Chapter 44

• CLARA
• I chose to be my son's side when I see him snap at everyone he loved. You only do that out of desperation. I had been in a similar situation myself and I could assure the entire world that it was not a pretty place. When I lost Alexios and his father. I was certain I would die. That moment when I felt the bond to my husband being cut off. I literally went insane. I had been alone then. Looking at how frantic Alexios became seeing his rejected mate in a pool of blood proved that I had been right. By some miracle from the mother of night, the rejection had failed. Alexios was still very much Lydia 's mate. I saw myself in his place when he threw the tablecloth along with everything the pack women had prepared for the feast. I moved to his side once the healer arrived. A talented werewolf from an unknown pack that my late husband had adopted. Her gift was one of healing. But even knowing that, I couldn't help but be worried about what would happen if Lydia was one of the few many that could not be saved. I had promised to protect the girl. I stalked close and took a painful look at the girl. Elliot would never forgive me. A tear slipped from my eyes looking at her bloodied mouth. A rib from her side and torn through flesh and skin and now poked out like a thorn to a rose flower. Her leg was probably shattered and in a position far from its natural state. She didn't look like she would make it. The table was now pooled with blood dark as the midnight sky and Lydia 's skin was swiftly turning pale. I pressed hard on my son's shoulder as his hands latched on to the hands of the girl he claimed to loathe so much. He was broken. No. It was much worse. I wiped a tear and desperately kept my peace for Alexios 's sake. There was nothing more heartbreaking than losing a mate. I needed to be strong for him but it was incredibly difficult considering the healer had a grim look on her face. That was never good for anyone.
• "How is she?" The woman asked as she examined Lydia . Her hands went down on the gown that cost a fortune and she ripped it in half. "Oh my goddess," She asked at the sight that glared back at us. Usually, that was when you knew it was really bad but I could see it with my eyes. The left side of Lydia 's chest and completely collapsed. Her ribs had slumped and the sunken skin revealed an interlock of green veins. I watched as the healer immediately flicked her box open and mixed together two liquid herbs. One of which I recognized as Moonshine. Werewolf cocaine. She forced the mixture down Lydia 's throat and seconds later, the girl roused, coughing blood and spittle. She was awake but barely.