Chapter 172

Chapter 172
Freya's POV

My heart stopped. 'The kids.'

"Winston, what's happened?" Alexander demanded, immediately shifting into Alpha mode.

"It's young Luke, Alpha," Winston said, his voice trembling. "He suddenly developed a high fever, and the situation is very critical!"

The world tilted sideways. I felt my knees go weak, but Alexander's arm was around me instantly, steadying me.

"What are his symptoms?" I barely recognized my own voice.

"His temperature has spiked to 115 degrees Fahrenheit," Winston continued, his words coming out in a rush. "And there are... strange markings appearing on his skin."

115°F. That was far beyond even normal werewolf fever ranges. 'Oh God, my baby.'

I didn't wait to hear more. I pushed past the elders and ran toward the stairs, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst. Behind me, I heard Alexander's sharp commands to the others, his footsteps thundering after mine.

The hallway to the children's rooms had never felt so long. I burst through Luke's door, and the sight that met me nearly brought me to my knees.

My strong, brave little boy was curled up in his bed, his small face flushed crimson with fever. His body shook with violent tremors, and I could see the strange markings Winston had described - irregular crescent shapes that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly silver light along his arms and neck.

"Mommy?" Luke's voice was barely a whisper, his eyes glassy with fever.

I dropped to my knees beside his bed, gathering him into my arms. His skin was burning hot, far hotter than any fever I'd ever felt.

"I'm here, baby. Mommy's here," I whispered, rocking him gently.

Without thinking, my silver light began to emerge, responding to my desperate need to help him.

But as my silver energy reached toward Luke, something went wrong. Instead of the resonance, there was a violent clash. Luke cried out in pain, his body convulsing as if two opposing forces were battling inside him.

Alexander appeared beside me, his strong arms enveloping both Luke and me. "Caleb!" he barked through the mind-link. "Prepare the fastest route to Moonlight Hospital. Now!"

He lifted both Luke and me effortlessly. "Get Lily and Levi," he commanded one of the servants who had gathered in the doorway. "They're coming with us."

---

The car ride to the hospital was a nightmare of tension and fear. I held Luke against my chest, feeling his labored breathing and the way his small body burned with unnatural heat. Lily and Levi sat in the back seat, their usual chatter replaced by frightened whispers.

"Mommy, I'm scared," Lily said, her voice small and trembling.

"Luke's going to be okay," I said, trying to keep my voice steady even as my wolf howled with maternal panic. "The doctors will help him."

But even as I said it, Luke's condition seemed to be worsening. The silver crescents on his skin were becoming more pronounced, and I could swear I felt ancient power radiating from them - power that felt familiar yet completely foreign.

"Will Luke die?" Levi asked in a tiny voice that shattered my heart.

"No," Alexander said firmly from the driver's seat. "That's not going to happen. I promise."

By the time we arrived at Moonlight Hospital, Luke had lost consciousness. Dr. Aubrey, the pack's most experienced healer, was already waiting for us at the emergency entrance.

"Temperature?" she asked immediately as Alexander carried Luke inside.

"115.7 degrees and climbing," I said, following close behind. "And there are these markings..."

Dr. Aubrey's expression grew grave as she examined the silver crescents covering Luke's small body.

She led us to a private examination room where she began running tests with both modern medical equipment and traditional werewolf healing techniques.

"The blood work shows extremely elevated levels of an unusual protein," Dr. Aubrey explained after what felt like hours. "It's called lunar protein - a compound that exists only in the most ancient bloodlines."

"Ancient bloodlines?" Alexander's voice was sharp with concern.

"This protein typically remains dormant throughout a werewolf's life," Dr. Aubrey continued. "When it activates - usually around age twelve or thirteen - it can enhance certain abilities dramatically. But Luke is only five years old. For it to activate this early..."

She trailed off, clearly troubled.

"What does that mean?" I demanded, my maternal instincts in full panic mode.

"The early activation is causing his immune system to attack itself," Dr. Aubrey said gently. "His body can't handle the power surge at such a young age. In the old texts, they called this condition 'The Moon Goddess's Curse.'"

'Moon Goddess's Curse.' The words sent ice through my veins.

"There has to be a treatment," Alexander said, his Alpha authority bleeding into his voice. "Some way to help him."

Dr. Aubrey's expression was filled with sympathy and frustration. "I'm afraid modern medicine has no cure for this."

The room went deadly quiet except for the beeping of the machines monitoring Luke's vital signs.

"You're telling me there's nothing we can do?" My voice came out as a broken whisper.

Before Dr. Aubrey could answer, there was a commotion in the hallway. The door burst open, and my father rushed in, his face wild with panic.

Dad had obviously run here - his usually perfectly groomed appearance was disheveled, and he was still breathing hard. His eyes immediately found Luke on the hospital bed, and I watched in shock as all the color drained from his face.

"No," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Not again. This can't be happening again."

Dad's reaction was so extreme that even Alexander took notice, his eyes narrowing as he studied my father's face.

"Dad?" I approached him cautiously. "What do you mean, 'again'?"

Dad's gaze was fixed on the marks adorning Luke's skin, and I could see his hands trembling. When he looked up at me, there was something in his eyes I'd never seen before - a deep, ancient fear mixed with guilt.

"Those markings," he said hoarsely. "They're exactly like... exactly like your mother had when she..."

He couldn't finish the sentence, but my heart rate spiked. "When she what, Dad?"

The machines monitoring Luke suddenly started beeping frantically. Dr. Aubrey rushed to check the readings, her face grave.

"His condition is deteriorating rapidly," she announced. "We need to stabilize him immediately."

But as she worked, I kept my eyes on my father. Whatever he knew about my mother - about this condition - it might be the key to saving Luke.

"Dad," I said, my voice stronger now despite my fear. "If you know something that could help Luke, please. I'm begging you."

Dad looked between me and Luke, his internal struggle written clearly across his features. Finally, he took a shaky breath.

"There are things about your mother I never told you," he began, his voice heavy with years of secrecy. "Things I promised her I would take to my grave."

The room seemed to hold its breath as Dad continued, his words barely above a whisper.

"But seeing Luke like this... Maybe it's time you knew the truth about who Juniper White really was."

Alexander moved closer to me, his protective presence giving me strength as I waited for my father to continue.

"She wasn't just Juniper White," Dad said, his voice growing stronger with resolve. "Her real name was Amelia Faith. And she was the lost princess of the Nightshade Pack."

"I know that already! But I need more—like how mom really died," I shouted angrily.

Dad stared at me, completely shocked. "You—how could you possibly know?"

"That's not important right now. We need to save Luke!"