Chapter 43 How she survived.

Chapter 43 How she survived.
Madison Smith - POV

Luna Chanel, Elijah’s mother, was pronounced dead more than five years ago. It came as a surprise and shock because she and her husband were brutally murdered by a group of rogues. And even though we found the alpha’s body, we never found Luna Chanel’s body.

Yet she was pronounced dead, and no one questioned it further. “I can feel the magic fade away, Elijah," she choked out while I stood as still as a statue.

"Don't worry, Mom. I have found where Antonella is hiding. I will bring her back as soon as I can.” Elijah promised her when she raised her right hand and placed it on his cheek.

“We have only a few days left," she told him in a warning tone when he nodded his head.

“I know," he whispered as he bent down and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.

Luna Chanel was the most beautiful and graceful Luna in this part of the state. There was not a soul who didn't know, but right now I was almost second-guessing if it was truly here. Her once porcelain and flawless skin now looked burned and wrinkled, and it was sticking to her bones. Her cheeks had sunken in while her eyes were almost pitch black.

Her once luscious brown hair has turned into a dirty grey color with half of it already fallen out. “Mom, this would be Doctor Riley’s new assistant.” "Elijah said, breaking me from my train of thoughts." He got up and moved aside so I was in her sight.

Her eyes scrunched with suspicion when she looked at her son again. “Where is the old nurse?” she asked him.

“There was a rogue attack on our border, Mom. "Doctor Riley was attacked, but the nurse was killed," Elijah explained.

“Did you give her the drink?” Luna Chanel asked Elijah, nodding his head.

“I have to deal with some work, Mom. "I will see you later?” Elijah asked her when she nodded her head. Elijah glanced at Doctor Riley, silently asking her to come with him before he walked out of the room.

“Come with me," Doctor Riley told me when I nodded my head, and we walked out. Elijah was waiting for us in the small kitchen, and he immediately turned to face us as soon as we walked inside.

“She doesn't look too well since there are only a few days left for the blood moon. I want you to stay here full time to look after her.” Elijah instructed.

“But Alpha Alastair, what about the pack members? I have scheduled a lot of appointments for tomorrow," Doctor Riley informed.

“I will arrange for someone else to take care of it," he told her when he nodded his head and soon walked out.

“Can you heat some hot water and bring it to the room?” Doctor Riley asked me when I nodded my head as she walked out. We spend the rest of the day in the cabin tending to Luna Chanel. The job wasn't easy, but I didn't complain.

Finally, around three pm we took a break and sat in the living room with a cup of tea. “Doctor Riley," I said when she looked up from her cup.

“I know you have a lot of questions running through your mind. So ask," she told me in a casual tone.

"Aren't you worried that I might retell everything you said to someone else?” I asked her when a bitter laugh left her mouth.

“The potion you drank isn't a joke, Susan. The moment you even think about telling this to someone else, your body will start shutting down and you will die within five minutes," she told me, and I know that she wasn't lying.

“Is that Alpha Alastair’s mother?” I asked her when she nodded her head.

“Everyone believed that she died in that rogue attack. Even Alpha Alastair did so, but a year after that incident, a woman came to our border and insisted on meeting Alpha Elijah. At first he was skeptical, but then when he went to meet her, he was shocked. His mother wasn't dead.”

“How was that possible?” I asked her.

“The rogues managed to kill her husband, but she was still holding onto life when an old witch was passing by. She took pity on Luna Chanel, so she took her to her cabin and gave her life. But it did come with consequences. Luna Chanel was only able to live for six years, and then she would perish. But in order to live longer, she needs to sacrifice a wolf who is not our own.”

“Not our own? What does that mean?” I asked her when she shook her head.

“I don't know, but I guess Alpha Elijah knows what it is. Anyway, he needs to bring that wolf to the witch before the blood moon.”

“So if he delays, she would die?” I asked her when she nodded her head.

But why is he hiding his mother in these woods? Why can't he keep her in his house?” I asked her confusedly when a bitter smile crossed her face.

“It is against the law to use witchcraft among our kind, Susan. If the elder’s council gets wind of this situation, they will execute Alpha Elijah without a trial. And for Luna Chanel…” she trailed off when I saw a faraway look appear on her face. “She would be put to rest.”

“But what if Alpha Elijah achieves his goals? How is he going to keep Luna Chanel with him?” I asked her when she shrugged her shoulders.

“I don't know. But he must have already thought of a plan for that.” Doctor Riley said.

So this is the secret that Elijah was hiding from the rest of the world. But why is he so desperate to bring Antonella back home?

“Do you…” I was interrupted when the monitor that was on the coffee table beeped loudly, and Doctor Riley quickly got up from her place.

“I won't be needing you for the rest of the day, Susan. You can go home and come back at two pm tomorrow," Doctor Riley told me before she walked towards Luna Chanel’s room.