Chapter 185: Lost Her Wolf Spirit

Chapter 185: Lost Her Wolf Spirit
Zephyra's POV

"This is what I've always wanted to hear you say," she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. "I'm sorry too... for all the trouble I've caused you. I love you, Zephyra, and I wish I could stay with you, but I can't."

A cold dread washed over me. "What do you mean?"

Fiora's eyes dimmed slightly, and I could see the effort it took for her to maintain her form. "I'm tired, Zephyra. So tired... I'm too far gone, and no one can help me anymore."

"No..." My voice cracked as understanding dawned. "You can't leave me. I won't let you leave me."

She pressed her forehead against mine, a gesture so tender it broke my heart. "I'll always be with you, just not in this reality... Take care of Ophelia, love her unconditionally. Be happy with Noah, embrace life fully. I love you, Zephyra."

Tears streamed down my face as I desperately clutched at her. "Please don't leave me."

"It's time, Zephyra," she whispered, her voice growing fainter.

I watched in horror as Fiora closed her eyes, her breathing slowing until it stopped altogether. Her body went limp in my arms, and I felt something fundamental break inside me. A piece of my soul had been ripped away.

I held her body, sobbing uncontrollably, refusing to let go. "Come back," I begged between gasps. "Please come back to me. I need you. I can't do this without you."

But there was no response. No movement. No life.

Eventually, I had to accept what had happened. I gently laid Fiora down, lying beside her to memorize every detail of her face, her fur, the peaceful expression she now wore.

"I love you, Fiora," I choked out. "Always will."

As I lay there, I remembered Lily's warning. She'd told me I would lose someone I loved, and now I understood. I'd lost Fiora, my wolf spirit, my other half.

Exhaustion overtook me, my eyelids growing heavy. I closed my eyes, still silently begging for Fiora to return, to prove this was just a nightmare. But deep down, I knew the truth.

---

The steady beeping of a heart monitor was the first thing I became aware of, though my eyes remained closed. The antiseptic smell of a hospital room filled my nostrils. I felt a warm hand holding mine, a thumb gently stroking my skin.

Noah sat beside my hospital bed, his head bowed over our joined hands. His usually perfect hair was disheveled, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and several days' worth of stubble covered his jaw. He looked like he hadn't slept properly in days.

"Please wake up, my love," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "The doctors don't know if you will, but I know better. You're the strongest person I've ever met."

I wanted to respond, to squeeze his hand, but my body felt impossibly heavy. Through slitted eyes, I could see the room was filled with flowers, balloons, and get-well cards. How long had I been here?

"Lily keeps asking when you'll come home," Noah continued, unaware I could hear him. "She misses you so much. We all do." His voice broke. "I promised her you'd be okay, but it's been almost three weeks, and I'm starting to lose faith."

Three weeks? I'd been unconscious for three weeks?

"I should have protected you better," he said, guilt lacing his words. "When I found you with blood coming from your nose and mouth, when I smelled the silver replacing your scent... I've never been so terrified."

He paused, swallowing hard. "You told me you loved me. You made me promise to take care of Ophelia. Then you just... stopped breathing in my arms."

I remembered now. The silver injection. The burning pain. Noah holding me as darkness closed in.

"When Dominic found us, I was crying, begging you not to leave me," Noah confessed. "We rushed you to the Moonlight Medical Center. They managed to clear the silver from your bloodstream, but the damage was already done. You fell into a coma."

He lifted our joined hands, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. "Please come back to me, my love."

I focused all my energy on moving my fingers, on letting him know I was here. It felt like trying to lift a mountain with my pinky.

Noah rested his head against our hands, his eyes closed. "Moon Goddess, I know I've made mistakes. I know I don't deserve her. But please, if you bring her back to me, I swear I'll be the best mate anyone could ask for. I'll cherish her every day. Just please, don't take her from me."

With enormous effort, I managed to lift my fingers enough to brush against his hair. At first, he didn't react, probably thinking it was his imagination. But when I did it again, his head shot up, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Zephyra?" he whispered, voice trembling.

I summoned every ounce of strength I had. "Noah," I croaked, my voice barely audible after weeks of disuse.

His beautiful face crumpled with relief and joy. "You're awake," he breathed, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to my lips. "You came back to me."

The doctor arrived shortly after, checking my vitals and examining me thoroughly. He seemed pleasantly surprised by my condition, telling Noah that I should make a full recovery within days. When he left, Noah returned immediately to my side, his eyes never leaving my face, as if afraid I might disappear.

Then it hit me—the empty space inside where Fiora had always been. The void was palpable, a cold hollowness that made me feel incomplete. Tears welled in my eyes and spilled over.

"What's wrong?" Noah asked, alarmed. "Are you in pain? Should I call the doctor back?"

I shook my head, unable to speak through my sobs. He gathered me carefully in his arms, mindful of the IV lines.

"I lost Fiora," I finally managed to say, my voice breaking. "I lost my wolf spirit."

Noah went still, and I felt him inhale deeply, confirming what I'd said. The unique scent that marked me as a wolf was gone. In its place was only my human scent.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, holding me tighter. "I'm so, so sorry, Zephyra."

I clung to him, letting the grief wash over me. "Do you still want me?" I asked through my tears. "Even without my wolf spirit?"

Noah pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his expression fierce. "I fell in love with you, Zephyra. Not because you had a wolf spirit, so yes, I still want you. I will always want you. I will never give up on you or let you go."

"But the pack?" I worried. "Without Fiora, I can't be a Luna."

He shook his head, brushing away my tears with his thumbs. "Who says? They'll accept you because they already love you... Everyone has been praying for your recovery."

I looked around the room, noticing for the first time just how many flowers, balloons, and cards filled every available space. The outpouring of support was overwhelming.

Noah cupped my face in his hands. "I love you, Zephyra, with or without Fiora. I want you to be mine. Will you have me?"

I was silent for a moment, processing everything. The grief of losing Fiora was raw and painful, but Noah's love offered a lifeline in the darkness. I reached up to wipe away my tears, then gave him a small smile.

"I love you too, Noah," I said softly.