Free Web NovelChapter 54: 3 against 1
Raven
Following the guard, I couldn’t deny the fact that I felt very sick. Sick enough to throw up even though there was barely anything in my stomach.
My vision blurred at the edges, dark spots flickering in and out as I struggled to keep my footing. Every step felt heavier than the last, like my body was slowly giving up on me. It took everything in me not to stop walking, not to drop to the ground and stay there.
The guard didn’t slow down. Of course she didn’t. I kept my head down, forcing myself to follow closely as we walked through the quiet halls and straight into a room. She opened the door without a word, stepping aside just enough for me to enter.
I didn’t hesitate.
The moment I crossed the threshold, I went straight for the bed and collapsed onto it, my body sinking into the mattress as if it had been waiting for that exact moment
"I’ll be right outside the door in case you need anything," she said.
I nodded slowly, too exhausted to respond properly, turning my face toward the wall.
I was sick, not blind. Even in my state, I had seen the look on her face—the disgust, barely concealed. It wasn’t new. It shouldn’t have bothered me.
With shaking hands, I reached into my clothes and pulled out one of the bottles. The green liquid inside swirled faintly as I uncorked it. Without thinking too much about it, I lifted it to my lips and swallowed half of it.
I knew it was more than enough. Too much, even. I needed to save as much as I could.
The effect was almost immediate.
The nausea began to fade before I had even lowered the bottle. The heaviness in my limbs lightened, the spinning in my head slowing until it stopped entirely. Warmth spread through my body, unnatural and quick.
My eyes grew heavy.
Sleep pulled at me, sudden and overwhelming. I didn’t fight it. I let it take me and when I woke up, the difference was jarring.
I felt...better.
Not completely, not entirely normal—but better than before. The sickness had retreated, leaving behind only a dull soreness in my bones, like I had been pushed too far and my body was still trying to recover.
I sat up slowly, blinking as I adjusted to the light. Hunger hit me immediately. It made my stomach twist.
I pushed it aside, reaching into my clothes and quickly stuffing the two small bottles into my pockets before climbing off the bed. My legs felt steadier now, though not perfect.
Good enough.
I made my way to the small washroom, splashing water on my face. The coolness helped, grounding me, washing away the last remnants of sleep.
When I stepped back into the room, I froze. Gessia was already there. She stood near the center of the room, arms crossed, her expression sour as her eyes swept over me from head to toe.
"You smell funny," she said bluntly, her nose wrinkling in clear disgust.
I lowered my head immediately, my gaze dropping to the floor as I nodded. Arguing would be pointless, even if I said I didn’t, it wouldn’t change anything.
"You look much better," she added after a moment.
I nodded again.
"Here...take."
I looked up just in time to see her extending her hand toward me. Two bottles rested in her palm.
One green. One red. freewebnøvel.com
My eyes lingered on the red one for a second longer than necessary. It looked different—darker, thicker somehow. I took them carefully.
"You’ll feel better once you take it," she said, and for a brief moment, a smile crossed her face.
It wasn’t kind. It wasn’t reassuring.
There was something cruel in it—something she wasn’t even trying to hide.
"...for the red, take only a few drops per day," she continued, her tone shifting slightly. "It’s very potent. You might die if you simply gulp it."
I nodded slowly, tightening my grip on the bottles.
"I understand."
She watched me for a moment longer, like she wanted to say something else. Her eyes narrowed slightly as they scanned me again, lingering in a way that made my skin crawl.
Then she huffed in annoyance and turned away.
"A witch...over my dead body," she muttered under her breath.
So low I could have imagined it. I didn’t react; there was no reason to, clearly she hadn’t been talking to me.
Instead, I focused on the bottles in my hand. Three green. One red. I already had more hidden. It should be enough...right? Doubt crept in immediately.
If I waited too long, if I kept getting sick, someone would notice. Gessia already suspected something. Others might start asking questions.
But if I didn’t have enough...
