Chapter 42 Rememdy
Taren's POV
I would be facing trial in a few days, and every hour that passed felt like a ticking reminder that the outcome could very well be my death if I failed to prove my innocence. The weight of that reality pressed heavily against my mind.
Still, despite the seriousness of my situation, I could not stop the mischievous spark that rose in my chest when I saw Fin approaching my cell. It was ridiculous, truly ridiculous, but all I could think about was how I needed to mess with him just one more time before the world decided my fate.
By now the entire pack house had heard about my arrest. People had stopped by to see me, including Kaitlyn, who had looked more distressed than I expected. A part of me knew that Fin would eventually come too, and true to form, he did not disappoint.
“Hey man, I heard what happened. Is it true?” he asked the moment he stopped in front of my cell. His eyes were wide with a mix of worry and disbelief.
“The answer to that depends entirely on what you heard,” I responded, rising from the cold floor and stepping closer to the door so I could get a proper look at him.
“Is it true that you were behind the Gordon misbehavior?” he asked, and I shook my head immediately.
“No, that is not true,” I said. “What is true, however, is that I might have offended the witch prisoner, and this is my punishment for whatever I did.” I kept my face completely serious and even let out a heavy sigh to seal the impression. I slowly shook my head as if I were deeply troubled.
“She is the one punishing you?” he asked, his eyes stretching wide.
“Not directly.”
“How? I don't understand,” he said, confusion swirling so visibly in his expression that it was almost entertaining.
“Now how do I make you understand…” I tilted my head slowly, pretending to search for the best way to explain my entirely fabricated predicament.
Before I could continue, the sound of the dungeon gate opening pulled my attention sharply toward the entrance. Heavy footsteps echoed through the passageway, and when I saw who they belonged to, the humor drained from my chest instantly. Even Fin had to leave instantly.
Alpha Kael, elder Rowan, and Kaitlyn were approaching with urgency written all over their faces. My instincts told me immediately that something was terribly wrong, even though I did not yet know what it was.
“Alpha, elder Rowan,” I greeted them with a bow.
Kaitlyn did not wait for me to finish rising before she spoke. Her voice was filled with a tension that made my heart clench.
“Lyra is unconscious,” she said. “She is not responding to treatment and she is burning up very badly.”
My heart dropped so fast it felt as if the floor had vanished beneath me.
“Oh shit. Is she still breathing?”
“Barely,” she said, and I shook my head, feeling the dread spread deeper.
“Normal medicine will not work on her,” I said quickly, already racking my brain for the solution I had been trained for. The answer hovered just out of reach as if my mind were wrapped in fog. “Shit! This is bad. This is very bad. There is a remedy, I know there is,” I muttered as I paced my cell, trying desperately to pull the memory forward. “I can't remember it. I can't believe this. Wait, give me a moment.”
I suddenly stopped moving. I closed my eyes briefly and forced my mind to retrieve the information that had been drilled into me for years. The silence around me helped, and slowly the memory surfaced.
“Garlic bulb,” I began with relief. “Three cloves. A single mint leaf. And a strand of wolf fur.” I exhaled fully as the rest of it returned. “Get all those items. Crush them together. Then make her inhale the mixture for five minutes or until she wakes up.”
Kaitlyn repeated the items carefully, making sure she did not miss anything. Once I confirmed she had everything correct, she nodded firmly.
“Alright,” she said before turning around and hurrying away immediately.
Only then did I raise my head and look fully at Alpha Kael. His expression hit me hard. There was hurt in his eyes, and confusion, and something deeper that clenched at my chest because I knew I played a part in it.
“I am sorry, Alpha,” I said. “I tried to get the guards or anyone at all to inform you about something like this happening, but no one would listen to me.” I lowered my head to show respect and submission.
He remained silent for a long moment. I did not lift my head until he finally spoke.
“Why did you not tell me you had knowledge about witchcraft?”
“I don't,” I said immediately. “I only have knowledge about this particular witch because I knew I would meet her someday, and I was trained in advance to help her. That knowledge ensures we will stand a fighting chance against the void wolf when the time comes.”
“You knew you would meet her someday?” he asked.
“Yes, Alpha,” I answered with complete honesty.
“Why then did you connive with Gordon to take her out of the pack house using my name? What did you stand to gain from that?” he asked. His voice was calmer than I expected, but the disappointment in it cut deeply.
“I never did that, Alpha,” I said, dropping to one knee and assuming the warrior’s pose of absolute sincerity. “I swear on my life, on my honor, and the moon goddess bears me witness that I would never betray you or Ironfang. I would never even imagine such a thing. The only accusation I am truly guilty of is helping the witch with her magic behind your back, and that was only because I did not know who to trust with that information yet, considering the state of things. But I am guilty of it, and I accept any punishment you decide for me.”
“If you know so much about her, then what exactly is going on with her?” elder Rowan asked this time.
“Her magic is connected to her emotions,” I explained carefully. “I believe she was extremely upset, and that is why she is in this condition. When she wakes up, everything possible must be done to ensure she feeds well and remains happy or at least neutral until she fully masters her magic and revives her wolf.”
Kaitlyn returned, holding a small container that I assumed contained the mixture of the items I had listed.
“Alpha, I have everything prepared. But the door…” she began before trailing off.
“That is right,” Alpha Kael said. He turned back to me. “Nobody can access her room except me, even though it is not locked. Why is that happening?”
“It is for her protection,” I explained. “You can access it because you are immune to magic. No one else can, which makes it dangerous because without your presence nobody else would be able to help her. That is why she must never fall into this state again until she masters her magic and regains her wolf.”
Alpha Kael did not ask any further questions. He simply turned and walked out of the dungeon with determination written across his entire being.