Alpha Callum read the message one more time. His teeth were clenched in anger. He shoved the crumpled paper into the pocket of his black hooded jacket to hide his identity while visiting Luna Clarice's room. He heard the news that she had been ill for a long time and dying that's why he wanted to see her one last time.
But he did not expect the shocking revelation she wrote in her letter which completely shaken him.
He shut his eyes for a few seconds as the past came rushing back to his mind on one fateful night when it all started.
No, it's not the right time to reminisce about the past. He needs to save Clarice before it's too late.
Shaking his head, he walked to the door and exited the room.
"Let's make this discreet," Alpha Callum told the servant.
"I know a secret path that will lead to the other building without being seen, Alpha," Lorey said in a low voice.
"Lead the way," Alpha Callum replied in a hard tone. He put the hood on his head and sent a mind link message to Beta Amir, informing him that he would be gone for a few minutes to visit a friend in need.
Alpha Callum followed the servant to the back of the house via the secret door.
They entered another building that was remotely connected to the mansion.
They walked into the hallway and entered the dying Luna's room.
Lorey locked the door the moment they entered the room, fearing someone would discover she had brought another person into the room.
Shocked, Alpha Callum stared at the emancipated woman lying on the bed. He almost gasped in horror and disbelief. Clarice's skeletal frame, hollow cheeks, and lifeless body looked hideous to watch. Her pitiable appearance shocked him to the core. He almost didn't recognize her.
"Luna Clarice is sleeping, Alpha. I'll wake her up. She will be happy to see you," Lorey said cheerily.
"Don't wake her up yet. Stay outside the room and alert me if someone is coming. I can't be seen in her room." Alpha Callum responded with a shake of his head.
"Copy, Alpha." Lorey left and stood outside the door.
Back in the room.
Alpha Callum walked closer to the bed. He stared at Clarice's face, shocked by the horrible transformation of her appearance. What had they done to her?
In the past, she was a beautiful woman with a carefree spirit, full of life when they were still together. She is the only woman he has ever loved. The only woman who hurt him deeply.
Right now, even if she looked terribly ugly and on the verge of death, his heart was still beating tenderly for her.
Suddenly, Clarice's eyes opened, and she looked straight into Alpha Callum's handsome face, staring intensely at her. She blinked five times.
He's finally here!
Maybe she was dreaming. She lifted her right hand, wanting to touch his face, but her hand fell back on the bed. Sigh. She had no more strength left to perform such a simple task. She groaned miserably. Her strength is leaving her body, she is dying.
She's going to die today.
On the day her husband betrayed her and married her best friend, her entire world collapsed.
Then her mind recalled what had happened earlier...
Right after Lorey left to deliver her message to Alpha Callum. Kaspar the evil shaman entered the room and did something evil to her.
That evil shaman!
Kaspar approached the bed, grinning devilishly.
She looked at him in horror, frightened to the core.
"I'm here to help end your suffering, Luna Clarice. Take this medicine... so you will sleep forever, and you will no longer feel any pain," Kaspar said, shoving the bitter tasting brown tablet into her mouth, pushing it down her throat using his filthy fingers. She was enraged, disgusted by his murderous intentions.
She tried to push him away. But because of her weak condition, she was unable to fight him. The poisonous tablet entered her body and started creating havoc in her organs. She felt an excruciating pain in her belly. Her insides were burning. She glared at him, her nostrils flaring. "I swear, I will kill you one day!" she said, hissing in his face. Her eyes burned with intense pain and hatred.
Kaspar smiled victoriously, watching her face contort in pain. He left the room feeling satisfied.
After Kaspar left the room, Clarice passed out due to extreme pain. When she regained consciousness, it was Callum's face that she saw, staring at her face. The Moon Goddess finally took pity on her and sent a savior to save her.
Alpha Callum touched Clarice's hand affectionately like a lover. "I'm here to see you," he said softly.
Clarice grimaced in pain. "Help me, Callum. Please help me. The evil shaman entered the room a while ago and shoved poison down my throat. I'm dying, and all my insides are burning. It's so painful, please help me..." she said in agony, begging for his help, tears flowing down her cheeks.