If my body gave out halfway—I clenched my jaw. Even then, I had already decided. If I couldn’t find more, I would still leave. I would join the human pack. There was nothing about me that would give me away.
Staying wasn’t an option. It was still early when I left.
The halls were quiet, the air cold against my skin as I slipped out of the alpha building. I kept my head low, moving quickly, avoiding anyone who might recognize me.
My sleeping place was just as I had left it. Untouched.
I dropped to my knees immediately, pulling at the edge of the mattress and reaching deep inside. My fingers brushed against the hidden bottles, and relief flooded through me when I pulled them out.
Still there. Still safe.
I quickly tucked two of the new ones inside, pushing them deeper than before, making sure they were well hidden before fixing the mattress back into place. Only then did I allow myself to breathe.
After washing and changing into another dull grey gown—one my mother always insisted would make me less noticeable—I stepped out again. Breakfast was already being served. The smell hit me before I even got there.
I took my food, my eyes fixed to the ground, ignoring the murmurs as I looked around and spotted Xarna and Loel, heading straight towards them.
"Finally!" Xarna’s voice cut through the noise the moment she saw me. "You look like you’re not going to drop dead!"
I forced a small smile, sitting down beside them. "I told you, I’m fine."
"Didn’t look like it yesterday," she muttered.
I ignored it, picking up the spoon and taking a bite. I had barely swallowed when Loel spoke.
"Raven...are you pregnant?" I reacted instantly, having already expected it.
"Of course not!" I said, louder than I intended. "I’m not pregnant!"
A few heads turned. I felt it immediately. But I couldn’t take it back now.
"But...Gessia said—"
"Gessia was wrong!" I cut her off quickly, my grip tightening slightly around the spoon. "I—I was worried because it was the alpha’s rut and you know..."
I trailed off, hoping they understood without me having to say it. They did. Understanding flickered across Xarna’s face almost immediately.
"Oh," she said, her expression shifting. "Yeah...that makes sense." A frown flickered on her face since the alpha should have known better.
Loel hesitated, her brows knitting together slightly before she slowly nodded.
"I guess..." The tension eased.
They dropped the subject soon after, talking about smaller things—training, chores, who had gotten into trouble the day before. I responded when needed, but my mind wasn’t fully there.
It couldn’t be. Not when everything depended on what I did next.
"Let’s go to the river," Xarna suggested after a while, stretching her arms above her head.
I nodded quickly.
"Yes."
Loel agreed as well, and the three of us stood, leaving the area together. The morning air was crisp, the sky still pale with the early light. It should have felt peaceful. It didn’t. Every step felt like a countdown.
Three figures stood ahead. Waiting by the border of the forest just after the trees. Clearly, they had been waiting as their eyes seemed to lock onto us the moment we got close.
My body went still instantly. It was Thor, Axel, and Rex and honestly, I would have preferred if it was only one of them. Instead, all three? At most, I had business with Rex.
My gaze dropped to the ground immediately, my heart beginning to pound hard against my chest.
"Where are you going?" Thor asked, his voice calm but carrying weight.
"The river," Xarna answered before I could. Her gaze was fixed more on Rex after she had bowed to show respect. The adoration in those eyes was so clear, I found it funny. It was foolish to want something you could never have.
Rex didn’t even spare her a glance, almost like she didn’t even exist.
There was a pause, and I could feel their eyes on us.
"You two can go," Rex said after a moment.
Silence followed. My chest tightened. "Raven stays."
Xarna shifted beside me.
"But—"
"Go," Axel cut in, his tone sharper and his expression much colder than the others as he glared at me like I had managed to do something horribly wrong again.
Reluctantly, they obeyed. I heard their footsteps fade. I kept my eyes fixed on the ground, my hands clenched at my sides.
"Look at me."
Rex’s voice was quieter now. I hesitated. Then slowly, I raised my head.
His eyes were already on me.
"You look better," he said.
