Chapter 132
Lucas’s POV
I didn’t have time to sit there and debate over the idea when the situation was so dire.
Nora was, indeed, right. What we needed was someone beyond a traditional doctor. The damage that Harper’s body had sustained was so critical, I couldn’t risk wasting any more time. And it certainly didn’t help that my trust in other medical professionals was severely lacking.
The only person I felt we could turn to was Ms. Sage. Her abilities were like nothing that anyone within the pack could provide. And considering she already knew Harper and me, there was a good chance that she would be willing to meet.
I quickly drew up a letter and had it rushed out with the hope of hearing back from her as soon as possible.
Until then...I was left to do nothing but stand vigil over Harper.
It was an entirely new brand of torture that I never knew existed. My mate was dying, and there was nothing I could do to help her. I didn’t even have the ability to distract myself while I waited for Ms. Sage’s reply.
I could do nothing—nothing meaningfully productive that is.
It was half past three in the morning when I heard the team arrive back from the Domain. I knew, in the back of my mind, that I should have been eager to hear any form of news since I hastily pulled Harper out of there earlier.
But neither Levi nor myself were planning on straying far from her side any time soon.
I took my position on the bed beside her and carefully studied her breathing pattern. It was no longer harsh and labored, but steady and shallow. I should have asked if that damn doctor had given Harper anything to fight the fever that had taken over her system.
Her skin was still covered in a cold sheen of sweat, and her whole body persistently broke out into slight shivers. I snagged one of the blankets and dutifully wrapped it around her. Even though we weren’t properly bonded as mates, I tried to seek Harper out through our shared connection.
I needed her to feel me. She needed to know that she was safe now...
Yet, no matter how hard I tried to search and push for the connection, I couldn’t find it. It was too faded, like it was actively dissolving. Physical proof of her life source was gradually slipping away.
NO!!
For the first time in what felt like years, I felt tears gather in the corners of my eyes. An angry, bitter sob ripped from my chest.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I snapped my head toward the door and snarled in vicious anger. “Not now!”
I figured it must have been Mason or even some poor sent here by the council. I wasn’t in the mood for anyone.
However, I was mistaken on both accounts when I heard Nora’s soft voice through the door.
“Alpha Lucas!” Her voice was filled with urgency. “Ms. Sage has replied!”
I all but dove off the bed and raced to the door. I took in Nora’s elated expression and felt a genuine spark of hope. My heart slammed frantically in my chest as I took the letter from her.
Alpha Lucas, I’m sorry to hear about Harper’s unfortunate incident. It would be a shame for someone with such remarkable talents to die. If what your prior letter to me reads true, then her time is, indeed, running out.
Meet me at this address at six this same morning. Come alone. — Ms. Sage
I glanced at the clock and saw that I had two hours to kill somehow. Turning back to Nora, I gave her an honest look while gesturing to Harper.
“Nora, I need you to stay here with Harper while I’m gone. Understand?”
She nodded her head in earnest and took her position in the tall chair next to Harper’s side of the bed. I took the opportunity to get myself ready.
After a shower and a new change of clothes, I came back into the bedroom to check on Harper. Even though I was leaving to seek help for her, I felt guilty. But I knew that there was no way I could send someone else in my place.
I felt lucky enough that Ms. Sage was willing to speak with me at all.
“Nora, as usual, I’m going to have my phone on me,” I told her. “Should anything change with Harper, you are to notify me immediately.”
“No problem.”
I gave her a curt nod and Harper one last longing look before turning on my feet to head out the door. I should have realized that there would have been a horde of people waiting for me out in the main entryway.
Guards, council members, and my trusted Beta, Mason—all who proceeded to stare at me with both caution and baited anticipation.
I sucked in a deep breath and gathered my patience for the oncoming onslaught of questions and remarks.
“Sir, all teams have made it back.”
“Alpha Lucas, I must say, on behalf of the council, we were deeply disappointed to not have you a part of the debriefing after the mission.”
“There were a couple of casualties. All who were injured are currently being treated in the medi-ward.”
“I must insist that you return with me to address the rest of the council.”
The noise level alone was enough to give me a migraine. Through clenched teeth, I spoke clearly and defiantly.
“No.”
Everyone in the room froze. Even the council members shared a look of shock and tried again to press the issue.
“Alpha Lucas—”
“I don’t have time to deal with your petty, little concerns about my break in protocol," I snarled. “My mate is dying.”
My God...It hurt simply admitting it out loud. The mere weight of the situation felt like an unbearable weight pressing down on my chest. That awful, surreal feeling I’d been living in for the last few hours fell away and left me in this dark, unwanted reality.
This time, no one dared utter a single word. Although. Their wide eyes were equally matched with bashful looks.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have a meeting with a witch.”
Mason cleared his throat. “Sir, do you require back up?”
“Not this time,” I said quietly. I didn’t bother to spare any of them a second look as I headed out the door.
The location that Ms Sage insisted I meet at was almost on the border of our world and the human world. It was known as ‘no man’s land’.
When I pulled my car off to the side of the road, I got out and began scanning through the trees for any clear sign of her.
“I see you came,” a feminine voice called out.
Ms. Sage emerged from the thick brush of trees with a large hood draped over her face. She greeted with a look of indifference.
“Nice to see I wasn’t met with another golem,” I said dryly.
“I value my privacy as well as my time. And speaking of time, that is something your dear Harper is vastly running out of,” she remarked coolly.
My chest tightened. “Is there anything—anything you can do to save her?” I didn’t care how desperate I sounded.
Ms. Sage took in a deep breath and cast her eyes to far-off tree line.
“The truth is, Lucas...I don’t possess the kind of power that would save Harper. But I know someone who does; however, I feel like I must warn you that this sort of help will come at a price.”
