After several days of studying the werewolf, herself, and the children, Elara finally deemed the kids safe to return home. Relief washed over them so quickly that they nearly tripped over each other racing out the door, leaving Elara alone with her father and the recovering werewolf.
As the sun dipped low, casting long, stretched shadows across the cottage walls, the werewolf stirred. Even lying down he was imposing—broad-shouldered and long-limbed, a shock of dark hair at his temples, and a pale scar slashing one cheek. His human features still held a wildness: an angular face, deep-set amber eyes, and a voice that carried a low, lupine echo. His clouded gaze fluttered open. He scanned the room as if silently asking, Where am I? A low groan escaped him as he tried to shift, his body stiff from days of fever.
"We found you in the woods," Elara said gently, stepping into his line of sight. "You were injured and burning up, so I brought you here."
"You shouldn't have," he rasped, attempting to sit. The effort made his arms tremble. Bram stepped forward immediately, steadying him with firm, practiced hands.
"Why?" Elara asked, worry knitting her brow.
"It's… transmittable," he managed. "Many have died from it."
"Well, you almost died," Elara replied, offering a small, reassuring smile. "But you're safe now."
The werewolf looked down at his own arms, turning them as if expecting to see decay. Instead, strength—real strength—had returned. His breathing steadied.
"You… you cured it?" he whispered, wonder softening his voice.
Bram grinned, thumping Elara proudly on the back. "Of course she did! My daughter can fix anything."
Elara winced at the heavy clap—both from the sting and the weight of his expectations.
"How?" the werewolf asked, his voice thick with disbelief. Hope flickered in his eyes—faint but unmistakable. "We thought it was a death sentence. A curse carved into our blood. Every other pack shut their gates and left us to die. But you…" He looked at Elara as if she were something divine. "You treated it like a scraped knee."
"Which pack are you from, son?" Bram asked in curiosity.
The werewolf blinked, remembering his manners. "I'm Harvey. Beta of the Stone Haven pack."
Silence rippled across the room.
"Stone Haven…?" Bram murmured and Elara's eyes widened.
"You know us," Harvey said, a hint of defensiveness in his posture. "And you?"
"I'm Bram, and this is my daughter, Elara," Bram replied. "We're from the Siberian pack."
Harvey froze, then offered a faint, hesitant smile. "Well… I can't hold a grudge. You saved my life."
Stone Haven were famous for sneering at the peaceful Siberian wolves.
"I dont mean to sound rude, but...when can I go back?" he asked after a moment.
"Go back?!" Bram exploded. "You'll just get sick again!"
"I have to," Harvey insisted. "I'm their Beta. If there's a cure… they need to know."
Elara turned to her shelves, pulling down bottles with swift, practiced movements. As she packed them into a small satchel, her expression tightened.
"This wasn't a normal disease, Harvey," she said quietly. "The way it spreads, the symptoms… it feels engineered. Or caused. And it's targeting Stone Haven alone."
She placed the bag in Harvey's hands. "Follow the instructions exactly. That's your best chance at full recovery."
Harvey bowed his head gratefully thanking Bram and Elara once more until some group of guards came in and ordered Harvey to meet Alpha Liam of Siberian, Elara tried to protest claiming he haven't yet recovered but Harvey will tell her not to worry and will go to meet the Alpha
Alpha Liam stood with arms crossed, his sharp gaze cutting down at Harvey. A sneer twisted his mouth. Years of tension simmered between their packs.
"So," Liam drawled, "Stone Haven has it weakness after all, imagine a disease that can easily be cured by a Siberian healer is crumbling the whole Stone Haven,"
Harvey clenched his fists, jaw tightening, but kept his composure. "Every pack has a weakness after all,"
Liam's eyes flicked toward Elara, who lingered in the doorway. "My niece helps everyone. Unlike Stone Haven, we don't abandon others when they're suffering."
"I know you have some thought to carry Elara along with you to the Stone haven but I won't let her go with you, don't think I will forget how the Stone Haven mistreated us just because of the calamity.
"I won't force her to do anything that she doesn't want to do but I hope Alpha Liam won't let hatred consume his kindness, the Stone Haven may have mistreated your pack but I believe that the is a room for a change," Harvey stated, bowing his head slowly before leaving the room.
Harvey packed up the medicine Elara gave him, bid them farewell once more and then set off to his pack.
"Alpha Lucian, please!" Mara cried, falling to her knees. "The sickness is devouring our children!"
"We're losing hope," Jaxon added, voice cracking. "Our healers can't do anything more."
Kael slammed a fist against the wall, voice hoarse with rage. "How many more will die before we do something?!"
Alpha Lucian stood before them, shoulders slumped under the enormous weight of his people's desperation. Deep lines carved his face. Sleepless nights shadowed his once-sharp eyes.
"I know," he breathed, raking a trembling hand through his silver-streaked hair. "I'm trying. I won't give up on you."
A guard burst into the room. "Alpha—Harvey has returned!"
Harvey nearly shoved past him. "I need to see Lucian! Now!"
The guards blocked him, hands poised over weapons. "We can't risk it! You might still be contagious!"
"I'm not contagious!" Harvey snapped. "I'm healed! And I know who cured me!"
The guards faltered, exchanging uneasy looks.
Finally: "Fine. But keep your distance."
Harvey followed them into Lucian's office. The Alpha looked up—and froze.
Harvey stood tall, steady, healthy.
Lucian's eyes widened. "So… it's true?" His voice cracked. "You're… healed?"
Harvey extended his bare hand.
Lucian stared—and hope, raw and overwhelming, broke across his features.
"By the gods…" he whispered, voice trembling. He pulled Harvey into a fierce embrace, clinging to him like a drowning man to a rope.
"Harvey," he gasped, pulling back, gripping the Beta's shoulders, "tell me everything. Who saved you? Tell me there's a chance, a real chance for all of us."