Chapter 129 I'm Blind
Lucia and Darius limped into the pack's central clearing, Alberto's cold body slung between them. Mira turned at the sound of footsteps, her eyes widening.
"Lucia!" Mira rushed forward, embracing her tightly. "You're back—normal. How?"
Lucia hugged back briefly, voice steady but weary. "Alberto saved me. Used his last strength to seal the curse."
Mira pulled away, glancing at the body. "Students—take Alberto and Darius to the infirmary. Now!"
The students hurried over, lifting Alberto's form and supporting Darius as they moved.
Mira turned back to Lucia. "Tell me everything."
Lucia exhaled. "I found Darius near the border, attacked by wolves. I killed them. He said Alberto had a madness illness ran off when they checked the old ancestral building. Samael attacked Darius too. I cut off Samael's arm before he fled. Samael even attacked Alberto earlier it's like he's lost control."
Mira's brow furrowed. "Madness illness? And Alberto might speak jargons sometimes, according to Darius?"
Lucia nodded. "That's what Darius said. He's unsure, but he thinks it's why Alberto acted strange."
Mira placed a hand on Lucia's shoulder. "I'll handle it. Go rest."
In the infirmary, Mira directed her students. "Bandage Darius's wounds. Clean the slashes—use the salve for infection."
Darius winced as they worked. "Careful—that's deep."
One student pressed a cloth to his side. "Hold still. This will sting."
Mira moved to Alberto's still form. "Check his pulse again. Is he really gone?"
A student leaned in. "Faint—very faint. He's alive, but barely. Like he's in a deep trance."
Mira nodded. "Good. Start the herbs for revival. Lucia—help me with the blood draw."
Lucia stepped closer. "What are you doing?"
Mira pulled out a syringe. "Extracting his blood. He's an Enigma—only his blood can cure Fernando's poison. But it needs purification first."
She inserted the needle into Alberto's arm, drawing red liquid. "Purify it—use the vial with the silver filter."
A student handed her the vial. Mira poured the blood in, swirling it. "Watch—it separates the essence."
The blood shimmered, turning clearer.
Lucia frowned. "Will this work? Fernando's paralyzed already."
Mira capped the purified blood. "It has to. The serpent breath bought time, but this is the cure."
She crossed to Fernando's bed, where he lay motionless, eyes half-open but unresponsive.
"Inject here," Mira said to herself, finding a vein in his neck. "Straight to the heart's flow."
She pressed the plunger. "Come on, Fernando. Fight it. Alberto's blood will burn the toxin away."
Fernando's body twitched slightly. "Is it working?" Lucia asked.
Mira monitored his pulse. "His heart's steadying. The paralysis might linger, but he'll live."
Darius called weakly from his bed. "What about me? Am I stable?"
Mira glanced over. "You'll heal. Rest now."
Lucia gripped Alberto's hand. "Wake up, Alberto. We need you."
Mira stepped back. "Give it time. Both of them.”
Mira placed a gentle hand on Lucia's shoulder in the quiet corner of the infirmary wing. "Lucia, you need to say goodbye to Kael before we bury him. The pack is preparing the pyre now. He deserves your words."
Lucia stared at the floor, voice low. "I can't. Seeing him like that... it will break me all over again."
Mira squeezed her shoulder. "You have to. For him. For you. He wouldn't want you hiding from this."
Lucia exhaled shakily. "Fine. Take me to him."
They walked to the small room where Kael lay covered in white cloth. Lucia pulled the sheet back slowly, fingers trembling.
"Kael..." Lucia whispered, brushing hair from his cold forehead. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. I'm sorry I let the curse take over. But I promise you I will avenge your death. Whoever sent those wolves, whoever pulled the strings... they will pay. I swear it on your blood."
She leaned down, pressing her lips to his forehead. "Rest now. I'll make it right."
Mira waited in silence until Lucia straightened, wiping her eyes.
Lucia turned to her. "What about the Southern Ember? Will they come back?"
Mira gave a small, tired smile. "No. They won't attack again. Someone here sent them a false alarm instigated the whole invasion. The misunderstanding has been cleared. Both packs lost people, but the border is holding. No more blood for now."
Lucia nodded slowly. "Good. One less enemy."
A physician hurried in, breathless. "Mira Fernando is awake."
Mira's head snapped up. "He's conscious?"
"Yes. But... come quickly."
Mira rushed to the infirmary room. Fernando sat propped against pillows, eyes open but staring blankly ahead. His face was pale, expression vacant.
"Fernando?" Mira said softly, approaching the bed.
He turned his head slightly toward her voice. "Mira... is that you?"
"It's me." She sat on the edge of the bed. "Can you see me?"
Fernando's brow furrowed. "No. Everything's dark. Just... nothing."
Mira took his hand. "Look straight ahead. Follow my finger with your eyes."
She moved her finger side to side. Fernando's gaze stayed fixed forward.
"Nothing," he confirmed quietly. "I'm blind."
Mira swallowed. "We'll test more. Can you feel this?" She pressed firmly on his right thigh.
Fernando frowned. "I know you're touching me... but I can't feel it properly. It's numb. Dead."
She moved to his left leg. "Here?"
"Same. Nothing below the waist."
Mira's expression tightened. She placed her hand on his chest. "Shift for me. Just a claw. Anything."
Fernando closed his eyes, concentrating. Seconds passed. Nothing happened.
"My wolf..." he whispered. "It's gone. Locked away. I can't reach it."
Mira exhaled. "The silver poison did more damage than we thought. The serpent breath counteracted the worst of it, but the combination... it took your sight, paralyzed your legs, and sealed your wolf."
Fernando's voice cracked. "And Alberto? Is he—"
"Alive," Mira said quickly. "Barely. We used his blood to save you. He's in the next room. Stable, but weak."
Fernando's blind eyes filled with tears. "I can't even go to him. I can't protect him. What kind of mate am I now?"
Mira gripped his hand tighter. "The kind who survived. We'll find a way to fix this. All of it."
Fernando laughed bitterly. "Fix blindness? Fix paralysis? Fix a dead wolf? Good luck."
Mira leaned closer. "I won't give up. Neither should you. Alberto's still fighting. So fight with him."
Fernando turned his head away. "Tell him... tell him I'm sorry. I couldn't keep him safe."
Mira stood. "He'll hear it from you. When he's awake."
She left the room, closing the door softly behind her. Fernando remained seated, staring into darkness, alone with the silence of his broken body.