games. Slowly, exhaustion claimed her, and she drifted off to sleep.
Relief washed over me but was Soon laced with a chilling worry. Returning to Gabe, I found him in the Elder’s ward slumped against the wall, eyes closed.
“Hey,” I said softly, nudging him awake. “We have a problem.”
Gabe’s c
eyes snapped open, alertness replacing the exhaustion in his weary eyes. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Heather, I explained, filling him in on what she told me. “She loses control on full moons. We can’t risk her. hurting anyone.”
Gabe’s brow furrowed. “A pup? That’s unheard of. It’s weird, maybe something is wrong with her? Her parents. should have said it sooner, what if she hadn’t told us and ended up hurting people?”
He was right but this wasn’t the time to lament on that.
“We need to find a way to contain her safely,” I stated firmly.
Together, we left the ward and scanned the med bay, searching for a suitable solution. Our eyes landed on the padded isolation room used for particularly unruly patients. That should do.
“It’s not perfect, Gabe muttered, “but it’s the strongest room we have.”
With careful hands, we transferred Heather to the isolation room. She whimpered softly, fear flickering in her eyes. as I carried her into the isolation room
“Tessa, I’m scared,” she whimpered, burying her face in my neck.
“I know, sweetie,” I soothed, dropping her on the soft ground and kneeling beside her. “But we’ll be right outside. We won’t let anything happen to you.” I assured, looking directly into her
eyes.
Heather burrowed into the thick padding lining the room, her whimpers fading into a restless sleep.
Exhaustion threatened to consume me, but the thought of Heather transforming alone fueled my determination. Turning to Cabe, I laid out a plan. I cared about her like she was my child and I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her.
“We need to monitor the Elders, but someone needs to stay with Heather. If she wakes up in a frenzy or wakes up in a bad state, we need to be able to subdue her safely.” I said to Gabe
Gabe nodded, understanding etched on his worried face. “I’ll stay. Get some rest, Tessa. You’ll need it.” He said waving me away
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Chapter 43
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With a heavy heart, I left Gabe at his post. Finding a corner in the med bay, I curled up, sleep struggling to evade me despite my exhaustion. The soft snores of the exhausted staff curled around in corners were the last sounds I registered before sleep claimed me.
The rays of dawn the next morning filtering through the window were my alarm. Stretching stiff muscles, I hurried to the isolation room. Relief flooded me when I saw Gabe slumped in a chair outside, his face drawn with fatigue. I peeped inside and was relieved to find Heather, curled up inside, fast asleep.
“Is she alright?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Gabe yawned, stretching his stiff muscles. “She seems fine. Slept like a log all night. No signs of any transformation. She was calm the whole night”
Confusion gnawed at me. I thought she said she did lose control of the full moon? Then why didn’t she? Was she lying? It felt unlikely that she was lying then what was the explanation for this?
“We need to talk to her when she wakes up,” I said, a determined glint in my eyes. “We need to understand what’s happening to her. Please inform me when she’s up
Returning to the ward dedicated to the Elders, I was greeted by a sight that both surprised me and filled me with hope. All three of the Elders, the same ones who had reacted most violently to the initial infection, were showing signs of improvement. Their fevers had subsided, and their breathing was shallow but steady.
“Tessa, they’re getting better!” Eva exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she entered the ward after me.
I rushed to their bedsides, examining each Elder carefully. My optimism grew with every stable heartbeat, every clear breath: However, several Elders remained unresponsive, their bodies still locked in a feverish battle.
The other medies, weary but hopeful, looked at me.
“Tessa, can we…?” a young medic named Leo started, his voice trailing off.
“What’s your name?” I asked if he was new and I couldn’t have asked him his name during the crisis of the previous day.
“Leo Leo Martins.. I just..” he began to say
“I know what you’re thinking, Leo I interrupted gently, “but the quarantine remains in effect. We were all in contact with the infected yesterday. We need to monitor you for any potential signs. Please understand, I’m sure you know that I don’t want to keep you here against my will”
Disappointment flickered across their faces, but they understood. They would have to get used to this place in the meantime. We found makeshift beds within the med bay and assigned them to each person as a temporary bed where they would stay for as long as the quarantine was in effect. However, I gave up my room to Gia, she was having a headache from stress and she deserved the room to relax.
Gabe and I, the only ones able to function on minimal sleep, remained vigilant. We monitored the Elder’s condition, checked on Heather, and shared stolen moments of worried whispers as we kept watch.
