Chapter 117 THE CURE

Chapter 117 THE CURE
Celestia's Pov

After I heard about the illness, I went straight to find Lucian. He was in a meeting with his advisors about the illness but I knocked on the door anyway because this could not wait.

"I am sorry to interrupt but I have important information about the mysterious illness," I said.

Lucian looked up and immediately excused his advisors. Once we were alone he came over to me looking concerned.

"What did you find out?" Lucian asked.

"I do not think this is a natural illness. I think it is a magical contamination. An ancient curse," I said.

"A curse? Celestia are you sure?" Lucian asked.

"Yes. I read about it in an old text when I was living with the rogues. I studied everything I could about pack history and ancient practices because I had nothing else to do. One of the texts described a water curse that has the same symptoms as what people are experiencing now," I explained.

"Show me," Lucian said.

I pulled out my phone and showed him photos I had taken of the relevant pages from the old text. The book was handwritten and the language was archaic but the descriptions were clear.

Lucian read through them carefully and I could see him making connections.

"The rashes form patterns. That is what you noticed right?" Lucian asked.

“Yes. In natural illnesses rashes spread randomly. But these rashes form specific shapes and symbols. That is a sign of magical contamination, not biological illness,” I explained.

The room stiffened.

Dr. Stevens leaned closer to the screen, his brow furrowing. “You’re saying this was crafted?”

“Yes,” I said. “Designed. The patterns are too precise to be accidental. Someone embedded spellwork into the substance contaminating the water. That’s why your tests can’t identify it—it’s layered with magic meant to disguise its signature.”

A low murmur rippled through the council.

Lucian’s jaw clenched. “Which means whoever did this has access to advanced ritual knowledge,” he said slowly. “And enough power to affect multiple packs at once.”

I nodded. “This isn’t a warning. It’s a message.”

And the worst part?

We still didn’t know who it was meant for.

"If this is a curse then how do we break it? How do we cure the people who are sick?" Lucian asked.

"There is a healing ritual described in the text. It requires someone with a blessed wolf to go to the source of the contamination and perform a cleansing ceremony. The ritual takes several days and requires specific herbs and incantations. But if done correctly it will purify the water and cure everyone who is sick," I explained.

"You have a blessed wolf. The Moon Goddess gave you one during your time in exile. That means you could perform this ritual," Lucian said.

"Yes. I am probably one of the only people who can do it. Blessed wolves are rare and most people with that gift do not know the ancient rituals anymore. But I studied them. I learned everything I could because I wanted to understand my power," I said.

"Where is the source of the contamination? Where would you need to perform this ritual?" Lucian asked.

"According to the reports Thelma showed me the contamination originates from a river in Brazen Pack territory. That is where I would need to go," I said.

Lucian’s expression darkened, and I knew why. He did not want me to go back to Brazen Pack. Not after everything that had happened there.

The memory hung between us—unspoken, heavy. Brazen Pack wasn’t just another territory to me. It was a place layered with betrayal, blood, and scars that hadn’t fully healed. Sending me back there wasn’t just a strategic risk. It was personal.

“I should be the one to go,” I said quietly, already anticipating his objection. “They know me. If this is magical in nature, whoever did this will be watching for someone who understands their work.”

Lucian’s eyes flashed. “That’s exactly why you’re not going,” he said. “You’re too valuable—and too exposed.”

I held his gaze, refusing to back down. “And if this is connected to what happened before?” I asked. “If it’s meant for me?”

Silence fell.

Because we were both thinking the same thing.

Brazen Pack wasn’t just the source.

It might be the target.

"Is there any other way? Can the ritual be performed somewhere else?" Lucian asked.

"No. It has to be done at the source where the curse was placed. If I try to do it anywhere else it will not work," I said.

"Then we will go together. I am not letting you go back there alone," Lucian said.

"I was hoping you would say that. I do not think I can face that place by myself," I admitted.

"How long will the ritual take?" Lucian asked.

"At least three days. Maybe longer depending on how strong the curse is. I will need to stay near the river the entire time and perform the cleansing at dawn and dusk each day," I explained.

"So we would need to stay in Brazen Pack for close to a week," Lucian said.

"Yes. Is that a problem?" I asked.

"Not a problem exactly. But it will be difficult for you to be there that long. And Raphael will probably not be happy about us staying in his territory," Lucian said.

"Raphael does not have a choice. His pack is affected by this illness too. If he wants his people cured he will have to allow me to perform the ritual. And that means giving us access to stay there for as long as needed," I said.

"You are right. Let me contact him and make the arrangements. We will leave tomorrow morning. That will give you time to prepare everything you need for the ritual," Lucian said.

"There is one more thing," I said carefully.

"What is it?" Lucian asked.

"Going back to Brazen Pack allows me to investigate what happened to my parents and siblings. If I am going to be there for several days I can look through old pack records and talk to people who might know something. This could be my chance to finally get answers," I said.

Lucian looked at me with concern in his eyes.

"Are you sure you want to do that while also performing a complex healing ritual? That is a lot to take on at once," Lucian said.

"I can handle it. This might be my only chance to get into Brazen Pack with a legitimate reason to be there. Once I cure this illness I probably will not be welcome back. So I need to use this time wisely," I said.

"Alright. But promise me you will be careful. If things get too difficult or too dangerous we leave immediately. Your safety is more important than revenge," Lucian said.

"I promise. I will be careful," I said.

Lucian made calls to Raphael and the other affected Alphas to explain that we had identified the illness as a magical curse and that I could cure it with a healing ritual. Raphael was skeptical at first but when Lucian explained that the alternative was watching more people die he agreed to give us full access to Brazen Pack territory.

I spent the rest of the day preparing for the ritual. I needed to gather specific herbs and materials that were described in the old text. Some of them were easy to find but others were rare and I had to send people to search for them.

Thelma helped me organize everything and made sure I had all the supplies I needed.

"Are you really going back to Brazen Pack? After everything that place did to you?" Thelma asked.

"I do not have a choice. People are dying and I am the only one who can save them. Even if some of those people were part of the pack that exiled me I cannot just let them die," I said.

"You are a better person than I would be. If I were you I would let that pack suffer after what they did," Thelma said.

"Part of me wants to do that. Part of me wants to watch them all get sick and suffer. But that would make me just as bad as Eclipse and Medea. I cannot let revenge turn me into a monster," I said.