Chapter 131

Lucas’s POV

“Everyone, get out of the way!” I shouted roughly.

The moment we arrived back at the house, I practically kicked the doors down. Thankfully, leaving the Domain had proven to be a lot less stressful as opposed to getting into the place. But, needless to say, the ride back was nothing short of hellish.

I tried my best to ensure that Harper remained awake. Her dreary eyes wanted so badly to flutter close. But each time it happened, I could sense her breathing becoming more and more shallow.

“Stay awake,” I told her roughly. “You need to stay awake, sweetheart.”

Harper never said a word. I knew she was battling between the awful pain from her wounds and the ongoing strain of staying conscious. From what I could feel from her clammy skin, she was fighting a fever.

She was fighting for her life...And there wasn’t a thing I could do to help her. I wasn’t a healer, and the other healers that were on the property were nothing compared to her.

My heart twisted violently in my chest. I didn’t have any choice. That arrow had to be removed from her side; otherwise, there was no guarantee that she would make it through the night.

I can’t lose her. I will not lose her!

I headed straight for my bedroom, which would henceforth be known as our bedroom. I refused to ever spend another night apart from her. Before this whole matter was over, I fully intended to have the staff move all of Harper’s belongings into the master bedroom.

But during that time, I needed to have her inspected by the pack’s second-best doctor.

I ordered the staff to have the healer come straight to our rooms. Carefully, I laid Harper down on the bed and tried to make her surroundings as comfortable as possible.

The doctor arrived with his usual medical bag, looking a shade or two paler than normal. He probably realized that if he were to fail in this endeavor that it would mean his life.

I took in a deep breath and fought for an ounce of control. “She was struck by an arrow,” I informed him. “It needs to be removed, or else she will likely die.”

The doctor gave a wary look. “She’s lost a lot of blood, Alpha Lucas,” he commented dumbly.

The corner of my mouth turned into a sneer. “I am well aware of that. Your job is to ensure that she survives through the night. Am I clear?”

---

I needed a distraction. At the rather urgent instance of the doctor informing me that it would be best if I were to step out of the room while he and his medical team removed the arrow, I was left to pace the hallway like a madman.

Every breath I took in was released with a low, snarling growl from Levi. I felt him prowling beneath my surface.

The sound of the bedroom door cracked open, and I nearly jumped at the person for answers.

“What’s her status? Is she alright? Will she make it? What did you give her? Did you remove the arrow? Did—”

The doctor made the brave move to raise his hand up, stopping me from making any further inquiries. I studied his expression and felt my stomach already churning in knots.

“Alpha Lucas...”

No. I couldn’t take the burning suspense any longer. I had no idea how long I’d been waiting out in that damn hallway.

“Just tell me!” I barked out.

The entire medical team went stiff. The doctor cleared his throat and shoved his hand in his long, white coat.

“We were able to remove the arrow and stop any further hemorrhaging,” he explained. “However, the damage that her body has sustained up until this point is so excessive that we saw it fit to place her into a coma-like state.”

My blood ran cold.

One of the nurses spoke up. “From what we gathered, Harper’s wolf is what’s been keeping her alive at this point. So much of her has been drained that the soul of her wolf is the only thing keeping her stabilized at this time.”

“I suppose, all things considered, the girl should count herself lucky,” the doctor remarked pointedly. “Had it not been for her wolf, she wouldn’t have been able to survive such an attack.”

These were not words of compassion and sympathy. No. These were the words from a self-entitled, arrogant man who refused to be second-best to a better healer. Not to mention a woman.

Something lethal flickered across my gaze as I glared back at the man with dripping disdain.

“Harper should consider herself lucky? Really?” I asked mockingly. “You put so much praise on her wolf. Does this woman’s life hold zero value if she were to not have a wolf at all?”

The doctor’s eyes widened as if I’d ensnared him in a trap.

“Let’s not overlook the obvious fact that Harper is, and always will be, this pack’s superior healer. Any self-respecting doctor would know the dangers that could potentially come if someone were to put all their stress on their wolf for a prolonged period of time,” I seethed.

“It truly makes me wonder...Was placing Harper in a coma the right thing to do medically, or were you secretly hoping to get her out of the way to help boost your image as the pack’s previous head doctor?”

The man sputtered over his words. Before anyone could get another word in, a soft, feminine voice called from down the hall.

“Alpha Lucas!”

It was Nora. Suddenly, my heated hatred fizzled down as the young woman wore a devastated look.

“There are rumors circling around about Harper. Is it true? Was she horribly injured?” Her voice cracked, sending a tidal wave of emotion coursing through me.

“Yes,” I answered.

“Can I see her?” she asked desperately.

I nodded my head and coldly dismissed the doctor and his team. Based on his quickened pace, he was more than glad to leave this wing of the house.

Nora and I stepped back into the room and turned our attention directly to Harper’s lifeless form. My heart clenched tightly in my chest, making me feel like I’d just been stabbed.

For the sake of the woman beside me, I kept my resolve intact. Nora, on the other hand, let her tears flow freely.

“How could something like this happen?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I had no idea that any of the guards tonight even carried crossbows.”

Her eyes filled with broken, wistful hope. “Do you think...She’s going to make it out of this, right?”

I swallowed past the soreness in my throat, not having a single clue how to answer.

“I have no idea,” I said. “And as sad as it is to admit, I don’t trust any of the doctors here to actually want to willingly help Harper.”

A sad smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Not a single one of them compares to her.”

“No, they don’t.”

It was such an easy thing to claim, but it was undoubtedly true. For all the good that Harper’s has done for others, it was utterly cruel that something like this should happen.

I don’t know what made me openly confide in Nora. Perhaps it was because Mason was likely still back at the Domain, dealing with the excessive nonsense from the council. I divulged a good portion of this evening’s events, along with what the doctor did for Harper’s condition.

She seemed as skeptical as I.

“Perhaps, what you really need, Alpha, is not a doctor...” she said. “...But a witch.”