Cassandra's POV
"I need hot water, clean cloth, and whatever herbs you use for pain," I order, kneeling beside the dying child.
Every wolf in the circle stares at me like I've grown a second head. A human female giving orders to an Alpha's pack? Unheard of.
But I don't have time for their shock. Jamie's pulse is racing under my fingers, his skin burning. The infected wound on his leg is swollen, red streaks spreading up toward his heart. Without treatment, he'll be dead by morning.
The System interface glows in front of my eyes:
[EMERGENCY MISSION: SAVE JAMIE FROST]
[DIAGNOSIS: SEPTIC SHOCK FROM BACTERIAL INFECTION]
[SURVIVAL RATE WITHOUT TREATMENT: 3%]
[TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE - CHECK SYSTEM STORE]
"Nobody move," Elder Moira commands, her voice sharp. "This human has no right to touch our future Alpha's son."
"He's dying!" I snap, not looking up from Jamie. "Do you want to save him or watch him die because you're too proud to accept help?"
Kieran's hand lands on my shoulder. "You said you can cure him. Prove it. Now."
I take a deep breath and focus on the System interface only I can see. "System, show me treatment options."
[SYSTEM STORE - TREATMENT OPTIONS:]
[OPTION 1: MODERN ANTIBIOTIC INJECTION - COST: 100 POINTS]
[CURRENT POINTS: 0]
[OPTION 2: HERBAL ANTIBIOTIC FORMULA - REQUIRES: SILVERLEAF, MOONROOT, DRAGON'S BREATH FLOWER]
[SUCCESS RATE: 67%]
[OPTION 3: EMERGENCY HEALING STARTER PACK - FREE (ONE TIME ONLY)]
[INCLUDES: BASIC ANTIBIOTIC DOSE, FEVER REDUCER, WOUND CLEANING SOLUTION]
[SUCCESS RATE: 85%]
My heart leaps. "System, activate Option 3!"
[EMERGENCY HEALING STARTER PACK ACTIVATED]
[ITEMS MATERIALIZING IN YOUR MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE IMPLANT]
[WARNING: THESE ITEMS WILL APPEAR FROM YOUR HANDS. OTHERS WILL SEE THIS AS MAGIC.]
Suddenly, I know exactly what to do. The medical knowledge isn't just information anymore—it's instinct, like I've been a doctor for years instead of just a researcher.
"I need you to trust me," I tell Kieran quietly.
His ice-blue eyes search my face. Then he nods once. "Do it."
I hold my hands over Jamie's burning body and focus. The System interface pulses.
[MATERIALIZING ITEMS...]
Light glows between my palms—soft, golden light that makes the crowd gasp. When it fades, three small vials rest in my hands: one clear liquid, one green, one amber.
"Witchcraft!" someone shouts.
"Dark magic!" another voice agrees.
"SILENCE!" Kieran's Alpha command rolls over the crowd like thunder. "She has three days. Anyone who interferes answers to me."
I ignore the frightened whispers and uncork the first vial—the wound cleaning solution. "Hold him still. This will hurt."
Two wolves pin Jamie's small body down. I pour the liquid over his infected leg wound.
Jamie screams, thrashing against the hands holding him. The wound fizzes and bubbles, black pus oozing out. The smell is horrible but I keep pouring until the liquid runs clear.
[WOUND CLEANED SUCCESSFULLY]
[INFECTION LEVEL: REDUCED TO 40%]
Next, the antibiotic. I measure the dose carefully—too much could kill him, too little won't work. My hands are steady even though my heart is racing.
"Open his mouth," I tell Kieran.
He does it himself, cradling his nephew's head with surprising gentleness. I drip the green liquid onto Jamie's tongue. The boy gags but swallows.
[ANTIBIOTIC ADMINISTERED]
[ESTIMATED TIME TO IMPROVEMENT: 6 HOURS]
Finally, the fever reducer. I rub the amber liquid on Jamie's forehead, neck, and chest. Within seconds, his skin starts cooling.
The crowd watches in stunned silence as Jamie's breathing slowly steadies. His eyes stop rolling. The red streaks on his leg begin to fade.
