Lukas's POV
"I hate being away from her," I muttered, my eyes fixed on the dark sky beyond the windowpane. "I still feel the pull—always. And when Leo's too close to her…" I clenched my jaw. "It makes my chest ache. One of these days, I swear—I want her all to myself. Just one full day. No interruptions. No one else."
Across from me, Zois was silent for a while, his hands clasped together, gaze low.
"I've felt that too," he admitted at last, his voice a murmur. "Once… I nearly acted on it. Would've stolen her away for a day just for us. But she was busy with her test prep." He gave a soft chuckle, but it was hollow with restraint.
Our wolves stirred within us at the memory—Jace, mine, and Joro, Zois's—both growling low and resonant. They had always been in sync, bonded like we were. And now, they too longed for the girl who had bound their souls.
We should mark her, Jace echoed inside my mind, his voice thick with yearning. She's ours.
She belongs to us, Joro added, his own growl threaded with frustration. The wait… it burns, Lukas.
Zois caught my gaze and smirked faintly, sensing his wolf's thoughts mirroring mine. "Cowards," I teased.
"Speak for yourself," he replied, rolling his eyes.
Eventually, we parted for the night. But even in the quiet of my own bed, the dreams that found me were filled with soft skin, silver eyes, and the ache of the bond we hadn't yet completed.
————————————————————
The Next Morning – Eila's POV
The morning light filtered in gently as I stepped into the kitchen, ready to visit the infirmary and check on my parents. But the breakfast table wasn't quiet for long.
"We want to come too!"
Micheal was the first to voice it, and soon the others chimed in—Emma, Daria, Meera, Erik, and the twins—eyes wide with hope and excitement. I hesitated, but I couldn't refuse them. It had been far too long.
"Alright," I said with a sigh and a smile. "But get ready fast. And finish your chores."
Chaos ensued.
I helped the youngest twins into fresh clothes and gently braided Emma's long golden hair. Daria and Meera were quicker, and the boys, for once, were already dressed and surprisingly helpful.
Together, we set out.
It was nearly a two-hour walk to the Pack House. The sun was warm above us, and halfway through, Jean and Jake began to tire. Micheal and I carried them on our backs the rest of the way. Emma and Erik trudged on bravely, and the older girls helped keep pace. When we finally arrived, we paused outside to drink water from our leather pot, then made our way toward the infirmary.
I approached the healer, asking softly if we could see our parents. She nodded, eyeing the children with a gentle smile. "Keep quiet," she warned, and we slipped through the door.
My heart nearly stopped.
Mother and Father… they looked so fragile. Weaker than I had ever seen them. My mother's skin was pale and sunken, and her arms—her once strong arms—were marred with dark patches. My father's condition was just as dire.
Rage sparked inside me. Rage at the Varium, at Jeremy Soren, at the Moon Goddess herself.
But I pushed it down.
Now wasn't the time for fury. It was time to act.
I reached for my mother's arm and called on the light inside me, the gift I barely understood but had begun to wield. A golden warmth spread through my palm and into her body. The darkness faded—slowly but steadily.
Then I turned to my father, did the same.
When the last spot vanished from their skin, I finally exhaled. Relief washed over me like a wave. They were stable again.
We turned to leave. My siblings followed quietly, sensing the gravity of the moment.
Then—just as I placed my hand on the door—her voice called out.
"Eila… my child."
I froze mid-step.
Slowly, I turned back.
My mother's eyes were open. Cloudy but alive. Her voice was raspy, but the warmth in it… was unmistakable.
She was awake.