CHAPTER 147: False Remedy

CHAPTER 147: False Remedy
Selene’s POV

Since the day Alora had slipped and fell in the bathroom, nothing had been the same in the pack house, especially the bedroom of the Alpha. 

Alora had been sick like a dog, but today it had gotten worse.

I had felt it even before the mindlink came through. 

Morgan summoned me just after sunset. His voice through the mindlink was raw with strain. “She’s not getting better, Selene. Come now please, I am running out of ideas.”

He was seated beside her in his bedroom. When he saw me, he stood up, relief flooding his features. “She’s sleeping right now” he said, his eyes drifting to her tiny form longingly. “It comes and goes…the sickness. Some days she’s fine, and then suddenly she’s bent over in pain. I’ve had the healer three times. Nothing.”

I pressed my palm against her forehead. She was hot.

Leo perched at the foot of the bed, worry etched into his small face, though he tried to hide it by fiddling with the camera Mike had given him.

“Mother,” Alora opened her eyes. “I’m fine. My mate is just exaggerating.”

I brushed a stray hair from her forehead just at the same time. Morgan leaned in to do the same, but he ended up taking her hand.

“That is not an exaggeration. This has gone on for too long.”

She laughed softly but it faded into a cough. Morgan stood and dropped on the bed beside her, pulling her scorching body close to his chest, cuddling her. “She won’t eat. She’s dizzy half the time. It started before the party, Selene. It’s worse now.”

I looked at Alora carefully. Her skin was warmer than it should have been, but what struck me most was the faint glow in her eyes, as if her wolf hummed closer to the surface.

A memory stirred…long ago, with another Moonborn girl who had wasted away until she was ashes in her mate’s arms. But that girl had not carried the signs I saw now.

Pregnancy. The thought came swiftly and unwelcome. I banished it before it rooted too deep. It was impossible. Moonborn could not conceive before the ceremonial bite. Still… every symptom she had ever had called for the possibility of that.

The healer arrived shortly after, summoned by Morgan’s order. He examined her with patience, pressing his ear to her stomach, testing her pulse, taking her blood and muttering incantations. 

When he was done, he shook his head. “No pup. I see nothing but exhaustion. Perhaps the strain of the upcoming ceremony, but I will come back with the test result even though our method should have detected an early pregnancy if there was one.”

Morgan’s frown deepened. “You’re sure? She’s… different.”

“I would sense it,” the healer assured, bowing before he left. “There is no life inside her.”

Even with the visit of the healer, the doubt gnawed at me still. 

“Bring in another voice,” I said quietly. Someone from outside. Someone with no reason to flatter you with half-truths.”

Morgan nodded once. “Already sent for one.”



By dawn, the woman arrived. 

She called herself Marwen, a healer from the Western mountains. 

She examined Alora with the same care as the pack healer, even hummed a tune as she pressed her palm to Alora’s stomach. Finally, she straightened with a sympathetic smile. “No child. The Luna’s body is preparing for the ceremonial bite…and also getting to your bond.” she smiled as if the Alpha should understand what she meant.

I did, and the alpha did too, so Morgan exhaled slowly, though I could tell he was not convinced. “And the dizziness? The nausea?”

“Stress,” Marwen replied smoothly. “She needs rest, calm, and a tonic to soothe her system."

She produced a vial from her satchel. “This will help.”

I should have spoken. Should have demanded to taste it first, to test it with my own runes. But Alora reached for it before I could form words, desperate for relief. She drank, wincing at the bitter taste.

At first, it seemed harmless. She lay back against the pillows, her breathing steadying. A few minutes later, her eyelids fluttered, and her hand clutched at her stomach.

“Selene…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “It burns.”

I shot to my feet. “Why?” I turned to the healer.

Marwen’s face was calm. “That's a normal reaction. I am sorry I forgot to inform you. The herbs unsettle before they heal.”

Morgan’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Stay here tonight. You’ll not leave until I am satisfied she is better.”

Marwen blinked, startled. “But Alpha…”

“That is a command,” Morgan snapped, his voice laced with Alpha command.

That night, I did not sleep. We took turns sitting with her, watching her every breath.

When it got worse, Morgan refused to leave her side, one arm draped protectively across her waist, but at some point exhaustion had taken over, and he had dozed off, holding her hot body in his arms. 

It was the sound of retching that jolted me upright. Alora lurched forward, and rushed to the bathroom while I followed behind, my heart lurching.

“Goddess… Morgan!” I cried.

He was awake in an instant, rushing to the bathroom. She hadn't made it to the sink, she knelt on the floor and blood-stained vomit splattered the floor. Her body convulsed, each heave weaker than the last.

“Get the healer!” Morgan roared into the mindlink to someone.

A few minutes later, Marwen rushed in, her night robe following behind, with Harry on his heels.

She placed a hand on Alora’s shoulder, pressing her back down. “It is the toxins leaving her system. She must take another dose to flush out the sickness fully.”

She reached for her medicine bag, but I felt a stab in my heart.

No, she cannot take that again. I reached out my hand to stop her from pouring another of those vials, but Morgan frowned.

“Why?” he asked, cradling Alora in his arms on the floor with the puke and blood everywhere. He didn't care.

“I think the medication is not good for her. She has gotten worse and pale. She is turning black overnight Alpha” i protested.

Morgan looked conflicted “... But… Marwen said it's the…”

Leo, Jones and Chloe burst through the door.

His face was blotchy with tears. “Stop!” he cried. He dashed forward, smacking the vial from Marwen’s hand. It shattered against the floor, the liquid burning Morgan when it touched his skin.

“Why does that burn so much!” Morgan barked, his eyes turning to the healer.

“She’s trying to kill her! The healer…she’s poisoning the Luna!”

Every eye turned to Marwen, who stood frozen. She was panicking and shaking all over.

It dawned on us that Leo was right.

I turned slowly toward her, every bone in my body turning cold. “What did you give her?”

The scent hit me even before she spoke.

Wolfsbane laced with herbs.

Morgan’s face drained of color as realization struck.

The air seemed to shatter around us. Morgan carefully carried Alora’s trembling form to the bed, wiping the blood stain from her tinged blue lips.

Marwen the impostor made a move to run out the door but Harry and Jones were already there, blocking her way.

Her eyes darted around like a deer caught in the headlights as the Alpha strode in, fangs sprouting out and claws elongated. 

“Hoe dare you?” My voice had changed to thunder, “You brought wolfsbane into this house?”

Morgan’s growl tore through the chamber, feral and murderous. “You’ll not leave alive.” He reached out his claws, but before he could move, the woman lunged not for him, not for me, but toward the bed.

Straight toward Alora.