Chapter 103 Peace at Last

Chapter 103 Peace at Last
LYLA

Zephyr stumbled into the mansion, looking like he had been in an accident. Blood stuck to his skin, and his hair was a wild mess.
I immediately got to my feet, my heart beating fast at the sight. I knew where he had been and what he had gone to do, but I hadn't expected him to look this wrecked.
"Oh my God, Zephyr…" I rushed to him and grabbed his arm before he could brush past me.

"I'm fine," he said, but his voice was ragged. He tore at what was left of his shirt and tossed it aside. I then noticed a hole in his shoulder, with black blood slowly oozing out. It looked like a bullet wound, and it didn't look good. 
I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand. "Zephyr… what…"
"Silver," he spat, wincing as he lowered himself into a chair. "I need to get the bullet out before it poisons me further."
He glared at the doorway, gritting his teeth. "TROY!"

"H-he's out back with Athena," I stammered, turning to run. "I'll get Garrett…"
But Garrett was already coming in from the hall, drawn by the shouting. His eyes widened at the sight of the blood. "Alpha…"
"There's a silver bullet in there." Zephyr cut in. "I need you to get it out." He squeezed the arm of the chair so hard it creaked. "I can't heal with it in me. And God… it fucking stings."
Garrett nodded. "Hold on. I'll get a knife. And alcohol."

Zephyr leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes against the throbbing pain.
I sat beside him, resting a hand on his thigh as an act of comfort. "It's okay, baby. You'll be fine soon."
He smiled in pain, opening his eyes. "I've got something for you… but only after…" He grunted, looking at the wound. "After we get this fucking thing out of me."
Garrett returned quickly, carrying a smoking-hot knife, a roll of cotton and bandage, a shallow dish, and a bottle of alcohol.
He set them on the side table, lowering himself to kneel.
"Ready?" he asked.
Zephyr nodded stiffly, unbuckling his belt and sliding it between his teeth to bite down.
Garrett looked at me. "Luna, you might want to turn away for this."
I shook my head, swallowing. "No. I'm staying right here."

I was terrified. Seeing black blood ooze from the hole in his shoulder was scary. But no matter how bad it got, I wasn't going to leave him.
Garrett exhaled, shifting closer and inspecting the wound. "It's close to the surface. I'll have to cut a little."
I held Zephyr's hand, kissing the back of his palm. "I'm here, baby. I'm not going anywhere."
He glanced at me, forcing a smile.

Garrett clasped Zephyr's shoulder firmly with one hand to hold him still. And with the other, he placed the hot knife against the wound.
The sizzling of burning flesh interrupted the calm atmosphere.
Zephyr jerked suddenly, his teeth clenching tightly around the belt as a muffled growl of pain escaped him.

Garrett worked fast. He pressed the tip of the knife in carefully but firmly, widening the wound enough to dig out the bullet. Thick black blood, poisoned with silver, spilled out. 
"I see it," he muttered, concentrating.
My stomach turned at the smell of burnt flesh and blood, but I held onto Zephyr's hand.
"Hold on, Alpha," Garrett said faintly, twisting the knife in the wound. "Almost… there…"

The veins in Zephyr's neck stood out as his teeth dug deeper into the belt, ripping it apart. His green eyes changed to red, his claws starting to grow out, scratching me in the process, but I didn't mind.
I knew it was his wolf trying to defend him. 
"I got it," Garrett announced triumphantly at the same time the bullet dropped into the dish. 
Zephyr relaxed, slumping back into the chair and breathing harshly. 
Gradually, his eyes returned to their normal colour, and his claws withdrew. 

The ruined belt fell from his teeth, his head weakly rolling to the side to rest on my shoulder.
I held him tenderly. 
Garrett opened the bottle of alcohol and poured it over the wound, causing Zephyr to grunt in pain.
But then he stilled.

I wiped away tears I hadn't even known had gathered in my eyes and leaned in closer, brushing sweaty hair from his forehead.
"You're alright, baby. It's out. You did it."
"That fucking hurt," he said faintly. 

I nodded, caressing his cheek. "I know. You're going to heal now. The poison is out."
Garrett pressed a thick wad of cotton against the wound and began wrapping it lightly with bandages. When he finished, he rose to his feet.
"Thank you, Garrett," I said sincerely.
Zephyr gave him a nod of thanks as well. Garrett nodded back, gathered the supplies, and left the room.

I turned back to Zephyr, scrutinizing his face. "How was it? Seeing Elliott… Where is he now?"
In response, Zephyr shifted in the chair, reaching into the back pocket of his slacks. When he pulled his hand out, I stilled.
He was holding the doll. The voodoo doll.
An ugly, ominous-looking thing.
That was the surprise he was talking about. 
My breathing seemed to falter. Even from here, it looked so sinister.

Zephyr held it out to me gently, but I didn't move to take it. I could only stare at it in shock, and something close to pain.
That was it. That was the thing responsible for my suffering. My infertility.
"Elliott had it," Zephyr said quietly. "We're taking it to Agnes. She'll unbind it. You're going to be free, Wildflower."
When I finally looked up at him, my eyes were full of tears.
He watched me carefully, his expression softening even further, though the lines of pain from his wound still dwelled on his face.

"I promise you," he said. "We're ending this. You'll be free, Lyla."
My fingers shook as I finally reached out to take the doll from him. It felt wrong in my palm.
Gulping hard, I fought back the tears.
"S-something like this decides my future? This… thing?"

Zephyr gently cupped my face with his hand. "Not anymore."
I nodded, sniffing and wiping my tears. "So, what happened to Elliott?" I asked carefully.
"He's dead." Zephyr shifted in his seat. "I killed him," he said flatly. But even in the calm way he spoke, I could see how much it affected him. 
"Oh, Zeph," I whispered, reaching for his hand.
"He had to die," he insisted, hardness creeping into his voice. "He hurt you."

I squeezed his fingers gently. "How do you feel?" I asked softly. "It couldn't have been easy. He was like a father to you once."
Zephyr's jaw ticked. "Well… it doesn't matter now."
He looked away, uncomfortable.
"Come here," I whispered, opening my arms to him.
He let out a breath and leaned into me. I wrapped my arms around him, avoiding his wounded shoulder as I pulled him close. He rested his forehead against my collarbone, and for a moment, the strong, terrifying Alpha that had walked into the mansion not long ago was just my husband.
A man grieving the loss of someone he'd once called family… even if that man had betrayed us in the worst way.