Chapter 150: A Wolf’s Recovery
Chapter 150: A Wolf’s Recovery
(Celeste’s POV)
Consciousness crept back slowly, like a stubborn shadow lifting after a long night. My body
felt heavy, each limb weighed down as if silver chains had wrapped tightly around me. The
low, relentless throbbing in my veins reminded me of the wolfsbane’s lingering effects.
Before I even opened my eyes, I felt Nina’s presence near me. Her wolf’s energy crackled with worry, her fidgeting impossible to miss.
“How long?” My voice scraped out, hoarse and faint.
Nina was instantly at my side, her silver–gray eyes filled with relief. “Almost twelve hours,
Mistress,” she said. Her wolf whimpered softly. “You were shaking and sweating. It wouldn’t
stop.”
Her voice wavered, and she clenched her hands in front of her, clearly trying to control her emotions. “I was so scared you’d…” She stopped herself, inhaling deeply to regain composure.
The guilt hit me before I even opened my eyes fully. She had stayed by my side through the night, her worry etched plainly across her face. Slowly, I forced myself to sit up, even though my muscles screamed in protest.
Nina immediately moved to adjust the pillows behind me, her hands gentle but firm. “Easy, Mistress,” she murmured, carefully guiding me. “Don’t push yourself.”
As I finally settled, the soft sensation of clean fabric brushed against my skin. I glanced down, noticing I was now dressed in a fresh silk nightgown. Heat crept up my cheeks as I adjusted the neckline.
“You changed me?” I croaked. My voice was barely above a whisper.
Nina nodded. Her face remained stoic, but her concern lingered in those sharp, silver–gray eyes. “You were drenched, Mistress. I couldn’t leave you in wet clothes.” She paused, her tone dipping into quiet disapproval. “That cold–water bath… it could have made you worse.”
I winced but nodded weakly in acknowledgment. She wasn’t wrong. After four years of
enduring similar “baths” in Moon Shadow Prison, the mere thought of voluntarily subjecting myself to it again…
But it had worked. At least, enough to allow me to survive.
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Chapter 150: A Wolf’s Recovery
“Nina, the wolfsbane…” I began, struggling as my mind stumbled over the words.
“Yes, Mistress,” she interrupted softly, her wolf hovering protectively under her calm demeanor.
“Dr. Pierce needs to check which strain Lucas used. An antidote-”
“No.” My refusal was immediate, cutting her off. My heart raced at the thought of anyone- especially any man–examining me in this poisoned state.
Nina blinked, surprised. Her wolf tilted its head in confusion before realization slowly dawned.
“You mean…” she trailed off, a faint frown on her lips.
I sighed heavily, leaning back into the pillows. “You know what wolfsbane does to wolves like
us, Nina,” I explained. My voice was steadier now, though laced with frustration. “It doesn’t just
weaken the body. It weakens willpower.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her wolf growling low in understanding.
“In my state?” I added sharply. “Dr. Pierce, despite his age, is still Alpha–ranked. My wolf might
instinctively submit.” My hands tightened into fists, the thought alone making bile rise in my
throat.
Nina’s wolf let out a small whimper, but she nodded. “I didn’t think of that. I’ll fetch healing
supplies myself, then.”
Before I could respond, a gentle knock sounded at the door. Both of us froze, our wolves
immediately on edge. For one beat, neither of us moved. The knock came again, accompanied
by a voice.
“Matthew Sterling requests an audience, Miss Celeste.” The messenger’s words were formal,
but hearing his name hit me like a cold gust of wind.
For a moment, my mind blanked as memories of yesterday swept over me – Matthew
carrying me, shielding me with his cloak, his voice calm and steady as my wolf reeled from
the wolfsbane’s effects.
A flush rose unbidden to my cheeks. I shook my head quickly, trying to dispel the hazy
warmth. Beside me, Nina’s sharp eyes didn’t miss a thing. Her smirk curved upward, slow and
mischievous.
“Well, well,” she teased, her voice light and dancing with amusement. “Mistress, you’re
blushing. Should I be worried?”
I scowled at her weakly, though my embarrassment only grew. “It’s gratitude, Nina. That’s all.”
“Hmm, gratitude,” she hummed knowingly. “If you say so.”
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Chapter 150: A Wolf’s Recovery
I narrowed my eyes, but she held her ground, clearly enjoying my flustered state.
“Let him in, already,” I huffed finally, waving a trembling hand at the door.
Nina’s smirk widened, but she obeyed, opening the door with a low, formal bow.
Matthew entered silently. His tall figure seemed even more imposing in the bright room, but what caught my attention immediately were the bruises marring his face. A dark shadow spread across his jawline, and his lips were cracked and swollen–as if he’d gone several rounds in a fight.
My heart sank. “What happened?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. Without thinking, I pushed myself upright, leaning toward him despite the pain shooting through my
limbs.
“It’s nothing,” he said shortly, his tone gruff.
“It doesn’t look like nothing,” I retorted, my gaze fixed on the deepening bruise along his
cheekbone. “Tell me.”
He sighed heavily, running a hand through his dark hair. “Alexander.” The name came out
clipped, tight. “He wasn’t… thrilled about yesterday.”
I froze. My heart twisted painfully as I stared at him. “He did this to you?”
Matthew tried to shrug it off, brushing invisible dust from his shirt. “Don’t worry,” he said
evenly. “It’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”
But his calm tone only made my guilt worse. Alexander’s wolf was known for its stubborn
pride and fierce temper, but this?
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, my voice trembling as my hands clenched the bedsheets. “You got
hurt because of me.”
His blue eyes softened. For just a moment, the sharp, unyielding gaze I’d known melted,
revealing something gentler. “You don’t have to apologize,” he said firmly. “He’ll cool down eventually.”
Matthew reached into his pocket, retrieving a small vial. The clear liquid inside glimmered faintly in the sunlight.
“This,” he explained, holding it out carefully, “is the antidote for the wolfsbane.”
Relief surged through me like a tide, washing away some of the lingering dread. My lips parted slightly as I stared at the vial.
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“How…?” I began, my voice shaky.
Matthew’s lips tugged upward faintly, though the motion strained against his injuries.” Alexander dealt with David, the pack pharmacist,” he explained. “Turns out, his shop’s reputation is… less than honorable. After some persuasion, David admitted Lucas bought the
wine there.”
I should have been shocked by the revelation, but exhaustion weighed me down too heavily to
react fully. All I could feel was a strange, hollow ache.
Without this antidote, I might have endured those effects for days–weeks even.
“Matthew…” My voice broke slightly as I whispered his name. “Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
I bowed my head slightly, overwhelmed by gratitude.
Before I could lower myself further, Matthew stepped closer. His hand brushed mine lightly as
he reached out to stop me.
The moment of contact was brief–just a fleeting touch of skin against skin–but it sent
something unexpected spiraling through me.
My breath hitched. I looked up, meeting his gaze. His blue eyes burned with unspoken
intensity, and for an agonizing second, neither of us moved.
Suddenly, I couldn’t shake the memory of yesterday. His arms carrying me through the forest.
The warmth of his cloak against my poisoned, feverish skin.
His gaze didn’t waver. If anything, it deepened, as though he were remembering the same
moment.
For all the chaos surrounding us, in that single moment, everything else seemed to fade.
