Chapter 0080
Cara’s POV
Alaric, and Mia. Their relationship is surprisingly better than I imagined.
Once I realized this, I can’t focus the whole day at the hospital, except when I listen to the doctor diagnose Mia’s condition.
“Miss Mia’s condition is gradually improving but,” the doctor says.
I nervously stare at him. “Please, tell me everything, doctor.”
The doctor sighs. “This treatment will make her more comfortable, but it can’t fully address the issue. We need more time to study her situation. She’s very unique.
“Very few children survive such severe damage during the fetal stage. It’s truly a miracle.
A miracle…
I think of my wolf, Lucy.
I push open the doctor’s office door and find Alaric still standing in the doorway, his tall frame commanding attention.
His black hair frames his sharp features, and his piercing blue eyes hold an intense, quiet energy as he watches me, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he remains silent.
What does he want to say?
“Goodbye, Uncle! See you again!” Mia waves at him with a smile.
Alaric pauses for a moment, as if surprised, then smiles and says, “…Goodbye, My Little
One.”
..No,
Mia is not his “little one.”
I turn and push Mia’s wheelchair as we leave.
It isn’t until Mia and I leave the hospital that Alaric still hasn’t spoken the words he seemed ready to say.
A FEW DAYS LATER
When my phone buzzed with the notification of the call from an unknown number, I wasn’t sure whether to answer.
Could this be Alaric’s call?
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+25 BONUS
“Is this Cara Wilson?” The nervous voice shakily asks me through the phone.
“Yes,” I reply hesitantly, “Who is this?”
It’s not him.
“This is the head of the DarkWood Pack House,” the she–wolf says.
She explained some things that could prove her identity. I recall that she does seem to be the current manager of the pack house in DarkWood.
“We have a problem. We are humbly requesting your help…”
The DarkWood’s pack house? My help? I’m not even a part of that pack anymore.
My brows furrow into a sympathetic expression, even though the she–wolf can’t see me through the phone. “While I’m sure it’s a worthy cause, I’d wager your pack leadership would prefer you solve this from within-”
“We’ve tried!” she interrupts me quickly, then cries. “Our leadership is part of the problem. We were hoping that since you were raised in this very Pack House, you might be willing to help us…”
“The Children! The kids at the pack house are struggling right now–they can’t even get enough to eat.”
“We really have no way out, please, Cara, we beg you…”
I close my eyes, remembering my childhood with Grandmother, the cook for the DarkWood Pack House. I spent years standing on a stool in that house kitchen, assisting her in preparing meals for scores of DarkWood members.
I remember it as a space full of life, where there was always someone coming or going, always someone working on this or that.
There are many elderly people living there, and orphans like I once was.
…If I can help them, I’m willing to.
I can’t just stand by and watch the children suffer.
I
Despite my better judgment, I feel myself being drawn to the she–wolf’s plea. “What seems to be the problem? I’m not making any commitments yet, but I will hear your case.
“It’s the nobles, ma’am. Well, two in particular. The Bedfords.”
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I nod to myself, remembering Melinda Bedford and Matthew Bedford well. Too well, in fact.
The she–wolf says, “They’re poisoning the pack elders against us. They say that the existence of the Pack House is an old relic of the past, no longer necessary in the current age of prosperity and growth. They’ve had our funding reduced to such a degree that we
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can no longer afford to pay most of our staff…”
The she–wolf trails off, her voice full of despair and defeat.
“Have you told the Alphia King?” Surely Alaric wouldn’t let the Pack House fall into squalor I couldn’t imagine that he would let that happen.
“We’ve tried, but its so hard to reach him these days. He’s spread so thin, trying to do it all …” she said..
“I’ll talk to him,” my voice was steady and reassuring and I could hear the older she–wolf breathe just a bit easier. “In the meantime, how much do you need?”
“Well, we’re behind on rent, and salaries for the staff are due…
By the end of the phone call, I had agreed cover the next two months‘ expenses for the DarkWood Pack House. I also agreed to come visit the Pack House myself during my next trip into DarkWood territory.
During my years as a princess, I saved up a surn of money. I hope this will be of help them.
No sooner had I confirmed the funds transfer than an unknown number called my phone. Did you get the money” I ask as soon as I press the button to answer the call.
“…Money?! Cara, is that you?” It was Alaric’s voice.
Alaric?!
“Yes, it’s me. Sorry, I thought you were someone else.” I say tightly.
He fell silent for a moment, then finally said the words he hadn’t spoken last time.
…I heard Mia’s situation is good now, Will you be coming to DarkWood this week?” he
asks.
“Yes. And I’m glad you called,” I say, thinking through how to explain the Pack House situation to him.
“You’re… glad… I called?” His voice sounds strange, softer somehow. Like he took my comment as a sort of compliment.
I say, “Umm… yes, I just took a call from your Pack House.”
I told Alaric what had just happened, and he immediately handled the situation with
seriousness.
“I’ll look into it.” He sounds serious, and I can hear papers shuffling in the background. I imagine his hands moving quickly, taking notes on how to best proceed.
“Ok. Thank you.” I say, not sure why I thanked him.
- Chapter 0090
+25 BONUS
When I hang up the phone, I see my son Ethan staring at me. His face is unreadable, a confusing mixture of emotions that I can’t quite discern.
I’m studying his face when Ruby’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “Can I come with you to Mia’s next appointment? I’ve been doing some reading and there are some interesting theories I’d like to discuss with the medical team.”
I smile at my best friend, “Of course you can come. We can use all the great medical minds we can find.”
Ethan’s voice is small, like he already knows what I’m going to say.
“Can I come too?” He says.
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