"Impossible," Elder Moira whispers. "The spirit sickness doesn't respond to treatment. It doesn't—"
"It's not spirit sickness," I interrupt, sitting back on my heels, exhausted. "It's a bacterial infection. Something your body fights with your immune system. The medicine I just gave him helps his body win that fight."
"Magic," someone mutters.
"Science," I correct. "Where I come from, we save lives like this every day."
Kieran stares at the vials in my hands. "Where did those come from? They appeared from light."
I hesitate. How do I explain a System I don't understand myself?
"I don't know," I admit. "Ever since I woke up here, I've had this... thing. Only I can see it. It shows me information, gives me items, tells me what to do." I meet his eyes. "I know how crazy that sounds."
"Show me."
"You can't see it."
"Try."
I focus on the System interface. "System, can Kieran see you?"
[NEGATIVE. ONLY HOST CAN VIEW SYSTEM INTERFACE.]
[HOWEVER, HOST MAY SHARE SYSTEM INFORMATION VERBALLY.]
"It says only I can see it, but I can tell you what it says." I take a breath. "It's called the Medical Salvation System. It gave me a mission: survive thirty days in Beastworld or die. It downloaded medical knowledge into my brain and gives me items to complete healing missions."
Kieran's expression is unreadable. "Why you?"
"I don't know! I'm not special. I'm just a researcher who got drugged and woke up here!" My voice cracks with frustration and exhaustion. "I didn't ask for this. I don't want to be here. I just want to go home."
For a moment, something softens in his eyes. Understanding, maybe. He's lost and alone too, I realize. Everyone here might be pack, but there's a distance between him and them. The weight of leadership.
"Can this System of yours cure the others?" he asks. "Six more wolves have the infection. Three are cubs."
My stomach drops. "I... I don't know. The starter pack is gone. I'd need to gather herbs or earn points to buy more medicine."
[NEW MISSION UNLOCKED: CURE THE PACK PLAGUE]
[INFECTED WOLVES: 7/7 IDENTIFIED]
[REWARDS: 500 POINTS, BASIC ALCHEMY LAB, PERMANENT PACK MEMBER STATUS]
[TIME LIMIT: 7 DAYS]
[FAILURE PENALTY: DEATH]
Seven days to cure seven wolves or I die. Perfect.
"I can do it," I hear myself say. "But I need help. I need someone to show me where to find herbs. I need supplies. And I need people to stop looking at me like I'm going to eat their children."
A small smile tugs at Kieran's mouth. "The last part might take more than seven days."
"Then the first two will have to do."
He stands, pulling me up with him. "You'll stay in my den tonight. Tomorrow, I'll assign someone to help you gather what you need."
"Your den?" I blink. "Isn't that... I mean, won't people think..."
"Let them think what they want. You're under my protection now. That means you're valuable. Untouchable." His voice drops lower. "And it means if anyone tries to hurt you, they die. Understand?"
I nod, suddenly very aware of how close he's standing.
"Good." He turns to the crowd. "The human stays. Anyone who disagrees can challenge me now."
No one moves.
"That's what I thought." He looks at Elder Moira. "Watch Jamie. If he worsens, get me immediately."
Then he walks away, clearly expecting me to follow.
I take one last look at Jamie—already breathing easier, color returning to his face—and hurry after the Wolf King.
We're halfway to his den when Kieran suddenly stops. His head tilts, listening to something I can't hear.
"What's wrong?" I whisper.
"The patrol just found something." His face goes hard. "Two more humans. In the eastern woods."
My heart stops. "What?"
"A male and a female. The male is screaming about looking for someone named Cassandra."
No. No no no no.
"It's Marcus," I whisper. "My ex-fiancé. The one who drugged me." My hands start shaking. "Kieran, if he's here, if he finds me—"
Kieran's eyes blaze with cold fury. "He's the one who did this to you?"
I nod, unable to speak.
"Then he's not leaving this forest alive." Kieran's voice is deadly calm. "I'll handle this."
"Wait—" I grab his arm. "You don't understand. Marcus doesn't do anything without a plan. If he's here, he wants something. And knowing him..."
A horrible thought hits me.
"What?" Kieran demands.
"What if he has a System too?"