Chapter 218 BLEEDING OUT
Mirabelle
I'm glad I went to talk to him. I found out things—things William and Annabel would've likely kept hidden forever if Percival hadn’t done what he did. Darius wasn’t well. Not in the head.
After leaving Percival, I had considered marching straight to William and Annabel, calling them out. They don’t deserve to be called Luna and Alpha.
Then there was the moon. She showed me something that night. Made it clear. Percival's life was in real danger.
I had rushed back to his cabin. And thank God I did. When I got there, he was just lying in the bathtub... bleeding out. He'd cut his wrist.
He said he was feeling sick—blamed it on accidentally cutting himself with silver. A stubborn wound, one that refused to heal.
He was having a hard time... struggling to hold on. All he wanted was to be there for Edeline and their pup, trying to grasp onto something, anything, while mumbling under his breath. He was clinging to those last moments.
Dealing with suicide... it's complicated. When it’s done, there’s this crushing sense of finality, like life has no meaning anymore. But right after? The body fights back. Some give in, letting their spirit drift away, while others... they fight. They realize too late that it was a mistake, but by then, it’s done. The wolves? They don’t howl for the ones who give up on the moon’s gift—life itself.
When I found him, I knew I had to act fast. The bleeding was bad, but there was still time. I called Doc immediately. He was already on his way, speeding over in the emergency truck.
I grabbed a plain metal knife and went to work, cutting away the skin that had been burned by the silver. Once I removed it, his wound finally started to heal... but he’d already lost too much blood. He was out cold by the time Doc arrived.
Doc made it just in time. Together, we got Percival to the clinic, and they worked quickly—right before his pulse faded away.
They hooked him up to the machines, getting his blood moving again. Jackie, the nurse, called William and Annabel. Soon after, Nixx, Jack, and Dahlia showed up too. The waiting room filled with tears and tension as we waited for news.
Today feels heavy. That weight... it’s hanging over all of us. We lost a wolf last night, and now he lies cold in the morgue.
Last night, I did not think it was the right time to start a war, especially with all the sadness hanging in the air. The night was heavy—so much loss, so much grief. My heart felt weighed down by it all. In the end, I decided to let it go. I spent the night lingering, waiting anxiously for any updates. Finally, around 3 a.m., Doc came out and told us that Percival had returned. Still alive... Still unconscious, but he would make it. Relief washed over me.
With that news, I knew it was time to head home. My body ached for sleep, but when I finally got to bed, it was fitful and brief. Still, something about the night felt like a small miracle—like my prayers to the moon had been answered. There is something reassuring about moments of clarity like that.
I woke up this morning to the shrill sound of my phone ringing. The number on the screen was unfamiliar.
It was Edeline.
I told her everything, all the details I had been holding in. It was time. I knew I needed to prepare myself for what was coming next. There was so much truth left to uncover.
As for Percival, he was alright. No one needed to worry about him, but I wanted to make it clear to him that his actions could never be repeated. The moon would not show mercy a second time. He was the first person I needed to see.
As I made my way down the road, my feet moved at a steady, relaxed pace. The cool autumn breeze felt wonderful on my skin, crisp and refreshing. It was one of those small moments you take for granted but find yourself missing later.
Still, I could not help but think to myself, Maybe it is time to stop wearing these heels. They were not exactly practical, and the uneven roads around here made walking in them a pain. With a small laugh, I shook my head at how my thoughts drifted so easily to things like that.
I reached the Pack House, only to stop in my tracks, stunned by the scene in front of me. Wolves were scattered all over the property, moving in groups, talking in hushed tones. There was a palpable tension in the air, like something big was about to happen.
My curiosity got the better of me, and I wandered over to a group of young adults, barely out of their teenage years. Their faces were filled with excitement and nervous energy, like they were discussing something they should not have been.
"We were just talking about Percival," one of them said as I approached. "You know, how he took down Darius. His own brother. And how he might end up dead for it."
The words hit hard, but I kept my expression neutral. Percival was not strong, not like the others. It was no secret. And yet, the weight of his actions was undeniable. He had killed his own sibling, and after his partner left him, he had spiraled into such despair that he had tried to end his life.
The group’s frustration was clear. Edeline had left, and it had upset everyone. She had been a favorite, admired for her strength in a time when everything was falling apart.
"People are talking about taking Percival out," another one said, their voice lower, conspiratorial. "They have to do it before his trial though. If they wait, there won’t be any title left for him."
There was a murmur of agreement. Everyone thought Nixx would take over as leader, but no one was talking about William or Dahlia anymore. It was like their mistakes had been erased, swept under the rug, while all the attention focused on Percival.