Chapter 81: Chapter 81: A Fragile Thread of Hope
SONIA’S POV
I had just finished arranging the bed I laid on when the door opened, and a girl walked into the room. The soft creak of the hinges broke the quiet morning stillness. Sunlight from the window caught her silver hair, making it shine like threads of moonlight.
I turned around, and discovered she was staring at me with an unreadable expression on her face. Her eyes moved slowly over me, taking in every detail. She went ahead to look at me from head to toe, before the semblance of a smile graced her face. It was small at first, but it softened her features and made the room feel a little less heavy.
"You look like you survived. Maybe Beta Blane did know what he was doing after all," she said. Her voice was light, carrying a hint of surprise.
I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact it was him who saved me. I didn’t expect it to happen, and knew that because it had happened, he would be in trouble with Ramon. The thought made my stomach twist with guilt. More than ever before, I wished there was something I could do to help him escape the troubles that were sure to follow him after helping me. My fingers twisted the edge of my dress nervously as the worry settled deeper.
"I’m Sonia," I stretched out my hand to her. My palm felt slightly damp from nerves. "I’m guessing this is your room? Thanks for allowing me to spend the night." The words came out quiet but sincere. The fabric of the dress felt soft against my skin, a small comfort in the middle of everything.
She accepted my handshake, and I saw her smile broaden. Her grip was warm and steady. I felt at peace in my heart because it seemed like she was a kind person, and I had little to worry about being backstabbed. The simple touch grounded me, reminding me that not everyone in this pack wanted me broken.
"Beta Blane asked me to bring you to Ivy’s room. We have to be careful because the alpha is going to be away for just an hour. The guards around the hallway where the sick people are taken should be on a short break now. Before they swap, we have to take advantage of their absence." Her voice dropped lower, careful and urgent.
I nodded to show I was listening attentively, and ready to act on her suggestions. It wasn’t lost on me how fast Beta Blane moved. He was in serious trouble with Ramon for helping me before, yet he didn’t hesitate to help me again. The weight of that kindness sat heavy on my shoulders.
My body may not have totally forgiven his invasion, but at least I recognized the hypocrisy in desiring Ramon who had done nothing but hurt me over and over again. The thought made my cheeks warm with shame, but I pushed it down for now.
"I didn’t get your name?" I withdrew my attention from Ramon, whose image had sprung up in my mind the second I thought of him, and brought it back to the silver-headed girl. Her hair caught the light again as she moved, reminding me of fresh snow under moonlight.
"Crystal," she said. The name suited her — clear and bright.
Crystal escorted me past the places where the guards wouldn’t see us. We moved quietly through side corridors, our footsteps soft on the wooden floors. The air smelled faintly of herbs and cleaning soap. She stopped just at the door Ivy was kept in. The wood looked old but sturdy, with faint scratches near the bottom.
"This is as far as I can follow you. I have to return to my duties," she said. Her voice was low, almost a whisper.
I hugged her, and felt her jerk in surprise. She wasn’t expecting me to, but I didn’t know any other way to show my appreciation. Her body felt warm and solid against mine for a brief moment.
"Thanks for helping me. I won’t forget you." My words were muffled against her shoulder.
To my surprise, she brought her palms to my cheeks and cupped them gently. Her hands were cool and soft, like morning dew on leaves.
"You’re so beautiful and worthy of a good life. Don’t give up," she said as if she was breathing life into me. Her eyes held mine for a second longer, full of quiet strength.
In a split second, she disappeared out of sight, leaving only the echoes of her kind words behind. The hallway felt emptier without her.
I took a deep breath, and faced the door. The wood felt cool under my fingertips. I couldn’t feel Ivy. It was expected because she was unconscious. Another day in there, and there would be serious life-altering consequences. The thought made my chest tighten with urgency.
I knocked softly, and opened the door. The hinges creaked quietly as it swung inward. The room smelled stronger here—thick with medicine, burnt herbs, and the faint metallic trace of old pain.
"I’ve been waiting for you," the man from the other day said, without looking up. He was bent over a small table, mixing something in a bowl. His back looked tense, shoulders hunched from exhaustion.
He was the pack’s doctor. From this side, and judging by how tense his back was, I could tell he was tired and needed to rest. The lines on his face seemed deeper today, and his hands moved slower than before.
I walked up to him, and placed my hand on his shoulders. The fabric of his shirt felt slightly damp from sweat. He turned, and offered me a weak smile. It didn’t reach his eyes, but it was kind.
"How did you manage to damn the alpha’s fury?" He asked. His voice was rough, like he hadn’t slept much.
I opened my mouth ready to tell him how Blane had helped, when I quickly bit it hard in silence. I couldn’t rat out Blane. I requested his help. If there was anyone to bear the consequences, it had to be me. The words stayed locked in my throat.
"I just found a way here. How is she?" My voice came out softer than I meant it to.
"Not good," he turned back to her stagnant body. The sheets around Ivy looked too still, too white against her skin. "I told the alpha she’s not doing good, and I’ve exhausted all of my ideas. He doesn’t take me seriously. He doesn’t believe that a seasoned doctor like me could possibly run out of ideas. How else do I let him know that we can’t possibly know everything?"
The veins in his face had multiplied since the last time I saw him. From the tone of his voice, and the veins in his forehead, I could tell he was very worried and weary. His hands trembled slightly as he adjusted a bandage.
Alpha Ramon’s biggest downside was his stubbornness. He simply refuses to compromise on his ideas. The memory of his angry face flashed in my mind, making my stomach twist again.
However, I could also see his compassion. The way he treated Ivy didn’t look like she was just a servant too. Almost as if he loved her. The thought sent a sharp pang through my chest, but I pushed it away.
Envy from the depths of hell sniped at me, and I instantly felt disgusted with myself. Who cared if Ramon loved her? This was Ivy here. The only person that cared about me when every other person I encountered sneered at me. She was good to me, and now I had to be extra good to her.
"Would you mind if I make certain suggestions? You can take credit for it. I’ll just tell you what I think should be done, and you can do it." My voice was steady, even though my hands still shook a little at my sides.
He laughed bitterly, shaking his head as he did. The sound was tired, without much joy.
"I’m not a man filled with pride, Sonia. I don’t need anyone to make themselves small for me to look big. If you can heal the girl, do it. I’ll look out for Ramon for you."
Tears stung my eyes as I massaged his shoulders gently. The muscles there felt knotted and tight under my fingers.
"I’ll do everything I can. I promise." The words felt heavy but true on my tongue.
"I know you will," he moved to stand, and I let go of his shoulders. "Tell me, what can I do to help?"
I looked around the room. I was right in my mind. A room could affect the health of a person. The air here felt heavy and stale, pressing down on everything.
"First, we need to change her room to a brighter place. Then we need to get rid of the bandage. I know what your idea was when you did that, but I think it has already served its purpose. It’s time to let a natural element like air do what it’s supposed to do." My voice grew stronger as I spoke, the healer in me taking over.
He nodded. "Wait here for me. I’ll call two of the guards to help move her to another room. If we’re lucky, Ramon would be none the wiser when we’re done."
As he walked away, I went to Ivy and sat beside her. The bed dipped slightly under my weight. Her face looked too pale, almost gray under the bandages.
"You’ll be fine," I said to her soul, hoping and praying that she could hear me. My hand rested lightly on the edge of the sheet, careful not to disturb anything yet.
In the midst of my prayers, the other side of me wondered what my fate would be if Ramon walked in through that door. The thought made my breath catch in my throat. I closed my eyes and focused on Ivy instead, pushing the fear down as far as it would go.