The day stretched on, punctuated by the rhythmic beeping of the machines, the occasional cough from a recovering Elder, and the quiet snores of the sleeping medics. Exhaustion gnawed at me, but adrenaline and worry kept me going. Every so often, I’d peck into the isolation room to check on Heather who was still fast asleep, her chest rising and falling peacefully and rhythmically. A sliver of hope grew within me- maybe the full moon wouldn’t affect Heather as badly as she feared. But I still couldn’t help but find the whole situation strange.
Hours later, Zed came to me, a worn–out look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked concerned.
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Chapter 43
He bit his lip. “I know we aren’t supposed to leave but we haven’t eaten since morning and we’re really weak, we don’t want to eat from the food for the patients so I thought I’d come to you instead” He muttered.
Rubbing my face with my palms desperately, I frowned. How could I forget? We hadn’t eaten anything since morning but as he mentioned it, it was then I noticed a gnawing feeling of hunger in my stomach.
“Hold on, I’ll go look in the kitchen, I said standing up,
He quickly mumbled a thanks and went back.
I found myself drawn to the kitchen. Hunger gnawed at my stomach, and the silence in the med bay was starting to get oppressive and frustrating. The hallways outside were cerily quiet, a stark contrast to the usual bustle of the pack. The quarantine had effectively shut everything down, creating a ghost town atmosphere. Not even a single sentinel was in sight.
Reaching the kitchen, she found it deserted. Of course, even if the chefs were in quarantine, no one would be here meaning there would be no food. Cursing under my breath, I picked a bowl of fruits and as I turned to head back, her stomach growled in protest.
Walking through the hallways again brought the feeling as though someone was watching me, I quickened my steps when Suddenly, a strong hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my soft gasp.
Tessa, don’t move and don’t shout, a familiar voice whispered in my ear.
Tensing up, I panicked and instinctively extended my claws, only to find a hand firmly restraining mine. Relaxing slightly, I recognized the scent of sandalwood, lavender, and pine – Adrian.
“Adrian? What are you doing here?” I hissed, my voice muffled by his hand clasped over my mouth. “You should be quarantined with the others!”
Ignoring my question, Adrian pulled me into a tight hug. Relief and a surge of unexpected warmth washed over me. Exhaustion and worry had taken their toll, and the sudden comfort of his embrace was a welcome surprise. I found myself snuggling deeper into his chest.
Just hold still for a moment, Please he murmured against my hair while stroking my back sofily, each trace of his finger made me shiver slightly.
Confused but strangely comforted, I allowed him to hold me. The silence stretched, broken only by the soft hum of the emergency lights overhead. Finally, Adrian released me, his face etched with concern as he gripped my shoulders
“I know about the Elders,” he started, his voice low. “I couldn’t just sit there while you dealt with everything alone. What’s happening now?”
I sighed and explained everything to him while he listened attentively.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help” He finally said.
I stared at him, unsure of what to say Adrian had always been an enigma to me, a quiet observer who rarely ventured outside his role as Alpha. But seeing him here, concern etched on his face, filled with with a strange and newfound respect for him.
“Thank you,” I said finally, her voice hoarse. “But you still shouldn’t be here. It’s dangerous.” I said curtseying.
Adrian shook his head vehemently. “I can’t stay cooped up while my pack is suffering. Besides,” he added, a determined glint in his now bright eyes, “I might be able to help.”
I raised an eyebrow, skepticism in my tone. “Help with what?” I asked tilting my head at him.
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Adrian hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took my hand. Without waiting for me to protest, he led me down a deserted hallway in the building, he stopped in front of a bookshelf in an empty waiting room.
“These aren’t just books,” he said, running his fingers over the aged spines of the books. “There are hidden compartments throughout the pack house, filled with historical records, emergency plans, and even some… unusual remedies.”
He pulled a lever disguised as a bookend, causing a section of the bookshelf to swing inwards, revealing a dusty chamber. I gasped as a faint, herbal scent wafted out and entered my nose. Inside were rows of jars holding strange concoctions and vials filled with shimmering liquids. I had never been here before, I didn’t even know that the pack had things like this
“These are from the founding days, Adrian explained, stepping into the chamber. “When our pack was younger, less.. well–known. They had to rely on different methods to deal with threats, both internal and external. You’re the first person that’s seen this, It’s been just the Alphas who are aware of this and I’m showing you because you might find something that interests you and will help you” he said looking at me with a small smile.
I followed him in, my curiosity piqued to a high level. The chamber was surprisingly large, containing various other items besides the potions. There were ancient scrolls rolled up in leather cases, strange talismans hanging
the walls, and even a few archaic weapons that I couldn’t identify.
“Can I.” I paused looking at Adrian.
He shrugged.
“Floor’s all yours, Medic Tessa. Help yourself” He said now smiling brightly.
Thank you! This should be fun.
