Chapter 24

ISHMAEL 

I watched the scene unraveling before me, not knowing whether to interfere or keep quiet. I got where every single emotion was coming from. They all cared about Nathaniel, and that made their emotions fly all over the place. Aiden especially. 

During the brief times that I had witnessed Aiden and Alan's interactions with Nathaniel, I saw how deeply they cared for Nathaniel. If they could give their lives for their brother, they would. That was how deep their loyalty to one another ran.

As someone who they looked up to, seeing him lying helplessly on a hospital bed was something they weren't used to.

I understood Ayra's point of view, too. She lived with Nathaniel, and if I wasn't wrong, they shared the same bed. They couldn't have that type of closeness without caring for each other. It sounded a little farfetched to me that she'd poison him, or whatever the younger Blacks said she did.

Sandra, on the other hand, I wasn't too sure of. The way she fidgeted under Ayra's gaze was suspicious. If she didn't have anything to hide, she wouldn't act that way. Ayra's theory could be correct. She wanted to harm her, but Nathaniel took the fall instead. Now that was a story I could believe. 

"Leave. All of you need to leave," Ayra said, her voice deceptively calm.

Alan huffed. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I. SAID. LEAVE!"

That was when it happened. A strong wind filled the entire floor, picking up everything in its path, including Sandra and the twins. I was quick enough to muster a shield around me, so I didn't get picked up by the wind.

The glass windows and doors shattered under the force of her scream. The lights flickered on and off, and some bulbs shattered. 

Ayra seemed to be unaware of the destruction she unleashed as she let out another scream, this one sending all three of them through a wall.

Her entire body crackled with live electricity while her eyes glowed a bright white color, quickly confirming my thoughts — she wasn't a Nighthowler. Nighthowlers didn't have screams this strong. 

Her screams stopped as abruptly as they started, and she collapsed to the floor.

***

AYRA

My head hurt, and for some strange reason, my throat did too. I faintly remembered Nathaniel choking me, but it felt like ages ago. That should've healed by now.

My throat was sore, like I'd been screaming my lungs out. I didn't have any reasons, too — except the internal screaming I did because of how frustrated I was at Nathaniel's brothers.

"You're awake."

I diverted my attention to the door. "Oh hey, girls."

Nikki, Reese, and Kimberly filed into the room with identical worried expressions on their faces.

"Are you okay?" Reese asked first.

I nodded, confused by the expressions they had on. "Why wouldn't I be?" I sat up on the bed, looking at them expectantly for answers.

"You wrecked the entire second floor. Alpha Nathaniel has been transferred to a different room because of that," Nikki explained, leaving me even more confused than ever.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"You don't remember anything?"

"No."

They exchanged looks before looking at me again.

"Are you sure, Ayra?" Asked Kimberly. 

"I am. What happened? Did I hurt Nathaniel?" Panic rushed through me. "Goodness, I hurt him, didn't I? Why did they have to move him? Where's he now?"

"Relax, Ayra. Nathaniel is fine. You should get something to eat before you see him."

My stomach growled on cue, and I nodded. I didn't remember the last time I ate. It was over twenty-four hours since Nathaniel was brought in. I was long overdue for some food.

***

"Are you okay?" Shane asked, staring at me with widened eyes.

Kai had assigned him and Sawyer to me when I informed them I was going to get some food. I had no idea why, but I'd been too hungry to ask.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked, staring at both wolves with a raised brow.

"Um, because you're rushing the food like you've got some time to beat?" Sawyer replied.

I swallowed the pasta I had in my mouth, taking a drink of water. "I'm just eating quickly, so I can go see how Nathaniel is doing."

"Looks like somebody is in love," Shane whistled.

I paused with the fork to my mouth.

In love. 

I didn't consider myself in love with Nathaniel. Or did I? I cared about him — that was certain, and I liked to think he cared about me, too. But love? Yeah, I didn't think we were there yet.

I didn't think I could ever be there yet without having full claims to him. I had no idea if he was my mate.

*What if he isn't? What if another she-wolf claims him as her mate? What happens to you?* A tiny voice asked in my head.

Suddenly, I had no appetite for food anymore. I dropped the fork with a clank, dread filling the pit of my stomach.

What if he found his mate this season? It wasn't like he met every single she-wolf on the island during the Blood Moon Festival. What if *I* found my mate? Would I like him? What if I didn't like him? What would happen to us?

Thinking of the whole situation left my mouth dry and my throat itchy. Nathaniel was a huge part of my 'new' life. Even though we fought a lot — sometimes over the pettiest shit — I couldn't imagine not having him there, because the truth was we would part ways if the other found a mate, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

"You've made her uncomfortable, dumbass," Sawyer hissed, jabbing Shane in his side. "Ignore him."

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. I'm sure he didn't mean it that way," I lied, even though my mind was racing with thoughts.

The possibility of not having him in my life left a bad taste in my mouth, but I had to be open to options. The Blood Moon Festival was just around the corner, and it would decide our fate. If it turned out to be bad, I had to be prepared to walk away, and the first step in doing that was distancing myself from Nathaniel. 

***
"Come in," I shouted when I heard a light knock on the door before it opened. Ishmael stood in the doorway, watching me with uncertainty. 

"Do you need me to do anything?" I asked, when he kept on staring at me.

"No."

"Why are you staring at me like that? You can come in. I don't bite."

He walked into my bedroom, leaning against the dresser. "I think everyone on this island is scared of you now."

"This is about what happened before I fell unconscious, right?" He nodded. "Well, I don't remind what happened."

"Your friends relayed the message. I am not here to talk about that with you. I'm here to talk about Nathaniel."

"Is he okay?"

"Not quite," he responded, his voice grim. "He needs urgent help."

"How so?" Something about his tone didn't sit well with me, and I knew at that moment that whatever he was about to say would be bad.

"His wounds are not healing up."

"He's losing blood."

"No. It's not a physical wound. It's almost like it was inflicted by a powerful mage. At least, those are my suspicions."

"Are we talking about Ryker?" 

I was certain a demon had attacked Nathaniel, and from what Ishmael mentioned a while back, Ryker worked for demons.

"Yes. Nathaniel has been infected with Wylim, but there's something else mixed in there, almost like it's accelerating the work of the poison. Nathaniel is trying to fight it. You and I both know the destruction he'd cause if the madness takes over his entire mind."

"Is there something you can do to help?"

"I did some research. The wounds on his side were caused by a creature with claws. I'm guessing it was a demon. I can make a potion to heal the wound, but only if I get something of the attacker's."

"Like a piece of cloth?"

"No. Hair."

"There is no way the demon will give that to us." My eyes widened. "That would require us killing the demon."

"Therein lies the problem. We don't know who the demon was."