32. Rip
Chapter 32
Rip
A unt Imelda brings Tallie’s hand up to her lips, pressing a soft kiss to it. Somewhere between the woods and the infirmary, my cousin lost her hold on her wolf and shifted back to her human body. It happened so quickly.
As soon as I placed her in the last available bed in the infirmary, I went to find my aunt. Her face of abject horror when I told her about Tallie will stay with me for the rest of my life.
She places another thick blanket on top of Tallie, the color stark against Tallie’s too pale skin, before scooting her chair closer to her bedside. It’s late, and my aunt should sleep, but I don’t dare suggest she leave her daughter. Even if I insist, Imelda won’t leave. I know my stubborn aunt too well.
“Can I get you anything?” I feel so fucking helpless, watching my cousin just lie there unconscious. I need to do something, not just sit around here while Tallie gets progressively worse.
Imelda shakes her head, like I suspected she would. “ I’m fine. Let the healers know to check in on her when they are able.”
It’s a kind dismissal, but a dismissal nonetheless. I lean down and kiss her temple before showing myself out. I pass rooms of families all gathered around their loved ones. Their attention is on me as I pass. I see nothing but pain and sadness in their expressions, and it only serves to drive the knife deeper into my chest.
The cursed sickness. The rogues. Michael. The Nephilim are all tests of my ability as King Alpha. So far, I have failed my pack around every corner.
I round the hallway that opens to a waiting room. Grass and Hettie are curled up on a small couch, huddled close together. Hettie’s red-rimmed eyes stare off at nothing. Grass lifts his head when he notices me.
It takes Hettie longer to notice I’m here, but when it finally registers, she jumps off the couch and hurries over to me. At first, it looks like she’s going to hug me, and my body stiffens. She notices, and her face falls, stopping a few feet in front of me.
“How is she?” she asks softly.
A part of me wants to scream and tell her she has no right to ask such questions. To yell and demand what would even possess her to bring Tallie into her plan. We’re walking a fine line right now because I can’t control my anger. I don’t want to say something I might regret later.
So I keep my answers brief. “Sick. She won’t wake up.”
The worry on her face only amplifies. “Not at all? Have you tried?—?
“Why were you out tonight?” The harshness in my voice silences Hettie. She retreats into herself, and our bond feels empty. Desolate.
“I thought I could help,” she whispers .
“Help? You thought you could help?” I bark out a bitter laugh. “No, Hettie, this wasn’t help. Not only did you put yourself in danger, but you involved my cousin and Grass too. All of you could be dead right now. Do you understand how idiotic your actions were?”
“I didn’t mean for it to go this way.”
“But it did!” I don’t realize I’ve raised my voice until a healer peeks around the corner to see what the commotion is. “Your actions and choices have consequences.”
“I didn’t know. I really—I’m so sorry.” Hettie chokes back a sob, tears welling in her eyes. She searches my face for understanding, something I just can’t give her right now.
“You’re our pack Luna. You came here to help us, not to put the pack in more danger.”
“I know. I know that. Rip, I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry isn’t going to fix this, Hettie!” I don’t mean to blow up. It pains me to see her retreat into herself and cry harder. I want to console her, but I also want my space. She lied to me. Broke her promise. And now people are hurt because of it.
I sigh, doing my best to calm down and lower my voice. It’s late, and I don’t want to disturb the patients. “Just…go. Go back to the packhouse. I’m staying here for the night.” I need the space. Time to think properly. “I’ll send guards to escort you back.” I turn to leave, but Hettie reaches out for my hand.
“Wait,” she pleads.
I don’t speak, but I stop walking, allowing her a moment. She rummages through her coat pockets before producing a handful of weeds. I don’t see the purple flowers at first until Hettie hands them over. “Wolfsbane. We found some. It’s not enough to cure everyone, but it’s something. ”
No, it’s hardly enough to cure a handful of people. Anger flares to life again inside me. She risked her life and that of my cousin for this?
I snatch the wolfsbane from her hands. “I’ll give it to Lucielle.” And hope she can make the cure before Tallie gets any worse. I try not to dwell on the fact that she’s taking the cure from someone who has been in this condition longer, and, because of that, we may have more deaths on our hands.
I leave Hettie crying behind me. I’ve said enough for the night. I motion for the guard standing watch in the hallway to escort her home.
Hettie doesn’t argue. She accepts her fate, giving me one last longing look. It breaks my heart. Breaks my fucking spirit, but I do and say nothing. Betrayal cuts too deep.
“I’m sorry,” she mouths one last time before following her escort back to the packhouse, leaving me alone to clean up the mess she’s created.