Chapter Six

Vekra

I cannot keep the pack out, even though I had help.

Before Pa left, he instructed his beta, Rollen to look after the house and not let anyone in.

Rollen stayed outside where he was subjected to insistent questioning by the pack and his worry and paranoia only increased. We are all connected so even though Pa and I did our best trying to conceal it, they must have all felt our distress. And like the pack animals that they are, they are almost compelled to try to help in any way they can.

There are five representatives of the pack in our room now and they suck in identical shocked gasps when they see the state of Ma.

"What in the name of the moon happened to her?" Soya, Alec's mum whispers in horror.

I remain by her side, holding her hand in mine because I just cannot make myself let go. 

I was keeping it together but seeing the concern on their faces makes me even more emotional. A horrible feeling is heaving at my chest, wanting to be let out in the form of ugly hysterical bawling but I cannot break down in front of the pack.

"I don't know." I whisper. "I have no idea."

Somebody help. I don't know how to help her.

"Let me see her." Inan, the pack omega steps forward and puts a hand to Ma's brow. I happily let her, letting go of Ma's hand and stepping back so she can have easy access to her.

"She is so cold." She says. "How long has she been like this?"

"I don't know. But when I got back she was here all along. I have no idea how or when she got like this." I say, feeling helpless and useless. 

Nothing can happen to her, I don't know what I would do otherwise. 

"How long have you been back?" She asks.

"I don't know." I say again.

Time was the last thing I was aware of as I watched for even the smallest twitch in my mother. But she needs the information so I grip my head in my hands and wrack my brain. I feel like I have been here for days.

"I have been back for over an hour." I say. 

"That's a while." She says.

She takes the seat beside my mother and even from here, I can feel the wave of healing energy that she is sharing to her. If it is working, I cannot see it. I start to pace, my heart pumping fear into my veins.

"There is only one thing that this reminds me of. Infection with silver." She says.

A gasp echoes through the room and I stare at her with horror.

"Silver?" I ask in a hiss.

Silver is deadly to werewolves and just the threat of them is enough to be investigated. How would my mother come into contact with silver?

"But she wouldn't be alive by now if she was infected." Inan says. "I have never been so stumped."

"She is not healing, is she?" Rollen asks.

Inan shakes her head. "She is not. I am amazed she is still holding on. I have no idea the amount of pain she must be in right now." She says.

"If her blood is infected, we should use leeches." Ural says. He is one of the pack physicians.

"Right. Leeches." Inan says.

"I'll get them." Soya says, heading out immediately.

Inan looks between Rollen and I.

"Where did the alpha go to?" She asks.

"He didn't tell." Rollen says, sounding disturbed. That makes the two of us.

Inan looks to me.

"He didn't tell me either." I say.

I don't know if I should let them know that Pa looked like he was on his way to face a firing squad.

"The luna is not going to get better lying down here like this. We need his permission to move her. I know a few witches that can try to help her." She says.

At the sound of witches, everyone bristles.

There is just something about those Folk that rub werewolves wrong, and yet I would take their help on my knees if they can save Ma.

I think Pa would feel the same. 

I am about to give permission for her to be moved when the breeze blows the curtains and in front of us, a plastic vial lands on the floor.

My eyes widen and I fly out of my chair, racing for the window.

Rollen gets there before me and shoves the curtain open.

We are both looking out, searching for any sign of an intruder or anyone at all that looks out of place but there is absolutely no one. 

I turn around to find Merrill picking up the vial.

"There is... something in this." He says, handing the vial to Rollen.

Soya rushes back in holding a bucket. It looks like she harvested the entire leech community.

On seeing us, she comes to a halt and approaches more quietly. Inan has left my mother's side and is also looking at the vial.

"Is this what I think it is?" She asks.

I hope to the moon it is what she thinks it is. 

Rollen pulls the stopper on the vial and peers inside. Gingerly, he digs something out and hands it to me.

There is a rolled up piece of paper in my hand and I look up at the faces of my pack, each one bearing the same dread that curdles my stomach. 

I peel open the rolled up paper and spread it, feeling like we are in way deeper shit than we thought we were. When I read the contents, I know it for sure.

"What does it say?" Rollen asks. I turn the paper around and show them all.

'Congratulations on a job well done.

The vial contains the antidote as promised.'

"What job?" Soya asks.

There is no answer because none of us have it. There is only one person that could have the answer and he left, like a man with a mission.

What all six of us know is that things as we know it just ended.

I am immediately in motion.

I snatch the vial from Rollen and run to my mother's bed.

We can all feel the urgency, we can feel the storm brewing outside, we can smell it. 

And yet with sure fingers, I put the vial to my mother's lips and pour all of the contents into her mouth.

I am not even done when the first cry from outside goes up.