Chapter 42
Tori's POV:
I looked at the silver-haired woman standing before us.
Her piercing silver eyes seemed to strip away every pretense, studying me as if she could read the very secrets of my soul.
I glanced questioningly at Lucas, wondering why he'd brought me to this remote location.
"This is Elena Bennett," Lucas explained, his deep voice breaking the silence.
"She's a retired wolf healer and Matthew's mentor. She has rarely seen anyone these years."
A pause, then he added with quiet confidence, "There are a few problems she can't solve."
I blinked in surprise. After all this trouble, all the mysterious driving through the forest, he had brought me to see... a doctor? I hadn't expected that.
"It's an honor to meet you, Dr. Bennett," I said politely, extending my hand.
The silver-haired woman smiled, the expression softening her stern features.
"The honor is mine, young one. Please, call me Elena."
Her voice carried the gentle rasp of age but maintained a clear strength beneath. "Other than Matthew's occasional visits, it's been quite some time since I've had new faces at my door."
She motioned for us to follow her inside the stone structure.
The interior was surprisingly warm and well-lit, with shelves lined with ancient-looking books, dried herbs hanging from wooden beams, and various crystals catching the light from small windows high in the walls.
A fire crackled in a stone hearth, filling the space with the scent of cedar and something herbal I couldn't identify.
Lucas and I followed Elena through the main room into what appeared to be a treatment area.
Simple wooden furniture occupied the space—a padded examination table, several chairs, and cabinets filled with jars of various colors and sizes.
"Please, sit here," Elena instructed, indicating a chair near the center of the room.
I obeyed while she gathered several items from her cabinets—a small silver bowl, various herbs, and what looked like moonstone dust.
Elena worked methodically, preparing whatever ancient diagnostic method she intended to use. Finally, she approached me with the silver bowl, which now contained a mixture of herbs and crushed crystals.
"Hold out your hands, palms up," she directed.
I did as instructed, and she sprinkled a small amount of the mixture onto my palms. The powder felt cool against my skin, almost electric.
Elena closed her eyes and placed her hands over mine without touching them, hovering just above the mixture.
After several minutes of silence, she frowned and shook her head.
"I see Matthew's skills have deteriorated somewhat. This is why we shouldn't completely abandon the old ways in favor of modern medicine."
Lucas stepped forward slightly. "What do you mean?"
Elena's silver eyes opened, her gaze sharp and penetrating.
"Matthew only mentioned severe stomach damage, but that's not the complete picture." She looked directly at me. "Your wolf and your spirit have suffered significant damage as well."
My heart clenched in my chest.
During my four years in Silver Fang prison, both my body and spirit had suffered severe damage.
The harsh conditions there had left wounds that ran deep, but there had been no chance for proper treatment behind those walls.
Since my release, one crisis had followed another, leaving me no time to address my deteriorating health.
More importantly, I simply didn't have enough moonstones for medical care. But damage to Tracy and my spirit? That sounded far more serious than I had allowed myself to acknowledge.
I turned instinctively toward Lucas, seeking... what? Reassurance? Explanation? I wasn't sure, but when I looked up, I realized he had moved to stand directly behind my chair.
From my seated position, his tall frame seemed to envelop me, creating the illusion that he was cradling me in his embrace.
Something strange happened in that moment.
The fear that had begun to coil in my chest suddenly dissipated, replaced by an inexplicable sense of safety.
I didn't want to admit it, but the feeling was undeniable. Real. With him standing there, I wasn't afraid anymore."
"Can this condition be treated?" Lucas asked, his voice calm.
Elena tilted her head, studying us both with those knowing silver eyes.
"Yes, it can be treated," she said finally. "But it will take time—more time than you might expect. The damage has accumulated for at least 4 years, I suspect, and healing will not happen overnight."
"What should we do?" Lucas asked.
Elena moved to one of her cabinets, pulling out small jars of herbs and powders.
"For the stomach issues, I'll prepare some medicine that needs to be taken regularly."
She measured ingredients with practiced precision. "Regular meals are essential. The body needs consistent nourishment to heal."
She paused, looking at me directly. "As for your wolf and spirit... if I'm not mistaken, you've experienced severe trauma."
Her voice softened with understanding. "This kind of spiritual damage is irreversible under normal circumstances."
She glanced briefly at Lucas before returning her gaze to me. "The only remedy is an equal measure of love to counterbalance what was taken from you. That part, I'm afraid, depends entirely on your own fate."
Lucas nodded, absorbing her words. "Thank you, Elena."
Elena smiled warmly. "I should be the one thanking you, Alpha. Those moonlight herbs you sent will keep me experimenting for quite some time."
I stole a glance at Lucas, and the familiar ache of indebtedness washed over me. Hour by hour, what I owed him grew more impossible to repay.
The drive back was noticeably more somber than our journey there.
I was lost in my own thoughts when the car slowed and pulled into the parking lot of an upscale restaurant.
"I'm not hungry," I said quickly as Lucas turned off the engine.
He didn't respond. Instead, he stepped out of the car, walked around to my side, and opened the door.
"Get out," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I remained seated, my gaze meeting his in silent defiance. I didn't want another debt, another meal to add to the growing list of things I could never repay.
Lucas studied me for a moment, his jaw tightening at my stubbornness.
Then, without warning, he leaned into the car, one arm braced against the door frame near my shoulder, the other hand gripping the armrest on my opposite side.
"You..." I widened my eyes, unable to hide the startled reaction.
Lucas's sharply defined face was mere inches from mine. His blue eyes were so intense, I felt I might drown in them.
"Why are you being so disobedient? Hmm?"