Chapter 009\u00a0<\/p>\n
The night had fallen deep by the time I returned to the healer\u2019s tent to check on Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air inside was thick with the sharp scent of herbs and damp linen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia lay where they\u2019d left her \u2013 pale against the rough blankets, sweat glistening on her skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her breath came in uneven gasps, too shallow for comfort.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped closer, my boots soundless on the dirt floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Up close, she looked even smaller. Fragile. But there was something about her -something I couldn\u2019t name.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The fever had her in its grip. Her lips moved soundlessly at first, then formed a single word, soft and broken.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandma\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
The word carried a weight I didn\u2019t expect not fear, but longing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knelt beside her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. Her skin was burning hot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy,\u201d I murmured. \u201cYou\u2019re safe here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t seem to hear me. Her head turned weakly toward my voice, eyes fluttering open for the briefest second \u2013 dark and unfocused, but full of something that caught me off guard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Trust, maybe. Or desperation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she winced, body tensing from the pain in her shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pressed my palm gently against her good arm, grounding her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRest,\u201d I said quietly, more to myself than her. \u201cYou\u2019ve fought enough for one night.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her breathing steadied a little, though her face stayed twisted in fevered dreams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stayed there longer than I meant to, watching her fight the fever\u2019s pull.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside, the wind howled, and for the first time in years, I wasn\u2019t sure who I should be protecting \u2013 My pack, or the girl, fate had dropped bleeding at my feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest is heavy with confusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On one hand, Kaia is lying on her deathbed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the other hand, my pack\u2019s safety is in question.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t realize how long I\u2019d stayed until the flap rustled and the healer stepped in, wiping her hands on a stained cloth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s worse,\u201d the healer, Seira, said quietly. \u201cThe fever broke for a bit, but it came back stronger.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I straightened, my gaze immediately returning to the girl on the cot. \u201cYou said you stabilized her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI did,\u201d the healer replied, fatigue softening her tone. \u201cI managed to stop the bleeding and bring her temperature down enough to keep her breathing steady. But it won\u2019t last.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seira\u2019s eyes fell on Kaia, etched with precision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My jaw flexed. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe needs proper care. An infirmary, medicine, rest. This camp isn\u2019t equipped for that. If you keep her here, she won\u2019t last three days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words hung between us, heavy as the rain outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at Kaia again \u2013 pale lips, trembling hands, the faint hitch in her breathing with every exhale.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The scent of fever and blood clung to her like smoke.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pack infirmary,\u201d I said finally, voice low.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 009\u00a0<\/p>\n
A\u00a0<\/p>\n
The healer hesitated. \u201cYou know what that means. Questions. Rumors. You\u2019d be taking responsibility for her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI already did the moment I brought her in,\u201d I muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The healer\u2019s eyes softened \u2013 not quite approval, but not judgment either.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you\u2019d better decide quickly. She won\u2019t survive another night like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze lingered on Kaia, torn between duty and something I couldn\u2019t name.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why does the thought of leaving her behind rip my heart open?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia has a strong hold on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t let her die.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not when I can do something to help.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep an eye on Kaia. Make sure she doesn\u2019t die.\u201d I ordered before leaving the healer\u2019s tent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I returned to my tent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I exhaled slowly. \u201cPrepare a transport. We leave before dawn.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The camp was restless before dawn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Guards shifting, cars moving, the air thick with the scent of blood and dirt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood by the cars, arms crossed as my Beta approached.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re really doing this?\u201d Beta Zane asked, keeping his voice low.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t look away from the men loading supplies into the cars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe won\u2019t survive another night here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou heard what I said yesterday. The pack will ask questions-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll handle them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beta Zane\u2019s tone sharpened. \u201cTheo, think. You don\u2019t know who she is. What if bringing her in brings trouble to your door? What if she\u2019s a spy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I finally turned, eyes glinting in the dim light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf trouble was coming, it would\u2019ve found us by now. I\u2019m not letting her die because everyone else is afraid of ghosts. Something we don\u2019t have proof of its existence.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then Beta Zane sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. \u201cYou\u2019ve always had a weakness for strays.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My jaw tightened. \u201cShe\u2019s not a stray. She\u2019s different\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beta Zane didn\u2019t argue. He just nodded once, grimly. \u201cThen I hope you\u2019re right. Because if you\u2019re not, we will all pay with our lives\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, he left.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood there watching him leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beta Zane always had my back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019s been my friend since we were kids. We did everything together and won together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the first time, he questioned my decision and turned his back to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mind drifted to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fragile. Sickly. Dying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She needs me more than ever. So, I will risk it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 009\u00a0<\/p>\n
For everything she did when she knew nothing about me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She risked her life for me. So will I.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Soon the car started moving, wheels bumping over uneven ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia sat by my side, unconscious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her neck slumping back and forth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I carefully made her lie on my lap to stop her from straining her neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was still burning up, every breath a struggle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The forest was moving behind us. I watched through the window.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We were finally returning home after being in the forest chasing down the rogues and attackers after my pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the sad state of the woman in my arms stung my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oh gods -I hope nothing bad happens to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking down, I saw Kaia winches her face, despite her unconscious state.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The motion made her stomach twist, and pain lanced through her shoulder, sharp enough to drag a gasp from her throat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I heard it instantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was at her side in a heartbeat, steadying her as her eyes fluttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy,\u201d he murmured. \u201cYou\u2019re safe. Don\u2019t move too much.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia\u2019s eye keeps fluttering. As if, she\u2019s trying to wake herself up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But, she was too weak. Too weak to keep her eyes opened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2026\u201d Her voice cracked, dry and weak. \u201cWhere are you taking me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze softened, but my tone stayed calm. \u201cSomewhere you can heal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her brow furrowed, confusion clouding her fevered eyes. \u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated. \u201cBecause I couldn\u2019t leave you behind.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, she just fell silent and said nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe she doesn\u2019t recognise me anymore. Or the fever is messing with her mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then her lashes fluttered, and she slipped back into the dark.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat back, jaw tight, eyes fixed on the sky where the moon was slowly disappearing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The first pale light of dawn was breaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes returned to Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beta Zane caught my look and muttered, \u201cYou\u2019re fighting so hard, Theo. Let\u2019s just hope she\u2019s worth it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t answer. I only watched the sunrise, my thoughts shattered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe woman pulled me from death, I can\u2019t repay her with abandonment. I\u2019m not like that\u201d I replied, cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beta Zane taunts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t bring everyone who saved you to the Packlands, Theo. It\u2019s a first\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I muttered. Uncertain why.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause they are not Kaia. Kaia\u2026she\u2019s different\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I may not fight for everyone who saved me but I will fight for Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I owed it to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 010\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 9 Chapter 009\u00a0 The night had fallen deep by the time I returned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27254\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}