The words felt like a dagger, twisting deeper with every syllable. My throat tightened, and I struggled to find my voice.
“We’ve done everything we could,” Bertha continued, her tone heavy with regret. “If he stays longer, his suffering will only grow. I hate saying this, but you need to prepare yourself.”
My legs felt like they would give out beneath me. The world blurred as her words sank in.
I walked home alone, my mind spinning. Wolves greeted me as I passed, but I barely registered their presence. This morning, I was at the hospital with Kael, surrounded by healers and helpers. But now, I returned without him, a hollow shell of myself.
Every step felt like dragging boulders, my heart too heavy to bear. The image of Kael’s frail body flashed in my mind, and my knees nearly buckled.
When I arrived at the common den, Lucian was seated on the couch, casually flipping through papers. His calm, indifferent demeanor was a cruel contrast to the storm raging inside me. If he wasn't with my sister Talia, he was always working.
Summoning what little strength I had left, I crossed the room and sank into the couch opposite him. My shoulders slumped, tears threatening to spill.