Chapter 84 Damian's POV
I woke up feeling like death.
My head was pounding, my throat was raw. Every muscle in my body ached like I had been hit by a truck.
I tried to sit up and the room spun violently. I collapsed back onto the pillow, squeezing my eyes shut until the dizziness passed.
Sick. I was actually sick for the first time in three years.
I forced myself out of bed anyway. Elara needed her morning check-up. Her bandages needed changing, her leg needed to be examined for signs of infection.
My needs didn't matter, my patients came first. Always.
I made it to the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face, and looked at myself in the mirror. Pale dark circles under my eyes, slight fever flush on my cheeks.
I looked terrible.
I got dressed anyway and made my way to Elara's quarters, moving carefully so the dizziness wouldn't knock me over.
She was awake when I knocked, sitting by the window reading.
"Good morning," She said, then stopped. "Damian, are you okay?"
"Fine, just tired." I moved to check her leg. "Let's see how you are healing."
I unwrapped the bandages carefully, examining the wound. The silver burn was healing well. The broken bone was set properly and there were no signs of infection or complications.
"This looks good," I said.
"Really good. I think you can start putting more weight on it. Try walking with just one crutch instead of two."
"Really?"
"Really. The bone has healed faster than I expected. Must be the lunar pulse helping." I rewrapped the leg with fresh bandages.
"But don't overdo it, start slow."
"I will. Thank you."
I stood up too quickly and had to grab the chair to steady myself.
"Damian." Elara's voice was sharp with concern. "You are not fine, you are sick."
"Just a little under the weather-”
"You look like you are about to pass out. Have you checked your own temperature?"
"I'm a doctor. I know when I need medical attention."
"And clearly you are ignoring all the signs." She stood carefully, using the chair for support. "When's the last time you ate?"
I tried to remember. "Yesterday maybe."
"Maybe? Damian, you need to take care of yourself too."
"I'm fine-”
"Stop saying that you are not fine."
Her expression softened. "Go back to your room and rest, I will bring you something to eat."
"You are the patient you shouldn't be taking care of me."
"And you're the doctor who's been taking care of me for months. Let someone return the favor for once."
I wanted to argue but another wave of dizziness hit me. "Okay maybe I do need to lie down."
I made it back to my room and collapsed onto the bed fully clothed. The fever was getting worse. I could feel it building, making everything fuzzy and distant.
I closed my eyes and tried to rest but instead of rest, memories came. Standing in front of that grave again. Rain pouring down, her name carved into the simple stone marker.
She had been everything to me my reason for staying in the Dark Moon Pack despite how much I hated it. My anchor when everything else felt wrong and twisted.
And then she died because of things I couldn't stop because the Dark Moon Pack's traditions demanded sacrifices I wasn't willing to make but couldn't prevent.
I had left the day after her funeral, cut all ties, changed my name and sworn I would never go back.
And then Xavier had shown up here. A reminder of everything I had tried to escape.
A knock on my door pulled me from the memories.
"Come in," I called, my voice rough.
Elara entered, carrying a tray. She had somehow managed it with one crutch, moving slowly but steadily.
"I told the kitchen you were sick," She said. "They made soup and tea. And bread because I thought you might need something solid."
She set the tray on my bedside table and looked at me with concern.
"You look worse than you did an hour ago."
"I feel worse than I did an hour ago."
"Have you taken anything? Fever reducer? Pain medication?"
"Not yet."
She found my medical bag and pulled out the appropriate medications, measuring doses with the same careful precision she had watched me use on her dozens of times.
"Take these," She ordered.
I did without arguing. Swallowed the pills with tea that burned going down my sore throat.
She helped me sit up enough to eat the soup. Fed me spoonfuls like I was a child because my hands were shaking too much to hold the bowl steady.
"This is embarrassing," I muttered.
"This is human, everyone gets sick sometimes." She set down the empty bowl. "Even doctors."
She pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down, her injured leg elevated on a footstool.
"Can I ask you something?" She said,
"Depends on the question."
"What happened between you and Xavier? What made you leave the Dark Moon Pack?"
I should have expected this. "It's complicated."
"That's what you keep saying but it's clearly still affecting you, affecting him too."
She paused. "Was it about the pack traditions? The things that disturbed you?"
"Partially."
"And the other part?"
I closed my eyes. "Someone died, someone important to me and I couldn't save her."
"Her?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay." Elara's voice was gentle.
"But Damian... whatever happened, holding onto all that anger and pain isn't healthy. Xavier seems like he wants to talk to explain. Maybe you should let him."
"Some things can't be explained."
"Or maybe you are just not ready to hear the explanation yet."
I opened my eyes and looked at her and really looked at her.
She was sitting there, injured and exhausted, taking care of me when she should be resting. Offering comfort when she had every reason to focus on her own problems.
Beautiful, compassionate , strong in ways I had never been. And completely in love with Kaden, even if she didn't fully realize it yet.
"Don't leave yet," I said. "Please."
"I won't until you are asleep."
"Stay longer than that."
She smiled. "I will stay as long as you need."
The fever was pulling me under making everything soft and distant.
"Thank you," I murmured. "For this, for everything."
"You have done the same for me a hundred times. This is just returning the favor."
My eyes were closing against my will. The medication was kicking in. The exhaustion was too heavy to fight.
I felt her hand take my warm steady grounding.
"Sleep," She said softly. "I will be here."
I slept deeply dreamlessly.
When I woke, the room was dark in the evening, maybe. The fever had broken, leaving me weak but clear-headed.
Elara was still there.
She had fallen asleep in the chair, her head resting on the edge of my bed, her hand still holding mine.
I looked at her sleeping face at the peaceful expression she only wore when unconscious. At the slight smile on her lips like she was dreaming something pleasant.
I should wake her and send her back to her own room where she could rest properly.
But I didn't.
Just watched her for a long moment, memorizing this. Knowing it was one of those perfect moments that would never come again.
Then, without thinking, words came to my lips in the ancient tongue.
"Mentha sorai vendis. Korath sen memoria. Vestha len sorai namai."
The words hung in the quiet room and Elara slept on, unaware.