Chapter 158
Elena’s POV
The drive back to the Ironpaw pack felt both endless and fleeting. Yeah, I know. I kind of weird description, but that’s how I felt.
Rafael, who was obviously exhausted, probably not just from last night’s event but from all the years he was alone facing a goddess who knew what, had been asleep all throughout the ride.
His small, fragile body reminded me of how much he must have endured all these years. And the emre thought of those things I couldn’t even imagine brought more ache in my heart.
When we finally arrived in the pack house, the sky was already a hint of orange as the sun started to set.
Jayden and Zara were already waiting at the front porch with a huge smile on their faces, ready to welcome us.
Tyson hurriedly got out of the driver’s seat and went to open the door for us.
As Deacon carefully lifted Rafael from the seat, a small group emerged from the house, signalled by Jayden and Zara who had an expectant look on their faces.
The group was led by Dr. Aris, our newly hired pack’s doctor, together with a few of the warriors. Her face, usually serene, held a look of grave concern as her eyes fell upon the boy in Deacon’s arms.
“He needs to be examined immediately, Princess Elena,” Dr. Aris said, her voice calm but firm and with a hint of
urgency.
She gestured at the stretcher brought by the two warriors and politely asked Deacon to lay him in there. “Bring him inside,” she ordered her nurse assistant, who hurriedly obeyed her words.
We moved quickly, Deacon and I walking with them as they carried Rafael directly to the small infirmary wing of the house. As Dr. Aris began her assessment with professionally precise, gentle movements, I found myself pacing the hallway outside, the scent of antiseptic doing little to calm my nerves.
Deacon stood silently beside me with a comforting hand on my back.
While we waited, a few familiar faces appeared.
One of them was a pack elder.
He looked as though he had just woken up. His eyes were wise and kind–looking as he approached me.
“Princess Elena,” he rumbled, his gaze full of sympathy.
“Is this…?” he pointed out at the open–door room where Rafael was being examined. He couldn’t even complete his words as his eyes glistened with hope and so many emotions while looking at him.
I simply nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Fate really does work in mysterious ways. He’s home now.”
His words, though meant to comfort, only deepened the ache in my chest. The part of me that reminded me of the days he was alone in those places.
A few minutes later, more and more members of the pack started to wake up and gather around. They would give a quick glance at Rafael, their emotions filling the air with love, pain, and hope.
After a while, I had to dismiss some of them and tell them they could wait for the news soon and take a rest first, leaving only Deacon and me in the hallway.
1/3
The wait felt like an eternity.
+25 Bonus
Every quiet murmur from inside, every rustle of fabric, sent a fresh wave of anxiety through me.
Finally, Dr. Aris emerged from the room, pulling out her gloves and mask, her grim expression evident.
She closed the door softly behind her, after letting me have a quick glance at sleeping Rafel.
Her gaze then met mine, and I knew instantly that her news would be devastating
“Princess Elena,” she began, her voice laced with heaviness that made my heart clench.
“Rafael is… he’s been through a lot. Physically, he’s severely malnourished, as expected. But there’s more.” She paused, taking a deep breath as she flipped through her medical clipboard, where his laboratory results were clipped.
“He had multiple untreated injuries, old and new,” she started, pointing from one paper to another. “He also has broken ribs that healed improperly, deep bruising, and scars that proved repeated abuse.”
My breath hitched, a silent scream caught in my throat.
I wanted to storm out and hunt whoever hurt him and put them six feet below the ground.
It’s no surprise that some of his injuries wouldn’t heal. After all, he’s still a minor and hadn’t shifted yet. He didn’t have his wolf’s consciousness to help him heal faster
“And,” she continued, her voice dropping to a near whisper, “There’s evidence of poisoning. Low–grade, but consistent. It looks like he’s been regularly given something to suppress his wolf abilities, to keep him weak, perhaps to prevent his first shift.”
The words hit me harder than any pain I had for years.
Poisoned.
Abused.
My nephew, my brother’s son… the apple of our eyes… had been living a nightmare I couldn’t even fathom. And I wasn’t there by his side.
The image of him looking so fierce and yet scared earlier flashed before my eyes. He wasn’t just running from hunger or solidarity, but from torture he had been receiving all these years.
My vision blurred, tears stinging my eyes.
My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms, trying to ground myself against the tidal wave of grie and
rage
that threatened to consume me.
Deacon’s arm wrapped around me, pulling me into his strong embrace.
Couldn’t contain my grievance, I buried my face in his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist tightly, looking for support as the dam of emotions within me finally broke.
“We’ll fix this, Elena,” Deacon murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “We’ll heal him. We’ll protect him. No one will ever hurt him again.”
His words served as a lifeline for me at this moment, pulling me back from the brink of despair and giving me the courage and hope I needed.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it won’t be impossible.
The physical wounds were one thing, but the scars on his soul would take far longer to mend.
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But as I held onto Deacon, feeling his steady strength, a flere determination ignited within me.
Rafael was home. And now, the real fight began: the fight to give him back his life.
I’m not here. I’ll make sure to make up for the times I wasnt by his side.
D
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
