< Chapter 73: Desperate Me.
Chapter 73: Desperate Measures–1
Chapter 73: Desperate Measures
(Olivia’s POV)
The past week had been a whirlwind of activity. Between court hearings for Noah’s case and coordinating his occupational injury assessments, I barely had time to breathe. My amber eyes burned from lack of sleep as I reviewed the latest medical reports.
The weather forecast on my phone showed a severe cold snap approaching–temperatures would plummet to -4°C by tomorrow night. My wolf instincts immediately turned protective, concerned for Noah and Leah Pierce in their hospital rooms.
I called Emma Thompson, my assistant, asking her to purchase warm clothes, thick blankets, and heating
pads for the siblings.
“Make sure they’re quality items,” I instructed. “And get extra blankets for Leah–her condition makes her especially vulnerable to cold.”
“Of course,” Emma replied. “I’ll take care of it right away.”
Three hours later, Emma returned to my office. One look at her face told me something was wrong. Her eyes were red–rimmed, and she seemed on the verge of tears.
“Emma? What happened?” I asked, rising from my desk.
She placed the shopping receipts on my desk with trembling hands. “I delivered everything to the hospital as you asked.”
“And?” I prompted gently.
“I spoke with Leah’s doctor.” Emma’s voice cracked. “He says without a bone marrow match for her rare wolfsbane poisoning, she has maybe two months left.”
The news hit me like a physical blow. My amber eyes widened with shock, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. “That can’t be right,” I finally managed. “The registry is still searching. They’ll find a match.”
Emma wiped at her eyes. “The doctor said her type is extremely rare. They’ve already searched the entire Northern Territory database with no matches.”
“Then we’ll expand the search,” I said firmly, my wolf rising protectively. “We’ll find someone.”
“What if we don’t?” Emma whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. “She’s just a child, Olivia. She doesn’t deserve this.”
I moved around my desk and took Emma’s hands in mine. “Listen to me. Leah Pierce is not going to die. I
won’t allow it.”
My voice carried an unusual intensity that surprised even me. My wolf was fully alert now, bristling at the threat to someone I’d come to care about.
“We will find a match,” I insisted. “I promise you that.”
Emma nodded, drawing strength from my certainty. But as she left my office, the weight of that promise
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< Chapter 73 Desperate Me
settled heavily on my shoulders.
I immediately called the werewolf bone marrow registry, my fingers drumming anxiously on my desk as I
waited for someone to answer.
“Northern Territory Registry, how may I help you?” a pleasant female voice answered.
“This is Olivia Winters,” I said. “I’m calling about Leah Pierce’s case”
There was a brief pause. “Yes, Ms. Winters. We have your contact information as her advocate.”
“Has there been any progress finding a match?” I asked, trying to keep the desperation from my voice.
“I’m afraid not,” she replied sympathetically. “We’ve expanded the search to neighboring territories, but her particular condition requires a very specific match.”
I closed my eyes, fighting back frustration. “Please keep searching. Money is no object.”
“Of course, Ms. Winters. We’ll notify you immediately if we find a potential donor.”
After hanging up, I stared out my office window at the darkening sky. The first snowflakes had begun to fall, a harbinger of the cold snap to come.
That evening, Connor picked me up for dinner at Moonlight Bistro, an upscale restaurant in Harbor City. Despite the romantic setting–soft lighting, elegant table settings, and the gentle notes of a piano in the background–I couldn’t focus on the meal before me.
“You’ve barely touched your venison,” Connor observed, his ice–blue eyes studying me with concern. “What’s troubling you, Livvy?”
I set down my fork with a sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good company tonight.”
“Tell me what’s wrong,” he said, reaching across the table to take my hand.
The warmth of his touch was comforting, and I found myself telling him everything about the Pierce siblings -their tragic circumstances, Noah’s workplace injury, and now Leah’s dire prognosis.
“The doctor gave her two months without a bone marrow match,” I concluded, my voice tight with emotion. “She’s just seventeen, Connor. She’s never even had a chance to live.”
Connor listened intently, his expression growing more serious with each detail.
“I’m worried about offering a reward,” I admitted. “If word gets out that I’m willing to pay for a donor, it might attract unscrupulous wolves looking to exploit the situation.”
Connor’s fingers tightened around mine, his ice–blue eyes warming with affection. “Let me handle this, Liv.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I have connections throughout multiple territories,” he explained, his voice carrying the quiet confidence of an Alpha. “I can arrange for discreet testing of potential donors without raising suspicions or inviting exploitation.”
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