Alpha Callum leaned closer and said, "Why would I help the woman who broke my heart into pieces? You killed my heart back then and left me to deal with the pain alone. You are a cruel woman. You don't deserve my help!" He snapped angrily. His tone was filled with rage, pain and shattered dreams.
Tears blinded Clarice's visions. "Please listen to me. I can explain everything why in the past I broke up with you. Please give me a chance. Please help me!" she begged in agony.
Alpha Callum shook his head. "Never! I will never be deceived by your charm and tricks ever again!"
Clarice gazed tenderly at his handsome face. He used to be so loving and sweet towards her in the past. He worshipped the ground she walked on. He loved her so much, but she had to leave him because she had no choice.
"Our five-year-old son looks just like you. I named him Caden because you told me that if you have a son one day, you will name him Caden," she said between sobs. Tears filled her eyes.
"Stop lying! You told me you had aborted our baby? And now you declare that he is alive? How manipulative you are?" Alpha Callum hissed into her face angrily.
"No, I didn't abort our child. I gave birth to him, and he was taken care of by someone I trusted. I visited Caden five times every year in secret. Please believe me. I want you to know the truth before I die. I'm dying now. I have nothing to hide anymore. I'm telling you the truth," Clarice said between tears.
Conflicting emotions marred Alpha Callum's handsome face.
Clarice feels her world spinning again. She's going to pass out again. She pointed to the closet. "Find my...black bag....my phone is there. I'll show you his photos. Hurry up, I'm dying..." she said, her breathing getting shallower.
Sensing that Clarice was not faking her actions, Alpha Callum sprang into action and moved to the closet and found the black bag. He rummaged through her bag and found her phone. He tried unlocking it, but the device was protected by a password. He rushed back to bed and showed her the phone. "Password!"
Clarice inputs her password. "Check out the photo gallery. You will see lots of Caden's photos. You will know I'm telling the truth." Then she closed her eyes as darkness took over her consciousness.
Alpha Callum checked the photo gallery and saw hundreds of photos of Clarice embracing a boy who looked like him during his younger years.
Time froze for a moment. He stared at the boy's face for a long time. At that very moment, he felt a paternal pull tugging at his heart.
No doubt he felt the boy was his son.
Damn! Clarice was telling the truth.
When he looked at her face, she was no longer breathing.
Shiit!
Did she just die?
Noooo!
He quickly placed his hand on her chest and felt her heartbeat. She's still alive but barely breathing. If he doesn't help her now, she won't last a day.
He breathed laboriously, his mind racing.
He needs to do something!
He went to the door and opened it, allowing the servant back into the room. "Your Luna is dying. I'm going to save her and take her to my grandfather who is a healer. He is the only one who can save her. I'm leaving now," he explained hurriedly.
"Alpha, you can't take her outside!" Lorey objected.
"I'm going to take her to my grandfather's place using teleportation. It will only take a few minutes. I suggest you leave this place right away after I disappear from the room. They will ask you why your Luna has disappeared. Leave this place quickly before you lose your life. Do you understand?" Alpha Callum says in an authoritative tone.
"I understand. Please save Luna Clarice! I will save myself," Lorey said teary-eyed.
After realizing that the servant had nowhere to go, Alpha Callum groaned. "Go to my room and wait for my Beta there. He will help you," he ordered.
"Copy, Alpha," Lorey replied in a trembling voice. She left the room in a hurry, walking on the path leading back to the mansion, her body trembling from nervousness. Good thing everyone was busy with wedding preparations. No one paid attention to her.
Back in the room.
Alpha Callum dropped the phone in the shoulder bag and swiftly lifted Clarice's skeleton frame into his arms.
His nose crinkled when her foul-smelling scent entered his nostrils in full force.
Damn, Clarice already smells of a dead woman!
He quickly initiated the teleportation process in his mind and disappeared from the room in the blink of an eye.
The only thing left in the room was an empty bed and the horrible stench of a dying person.
~~~0~~~