Chapter 78
Now, Lowell has been made the Lycan King, but his heart is restless. The weight of a crown cannot compare to the fear of losing her. He observes Nana on the bed, her weak body slowly breathing while her skin and lips are dry. She appears delicate… much more fragile than a woman who had once confronted him without batting an eye. Now the slightest motion makes her tremble.
She begins to stir, her eyes opening up with a heavy lid. The first thing she sees is him. There’s bewilderment intermingled with fear in her eyes. “I…” Her voice is faint. “I’m… free?”
Lowell clears his throat. He feels desperate to scream yes while wanting to wrap her in his arms and tell her that it’s all done and no one will ever hurt her again. “You’re safe,” he whispers. “You’re with me.” And he brushes his thumb on her forehead.
Her lips tremble. Tears gather in her eyes but do not fall. She doesn’t believe it. He can see it.
The healer’s words echo in his mind. Cover her in your scent… she needs your strength now. The blood in her veins isn’t meant for a non-Lycan body. No medicine can fix it.
Lowell slides into the bed carefully, his arm going around her frail body. He pulls her close, letting his scent surround her completely. His heart beats loudly against her ear. He knows she can hear it. He wants her to hear it.
“Breathe me in,” he whispers. “Let me hold you.”
She closes her eyes, tears finally slipping down her cheeks. Her body shudders, whether from exhaustion or fear, he cannot tell.
His hands tremble as he strokes her back. This isn’t supposed to happen. Not to her. He buries his face in her hair, closing his eyes tightly.
Joy, disbelief, terror — all three emotions war inside him. He has been crowned the Lycan King, and yet, he feels powerless. What use is a crown when the one person he wants to protect is slipping away before his eyes?
“I will find a way,” he whispers, as if making a vow to the heavens. “I swear, Nana. I will find a way.”
She shifts weakly in his arms, trying to sit up. Her hand grips his arm lightly.
“Don’t,” he says quickly, holding her in place.
But she shakes her head slowly. “I need to… I need to try.”
Her voice is hoarse, barely audible. But the determination in her eyes… it shatters him.
“Nana,” he breathes, his voice thick with emotion, “you don’t have to prove anything. Please… just rest.”
But she’s already pushing herself up, teeth clenched, her small frame trembling with the effort. Her legs dangle off the side of the bed. She tries to place her feet on the ground.
Lowell can’t stop her. His hands hover, ready to catch her if she falls.
“Nana… please,” he whispers again, his voice breaking.
She lowers her feet slowly. Her toes touch the cold floor. She sways. Her breath hitches.
And then, she forces herself to stand.
Lowell’s breath catches in his throat. His heart pounds painfully.
She wobbles, her knees nearly giving out. But she remains standing. Her face contorts in pain, but her eyes — those beautiful, defiant eyes — hold firm.
“I can’t be weak,” she whispers, mostly to herself. “I can’t…”
Tears burn in Lowell’s eyes. He watches, torn between awe and heartbreak.
“You’re not weak,” he whispers hoarsely. “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known.”
She exhales shakily and takes a step. Her body trembles violently, but she moves forward.
Lowell moves with her, his hands ready but not touching unless she asks for it. He knows her pride. He knows she needs this.
Another step. She stumbles.
Lowell lunges, catching her before she hits the floor. He cradles her gently, pressing her against his chest.
“You’ve done enough,” he whispers. His voice breaks completely.
She sobs against him, her strength gone. Her body is limp in his arms. He lifts her easily and places her back on the bed, covering her with the soft blanket.
He sits beside her, holding her hand. His thumb brushes over her knuckles gently.
“I’m so proud of you,” he murmurs.
She smiles faintly, exhausted. “I tried.”
“And you did more than I could’ve asked for,” he replies. His voice is low, thick with emotion.
He leans forward and presses a kiss to her forehead, lingering there.
“I won’t lose you,” he whispers. His jaw tightens. His heart feels heavy.
She closes her eyes again, her breathing shallow. Her body is fighting a war it was never built for.
Lowell leans back, his gaze fixed on her face. He memorizes every line, every feature, every fragile breath.
I will find a way, he vows again. I have to.
Her hand squeezes his weakly. Her eyes flutter open one more time.
