Unknown

Celine POV

I'm carried from the pack's grounds and to a small camping area. Sabastian goes into a tent and sits me on a table.

"Her wounds are infected; she also looks severely dehydrated." He looks from me to the woman. She smiles and steps forward.

"I'm Aurlena, the royal flight doctor. Is it okay to check your wounds?" She smiles at me, and I glance around.

"It's safe, I promise." Sebastian looks at me. The only times I went to doctors were to create more pain, not less. My head shakes, and I move off the hospital table and into a corner.

They always leave me weak; it takes too much energy, and I won't let them. Sebastian kneels ahead of him.

"I promise we won't do anything but check you," he whispers.

"I'm not a fool," I whisper, wiping my eyes.

He gently holds my chin so I'm facing him. "I promise, as King, I swear down no one will do anything but check your wounds. If you need treatment, then I will discuss it with you," he looks at me. I'm not sure. I feel like this is a trap.

It wouldn't be the first time people lied.

"We could sedate her?" The doctor looks at me, and I panic.

"No!" Sebastian shouts and holds his hand up to her. "No, we do it in her time and her way. Don't." He whispers and turns to look at me. "I promise no one will hurt you. I will stay right by your side the entire time."

He waits, and slowly, I nod. He wraps his arms around me and picks me up, carrying me to the table. Sitting, I cling to him as the doctor steps forward.

"No!" I can't.

"Look at me. Focus on me," Sebastian grips my hands and places them where his heart is. "Just count each beat, calm down. You're safe now." His words have me nodding. Closing my eyes, I focus on his heart. Each beat calms me until I feel her fingers touch me.

I tense, and he grips me more. "You're safe," he whispers into my ear.

I'm safe. I repeat the words to myself.

"She needs some sort of treatment. She has infections. Your Majesty, they won't go on their own." The doctor speaks, and I turn. "I suggest we give her a dose of this," she holds out a vial. Screaming, I run to the corner and hide.

"Stop! Everyone get out," Sebastian shouts, and I hear people leave. He appears around the corner and sits in front of me.

"I won't drink it!" I won't do it; they will have to force me to do it like everyone else.

"What? That isn't what it is." His head tilts in confusion. "What is your name?" He sits waiting.

"Celine," I whisper.

"Well, Celine, can I explain what is in that vial? You can still refuse it, but let me explain." He looks at me, and I nod. He smiles slightly. "It's antibiotics. To help heal those wounds of yours that are infected. You have a fever caused by the infection; if left, it can be deadly." He looks at me and waits.

My head shakes.

"I promise, it's nothing bad. It's just antibiotics with a bit of magic to speed up the process," he says.

My body runs cold, and I begin to hyperventilate. He's lying and tricking me. I know he is.

"Woah, calm down before you pass out. What did I say that made you scared?" He looks at me and waits.

"Magic," I whisper.

"You're scared of doctors and magic; why?" His head tilts, and he looks at me as if he's confused by it. Why would he be confused?

"The doctors hurt me," I whisper. His eyes widen. "I'm forced to drink that," I point to the vial, and everything burns, everything hurts, and then I'm weak for days after. Sometimes I pass out. I won't drink it. The magic makes me dizzy and weak." I refuse to do it.

"Celine, I promise my doctor won't hurt you. That vial isn't for you to drink; it's an injection; it gets into your system quicker and speeds up the healing," he grasps my hands. "Celine, you're very ill. You can refuse, and I will let you, but you may die if the infection gets worse." He looks at me and waits.

I don't know what to do. If I trusted him, he could hurt me more just because I trusted him.

"Will you agree? Then we can also give you fluids and something to remove the wolfbane from your system. Then you will feel your wolf."

My wolf? My eyes widen. "I don't have one," now I know he's lying.

"You have a wolf, Celine! My..." he stops. "Helios can sense it. It's just muted under the wolfbane and magic."

I don't know what to believe right now. I've never had a wolf. I can never remember having a wolf. Surely he's lying?

"Have you ever sat there and felt like your heart was fluttering? But you felt normal, calm?" he asks, and I nod. His smile widens. "That was your wolf. When that happened, how long was it before you saw who you believed was a doctor?"

I don't know. I sit and consider it. "The same day," I whisper, and he nods.

"I think what they have forced you to drink was wolfbane. That is why it hurt. I could be wrong, but for it to happen when you begin to feel your wolf means they wanted it restricted."

Maybe he's right. There is a connection. When I felt that fluttering in my chest, I did get dragged to the doctor.

"Please, just let us try to help you." He looks at me, waiting. Slowly, I nod, and he lifts me up. "Aurlena," he calls out, and I watch the doctor walk in.

"Yes, your Majesty?" She curtsies slightly.

"Give her clean antibiotics, yes, they will take longer, but she's scared of magic, so clean antibiotics," he explains, and I smile; I'm glad he has removed the magic.