Chapter 98 — A Dangerous Hope
The soft beep of the heart monitor was the first sound I heard as I entered the small recovery room. The scent of antiseptic and blooming flowers clung to the air, battling to cover the underlying smell of sickness that still lingered faintly in the medical wing.
It was a reminder of the fight we were still in — a fight we were finally beginning to win.
I paused just inside the doorway, my heart squeezing painfully at the sight before me. The little girl, Emily — no more than eight years old — lay nestled in a bed far too big for her small frame. Her skin had regained some of its color, no longer the ashen pallor of death that had haunted her only days ago.
A stuffed rabbit rested by her side, clutched tightly in one fragile hand. She was sleeping peacefully, a slight smile playing across her lips.
I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, pressing a hand to my chest.
“She’s doing better.” I turned at the voice and found Dr. Boyd standing just behind me, a tired but genuine smile stretching across his worn features. “She’s healing,” he said softly. “The treatment is working faster than we hoped. Her wolf is waking up. It’s giving her strength.”
Relief flooded my chest, leaving me weak. “I’m glad,” I whispered, stepping closer to brush a hand gently across Emily’s forehead. Her skin was warm — full of life.
“She’s strong,” Dr. Boyd added. “Just like her Luna.”
I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. “She’s stronger.”
Dr. Boyd didn’t argue. He didn’t have to. We both knew it was true.
I stood there a while longer, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. When I finally turned away, determination burned in my veins.
We had the cure. We had hope.
Now, we had to figure out how to save everyone else — without destroying everything we had built.
***
The room we chose for the meeting was a small one just off the war room. It had thick stone walls, no windows, and only one entrance.
Safe.
Necessary.
The air was tense as Liam, Luther, Rowan, and I settled around the heavy oak table.
Luther’s arms were crossed over his broad chest, his brow furrowed deep in thought. Liam tapped restlessly against the tabletop, his wolf pacing just beneath the surface. Rowan leaned back in his chair, arms folded, his sharp gaze flicking between all of us.
I cleared my throat, drawing their attention.
“We need to talk about the cure,” I said, my voice steady despite the nerves twisting in my gut.
Liam grunted in agreement. “We can't keep it a secret forever.”
“No,” Rowan said, his voice grim. “But if we announce it now, if word spreads… they’ll come for it. For us. For her.” His eyes flicked to me, full of concern.
Luther growled low in his throat. “I’ll kill anyone who tries.”
“You can’t kill everyone, brother,” Liam muttered darkly.
“Watch me,” Luther snapped back.
I sighed, leaning forward to rest my arms on the table. “We have to be smarter than that. We have to think ahead.”
Rowan nodded slowly. “We need a plan. A way to control the flow of information. A way to protect the pack — and Charlie.”
For a long moment, the room was silent.
Then Liam spoke. “We distribute it ourselves. Quietly. Carefully. Only to trusted allies first. Packs we know aren’t looking for a fight.”
Luther frowned. “And when word eventually gets out?”
“We’ll deal with it then,” Liam said, his jaw clenching. “But if we don't start somewhere, if we don’t show the others that there’s hope… things will get worse.”
I swallowed hard, the image of the wounded, the dying, flashing through my mind. “If we wait too long,” I said softly, “there won’t be anyone left to save.”
Rowan rubbed a hand over his face. “We’ll need to set terms. Protection contracts. Agreements. They take the cure — they defend us if we’re attacked.”
“Bind them by blood oath if we have to,” Luther said grimly.
The weight of the decision pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating. We could save lives. But we could also destroy everything we had left.
“What about the packs that refuse?” I asked quietly. “The ones that try to take it by force?”
Luther’s eyes gleamed dangerously. “Then we remind them why no one dares to challenge us.”
A chill raced down my spine. Not from fear of him. But from the understanding that he would burn the world to ash for me — for all of us — if it came to that.
And a part of me — a dark, fierce part I was still getting used to — would help him.
“We’ll need the warriors ready,” Liam said, already slipping into Alpha mode. “Patrols doubled. Scouts watching the borders at all times.”
“I’ll reinforce the eastern and southern walls,” Rowan added. “I’ll have my wolves join the guard rotations. Their immunity will give us an advantage.”
“Good,” I said, my voice firm.
They all turned to me, waiting. It hit me then — how far we had come. How far *I* had come.
Once, they wouldn’t have even asked for my opinion. Now, they waited on it.
“Start with the packs nearest to us,” I said. “The ones that haven’t shown any aggression. Send envoys. Offer the cure… quietly.”
“And if they refuse the terms?” Luther asked.
I met his gaze squarely. “Then we walk away. They can fend for themselves.”
Rowan smirked faintly. “Damn, you’re ruthless.”
“She’s right,” Liam said, pride shining in his eyes. “We can’t save everyone. Not if it means risking the ones we love.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of the lives already on my shoulders — and the ones still depending on us.
“I won’t let our pack fall,” I vowed.
For a long moment, no one spoke. Then Rowan leaned back, a slow smile curving his lips. “Our Luna,” he said, his voice thick with pride.
Luther chuckled low in his chest, reaching over to squeeze my hand. Liam pressed a kiss to my temple.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt something powerful take root in my chest.
Hope.
Not the fragile, wavering thing it had been before.
But something strong.
Unbreakable.
The pack had survived so much — disease, betrayal, war.
And we would survive this, too.
***
The rest of the day passed in a blur of frantic planning. Letters were drafted, coded messages prepared. Warriors were dispatched to strengthen the borders. Patrols doubled. Scouts sent beyond the neighboring territories.
Rowan’s warriors blended seamlessly into our defenses, their immunity giving them an edge over any would-be attackers.
Everywhere I turned, there was movement. Purpose. Life.
It was beautiful — and terrifying.
Because now, the real fight was about to begin.
***
That night, I stood at the edge of the courtyard, staring up at the stars. They glittered against the black sky, so far away and untouchable.
I felt arms wrap around me from behind — strong and familiar.
Liam.
A second pair joined — Luther, pressing his forehead against the crown of my head.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” Liam murmured.
I laughed softly, leaning back into their warmth. “I’m terrified.”
“Good,” Luther rumbled. “Means you’re smart.”
I tilted my head up to look at them. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”
Liam smiled down at me, brushing a lock of hair from my face. “We already are, baby.”
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