The scream tore from my throat as my brother collapsed in front of me, dark blood spraying from his lips onto the polished manor floor. One moment we’d been discussing Kieran’s confession, and the next–Alaric was on his knees, gasping for air, crimson turning to black as it spilled between his fingers.
I dropped beside him, catching his shoulders before he could hit the ground. “Get help!” I shouted at one of the passing servants, who stood frozen in horror before sprinting toward the communication station.
“Can’t… breathe…” Alaric choked, his eyes wide with panic. More black blood bubbled from his lips, thick and viscous in a way that wasn’t natural.
“Stay with me, Ric,” I begged, cradling his head against my chest. “Help is coming.”
My parents burst into the room, faces pale with terror. My father immediately took charge, barking orders for the pack medics while my mother knelt beside us, her elegant hands trembling as she wiped blood from Alaric’s chin.
“What happened?” she whispered.
“I don’t know,” I replied, fighting to keep my voice steady. “He just collapsed.”
Within minutes, the manor became a flurry of activity as medics arrived and rushed Alaric to our pack hospital. I rode in the ambulance with him, clutching his hand as monitors beeped and medical staff worked frantically around us. His skin felt cold, much colder than a werewolf’s should ever be.
“His vitals are dropping,” a medic muttered. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
The hospital welcomed us with open doors and urgent voices. Dr. Harrison, our head physician, was already waiting, his face grim as they wheeled Alaric into the emergency treatment area.
“What happened?” he demanded, checking Alaric’s vitals himself.
“Sudden collapse, black blood from the respiratory tract, rapid temperature drop,” the medic reported clinically.
Dr. Harrison frowned, his experienced hands moving with practiced efficiency. “This isn’t normal,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. “Get me full bloodwork and a lung scan immediately.”
I paced the hallway outside, my mind racing. This couldn’t be happening. Not Alaric. He was the strongest wolf I knew, the backbone of our family, our pack. The thought of losing him sent ice through my veins.
Hours ticked by with agonizing slowness. My parents arrived, followed by Kieran, whose eyes were still red–rimmed from our earlier conversation. Nobody spoke much; what was there to say in the face of such unexpected horror?
Finally, Dr. Harrison emerged, his expression grave. “We’ve stabilized him for now, but…”
“But what?” my father demanded.
“I can’t identify what’s wrong,” the doctor admitted. “His blood work shows anomalies I’ve never encountered. The black substance isn’t blood- not entirely. It contains something else, something that’s…” he hesitated, choosing his words carefully, “corrupting his system from within.”
“There must be something you can do,” my mother insisted, her voice breaking.
Dr. Harrison shook his head slowly. “I’ve exhausted every medical avenue available to us. This isn’t a natural illness. I think… I think we need
to consult Maelor.”
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Chapter 163
My breath caught. Maelor Silvervein, the Moon Shadow Messenger, was our packs connection to the old ways mystic divisor who was called upon in the direst circumstances. If Dr. Harrison was suggesting we needed Maelor, then this was far worse than I’d feared.
I’ll contact him immediately,” my father said, already reaching for his phone.
Maelor arrived within the hour, a tall, silver–haired figure whose presence seemed to dim the harsh hospital lights. His ancient eyes swept over. us without greeting before he moved directly to Alaric’s bedside.
Long minutes passed as he examined my brother, his weathered hands hovering inches above Alaric’s chest, never quite touching him. The room felt charged with strange energy that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.
When Maelor finally straightened, the look on his face chilled me to the bone.
“Leave us,” he commanded, gesturing to the medical staff. After they filed out, he turned to my parents. You too. I must speak with Lysandra
alone.”
My parents hesitated, but something in Maelor’s expression brooked no argument. With reluctant steps, they left the room, the door clicking shut behind them.
“What’s happening to him?” I asked, my y voice barely above a whisper.
Maelor’s piercing eyes fixed on me. “You’re seeing the first sign of an ancient prophecy coming to pass.”
“What prophecy?” I tried to recall any mention of a sickness like this in our pack’s histories.
“When you left Silverblood Pack, when you broke your bond with Tristan Wolfbane…” Maelor paused, his gaze intense. “You disturbed a balance that was foretold centuries ago.”
My stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?”
“If the bond is broken, the blood moon will rise, and ancient enemies will return‘–this is only the beginning,” he said, his voice taking on a rhythmic quality that made my skin crawl.
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