Chapter 43: Wolf'sbane Effect

Hazel could not even remember how she entered the familiar dark-toned chamber.

All she knew that, the moment she walked in, she completely broke down.

The mockery, disdain and jest in the eyes of those maids kept appearing in her head, coupled with Hanna’s bloody face and body.

Hazel lost it at that moment.

She slid to the floor and burst into bitter tears.

For weeks, she has been enduring quietly, unwilling to give Damien the satisfaction of seeing her break. But today, she could finally not take it anymore.

Before, she still had the illusion that some things were still in her control and that Damien could not dictate how to live her life to her. But when he ordered her to go to his chamber, Hazel finally realized how wrong she had been.

Since the moment they had their first night together, things would no longer be the same and her pride had long been turned to dust.

Tears streamed down her face, hot and heavy.

Her shoulders shook violently, as the humiliation replayed itself over and over again as though reminding her what she had been reduced to.

“I belong to no one…” She whispered as though trying to console herself, her voice breaking,

But it did not work. Tears blurred her vision, her chest tightened until breathing became difficult.

“I am not some property to be claimed.” Her quiet voice echoed in the room, but nobody heard.

Hazel crawled forward, but could not bring herself to climb into the bed. So she opted to lay on the cold floor, collapsing like her body was made of nothing.

…

“Keep an eye on her and let me know whenever she does anything odd.” Damien gave one last order to Killian who quickly nodded.

Damien did not believe that Mireya was only here to watch some show, she was probably sent as a spy.

“Alpha, what should be done about this lost shepherd? We are unable to find him anywhere.” Killian asked, puzzled.

“Have that rogue describe how he looks. Then make a portrait of him and paste it all over the pack. Anybody who finds him will be given a prize of a hundred silver coins. This will serve as a warning to the rogues.” Damien said calmly as he walked.

Behind him, Killian nodded and quickly left.

Damien entered his chamber much later. Before he even pushed open the door, he could already perceive that familiar scent.

The anger he felt earlier was still there, burning slowly as though waiting for a moment to erupt.

She was not in bed.

The thought had his brow knitted into a displeased frown.

But then, his thoughts faltered when he finally saw her on the floor, fast asleep.

Subconsciously, his steps slowed.

She curled on the cold floor, hair spread messily on the floor and across her wet and red face.

She has been crying, that much was obvious.

Damien felt something press on his chest, making it tighten and ache.

Damien had felt too many foreign emotions that day and he could not define any of them.

Before he could stop himself, he had already crossed the room and knelt beside her.

“Hazel,” His voice was softer than he had intended and he could almost not recognize his own voice which made him frown.

Hazel made no response.

He reached out and poked her slightly, then she stirred but didn’t wake up completely.

“No…please.” She whimpered in her sleep, writhing in pain as her body trembled subtly. “Father, mother, don’t…don’t leave me.” She cried softly.

Damien had never seen Hazel like this before.

She had always put up a strong facade in front of him, he had never seen her so vulnerable and for once, he didn’t even know how to feel.

He watched as tears streamed down her face and a drop fell on his extended finger. It burned him, scalded him even, making him jerk his hands away as though escaping from fire.

Damien never knew he could fear someone's tears like this in all his life.

Something unpleasant twisted in his chest.

Then, he reached out, intending to lift her up to the bed, but he suddenly stopped as his fingers made contact with her skin.

She was burning up.

Her temperature was so high that it made Damien frown.

He pressed his fingers against her forehead and noticed how hot she was.

“Hazel,” He said again, louder this time as he shook her. “Wake up,”

Hazel did not react, and even her tears had stopped.

Damien’s jaw clenched. He reached an arm under her knees and the other behind her back as he lifted her up.

She was light, a little too light.

Was she not eating enough?

He remembered that he had never starved her.

He turned sharply and strode out of the chamber after placing her on the bed.

When he saw a guard close by, he spat a command. “Albert, now!”

“Yes Alpha.” The guard quickly replied before running off.

When Albert arrived, his eyes swept over Damien’s body and seeing that he was fine, he furrowed his brows in puzzlement. “What, has your condition flared up? You seem fine though.”

“It’s not me.” Damien replied with a shake of his head and gestured towards his bed where a figure laid gently.

Seeing that familiar face, Albert was surprised.

“What happened?”

“I don’t. She just won’t wake up and she is burning up.”

Albert quickly approached the bed, “High temperature? How come all of a sudden?” He mumbled to himself as he took her pulse.

“Has she been using any pill or medicine recently?” Albert asked after a few seconds, his voice slightly grim.

Damien thought about it and nodded, “Yes. Wolfsbane, what about it?”

Albert hesitated only briefly, “The dosage was meant to suppress her wolf, Alpha. But there is something wrong with her wolf, it is not as active as it is meant to be, so the wolfsbane is working on her body as well. Prolonged exposure to the wolfsbane is harming her.”