Chapter 20
Chapter 20
57%
+15)
The early morning
ing rays of
of the sunlight just peep through the fringes of the old wooden shutters of Nana’s room. Rather a sarcastic and faint kind of light
since the world would probably go an turning while Felicia’s condition keeps deteriorating.
N
NO
Nana has settled herself at the edge of the bed now, clutching Felicia’s frail hand. Pale–skinned, her breaths come in shallow and uneven wisps. There is the blood–spotted cloth near the bed which spells that story whichi Nana, by no means, wishes to accept–she is losing her.
Felicia stirs and her eyelids lift weakly. “Please my child,” she whispers, her voice quite barely.
“I’m here,” Nana says quickly, leaning closer.
Felicia tries to smile but fails. “Stop… worrying. I’ve lived long enough, I’m already too old. And this is not your fault.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Nana snaps, her voice cracking as tears fill her eyes. “You’re not going anywhere, Felicia. Not if I can help it.”
The older woman doesn’t respond, her eyes closing again as exhaustion takes over. Nana presses her lips together, wiping her face angrily. Crying won’t save Felicia, and neither will sit here doing nothing.
She stands abruptly, grabbing her shawl and slipping out of the room as quietly as possible. She knows what she has to do, even if the thought makes
her stomach churn.
The healer lives at the outskirts of the territory, far from the packhouse. Nana had only met her once, years ago, when her mother was still alive. The healer doesn’t owe her anything, and Nana knows the risk she’s taking by going there. But desperation pushes her forward.
The forest path is rough, the cold morning air biting at her skin as she walks quickly. Every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves makes her flinch, her heart racing. She’s already been pushing her luck, sneaking around the packhouse and stealing medicine. If Marco’s m men catch her out here, she’s fucked.
By the time she reaches the healer’s cabin, her legs ache and her breath comes in short gasps. The small, weathered building looks just as she remembers–sturdy but unwelcoming, with herbs hanging from the porch and an eerie stillness in the air. Nana hesitates for a moment before knocking
on the door.
It swings open almost immediately, and the healer stands there, her sharp eyes narrowing at the sight of Nana.
“You,” the healer says flatly. “What do you want?”
Nana swallows hard, her voice trembling as she says, “I need your help.”
The healer crosses her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “You’re an outcast. Why the hell would risk my neck for you?”
Nana flinches at the bluntness but doesn’t back down. “Please. Felicia’s dying. She’s the only person who ever cared about me, and I can’t lose her.”
The healer’s expression doesn’t softer. “Not my problem.”
“Damn it, she’s innocent!” Nana’s voice rises, frustration boiling over. “She doesn’t deserve this. She’s only suffering because she chose to stay by my side when everyone else turned their backs on me,”
The healer snorts. “Maybe she should’ve made better choices.”
Nana clenches her fists, the tears she’s been holding back finally spilling over, “You don’t understand. She’s all I have, When my mother died, when the whole fucking pack treated me like dirt, Felicia stayed. She raised me. Loved me like I was her own. And now she’s dying because of me. Please… I’m begging you.”
The healer looks at her for a long time, Nana can’t tell what she is thinking. Then she shakes her head, stepping back as if to close the door. “I can’t help you. It’s too risky. If the Alpha finds out-
i know!”
“My mother taught you everything you Nana blurts out, her voice cracking. The words spill out before she can stop them, “Don’t pretend she didn’t. She gave you your knowledge, your skills, your fucking reputation in this pack. And you’re going to let her daughter suffer? Let her nanny die
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16:03 Thu, 8 May GO.
Chapter 20
because you’re too scared?”
The healer freezes, her eyes narrowing. “Your mother…”
“Yes,” Nana says quickly, sensing a flicker of hesitation. “She taught you. She trusted you. And now I’m asking for that same trust. Please.”
སཾ , 57%
+15)
The silence stretches painfully. Nana’s chest heaves; she feels as though she is about to burst and her heart pounds. She has put everything on the table; if the healer refuses, she has no idea what to do.
After some moments of silence, the healer finally breathes out, running fingers through her graying hair. “Damn it,” She whispers under her breath. “Fine. I’ll help you. But if this backfires, you’re on your own.”
Relief floods Nana’s chest, and she almost collapses. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
M
H
The healer waves her off, stepping back into the cabin. “Don’t thank me yet. This isn’t going to be easy.”
Nana follows her inside, the familiar scent of herbs and dried flowers filling the air. The healer moves quickly, gathering supplies and muttering to
herself.
“What’s wrong with her?” the healer asks, her tone brisk.
“High fever, coughing up blood,” Nana says, her voice shaking. “She can’t eat. She’s so weak… I don’t know how much longer she has.”
The healer nods, grabbing a jar of something that smells bitter and mixing it with a few drops of oil. “This will help with the fever. And this-” she holds up a vial of thick, dark liquid, “-should ease the coughing. But she’s going to need rest. Lots of it.”
Nana takes the supplies gratefully, her hands trembling. “I’ll make sure she rests. I’ll do everything you say.”
The healer sighs, her sharp eyes softening just a fraction. “Your mother would be proud of you, you know.”
Nana blinks, startled. “What?”
“She always said you had her spirit. Stubborn as hell, but willing to fight for what matters. Don’t lose that.”
Nana doesn’t know how to respond. She nods, clutching the supplies to her chest.
“Go,” the healer says, waving her toward the door. “And be careful. If anyone asks, you didn’t get this from me.”
“I understand,” Nana says, her voice firm. “Thank you.”
戻り
#d
F
The journey back to the packhouse feels even longer, her heart pounding with every step. The supplies in her hands feel like precious gold, but the weight of the risk she’s taken is heavy.
ایار
When she finally slips back into her room, Felicia’s weak moans greet her. Nana rushes to her side, setting the supplies down and getting to work immediately.
“Hang on, Felicia,” she whispers, her hands steady despite the tears streaming down her face. “Help is here.”
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