“I’m… proud of you too,” she whispers.
Lowell’s breath hitches. He can’t respond. He just leans down and presses his forehead against hers.
At that moment, nothing else matters. Not the crown, not the power, not the title. Only her.
Lowell carries Nana gently into his room, shutting the door softly behind them. He refuses to leave her side. His room, once cold and structured, now feels like a safe place for her. He lowers her carefully onto the large bed, piling soft blankets around her.
“Nana,” he whispers, brushing her hair back. Her skin is burning. The fever has returned, stronger than before.
She groans softly, her body shivering and burning all at once.
Lowell clenches his jaw, fighting the panic rising in his chest. He pours warm water into a bowl and wets a cloth, pressing it to her forehead.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers. “You’re safe.”
But she doesn’t respond. Her eyelids flutter, and her breathing is shallow.
He can’t watch her suffer like this. He orders food and warm soup to be brought up, hoping it might help. But when the food arrives, she barely manages a spoonful before nausea hits, and she turns her head away.
Her body trembles violently. He pulls her into his arms, holding her as close as he can, wrapping her in his warmth and scent. He knows it helps, but only so much.
“Nana… please,” he whispers. He’s pleading now — with her, with fate, with anything that will listen.
She whimpers softly, curling into him. He strokes her back gently.
Minutes turn into hours. The fever rages, her body caught in endless waves of shivering and burning pain. He holds her through it all, never letting go.
When she finally drifts into restless sleep, Lowell stands and paces the room, running a hand through his hair. He can’t just sit here, watching her waste away.
He strides out of the room and finds Nathan’s father in the hall. The older man stops, his face serious.
“I need answers,” Lowell says, his voice low but firm.
Nathan’s father nods, understanding the urgency. He gestures for Lowell to follow him to his study.
Once inside, Lowell closes the door. “Tell me,” he demands. “Is there a cure? Something to protect her? Anything?”
The older man exhales slowly, his face tight with concern. “Lowell… you need to prepare yourself.”
Lowell’s chest tightens. “I’m not preparing for anything. She’s not dying. There has to be a way.”
Nathan’s father looks down at his hands. “In all my years, I have never seen a non-Lycan woman survive carrying a Lycan pup.”
Lowell stares at him, his breath caught in his throat.
“No,” he says, shaking his head.
“I’m telling you the truth,” the man continues gently. “The blood of a Lycan pup is strong… too strong for a human or even a wolf who isn’t a Lycan. The body can’t handle it. It destroys them from the inside.”
Lowell takes a step back, his heart racing. “No… I won’t accept that.”
“I wish I could give you hope,” the man says softly. “But there’s no recorded survival. None.”
Lowell’s fists clench at his sides. “Then we’ll be the first,” he growls.
The older man places a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll help you. We’ll do everything we can. But you need to understand the risk.”
Lowell shrugs the hand off and turns away, his chest heaving. He storms back to his room.
Inside, Nana is awake now, her eyes glassy but alert.
“Lowell,” she whispers weakly.
He rushes to her side, kneeling by the bed. “I’m here.”
She touches his cheek with trembling fingers. “I heard… I heard you talking.”
His breath catches. He takes her hand in his.
“You’re going to be okay,” he says firmly.
She smiles faintly, but tears well in her eyes. “I’m scared.”
He pulls her into his arms, holding her tightly. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I swear it.”
She buries her face in his chest. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“You won’t,” he whispers fiercely. “You won’t.”
He rocks her gently, trying to ease her pain.
The night stretches on. The fever rises again. She cries out in pain, her body wracked with sudden spasms.
Lowell holds her, whispering soothing words, wiping her sweat, cooling her burning skin.
When the worst of it passes, she lies limp in his arms, exhausted.
He brushes her damp hair from her face. “You’re so strong,” he whispers.
“I don’t feel strong,” she breathes.
He kisses her forehead. “You are. You’re my mate after all”
She closes her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks even though she was smiling.
He holds her through the night, refusing to sleep, refusing to leave her side.
As the first light of dawn creeps into the room, her breathing steadies slightly.
Lowell finally lets out a shaky breath, pressing his forehead to hers.
“We’re going to fight this,” he whispers.