CHAPTER 293: _SHE WILL BE FINE...

"How is she?" I asked the pack doctors who came to check on Odessa several minutes later.

I stood at the entrance of her room while two doctors, both men, stood beside her bed, dressed in long white coats. The third one, a woman in her early forties, walked up to me with a tense expression.

"We believe her magic... Went out of control. So much so that it weakened her body and caused her to collapse." Her tone was calm—mine was anything but.

I lowered my arms which were folded in front of my chest, my eyes narrowing into slits. "What do you mean you ’believe’? Are you sure of what you’re saying or not?"

She froze, blinking with parted lips. She then glanced back at her colleagues but before she could say anything useful, the door behind me burst open.

I glanced back and witnessed Caroline walking in with alarm and fear written on her face. Her gaze quickly landed on the bed, and then her face paled.

"By the goddess! Odessa—" She was just about to walk past the female pack doctor, but the latter held her back, shaking her head.

"The Luna Queen needs rest." The doctor said calmly but Caroline brushed her arm aside with a snarl.

"I just want to see how she’s doing."

A thought crossed my mind just then. I focused my attention on the female pack doctor again, this time lowering my voice as if I were afraid of the answer I would get.

"T–The baby..." I started, keeping eye contact with her despite the slight nervousness in her eyes. "What about our baby? Is he... Is he—"

"Yes, my lord. Your baby is safe, rest assured." The pack doctor spoke with a reassuring tone.

I blinked, breathing out in relief before turning my gaze to Caroline. "Let’s listen to her and let Odessa rest. Alright?"

Caroline was still hesitant, her feet rooted to the ground. But when I tilted my head, she let out a sigh and nodded, bowing slightly.

"Of course, my Lord..."

.

.

Although I mentioned that we should give Odessa space to rest, I remained sitting beside her bed. The doctors didn’t dare deny me that.

I watched her peaceful face, my right hand lingering just above her head which rested comfortably on a soft white pillow.

Her blonde hair pooled around her features, accentuating the tranquillity that was her.

The pack doctors had left the room, leaving the two of us alone.

"Why couldn’t I feel the mate bond?" I asked with a whisper, but it was a question more to myself than her.

Right when I felt like something was off in my office, I tried reaching her through the mate bond. But I felt nothing at that moment.

It was as if it had flickered out of existence.

I could feel the bond pulsing again right now but that cold, empty feeling... It was one I have only felt once.

Four months ago... When Ryker appeared in my dreams using my late father’s form and voice to taunt me.

"I swear to the goddess, that bastard will pay with his blood one way or another..." I spoke coldly at the same moment that a gentle knock sounded on the door.

I swung my head back and spoke softly. "Come in."

The door opened and Althea stepped in, her expression solemn. The purple dress she wore dragged behind her as she walked toward the bed, her gaze fixed on Odessa.

"She’s stable," I informed her when she finally got to the other side of the bed, watching as she rested her hand on her forehead.

She let out a sigh, shaking her head. "Your pack members are already gossiping. Everyone saw the dark storm clouds that swirled above the pack. It happened around the same moment she passed out."

That meant one thing...

"So you’re saying she caused it?" I queried, squinting my eyes before rubbing my forehead with frustration. "Four months, high priestess. You’ve been tutoring her on how to separate her emotions from her magic for four months. This..."

I froze just then, my lips parting as my gaze landed on the magic bracelet on Odessa’s right wrist. The one given to her by the elders of the Luminari coven to monitor the output of her abilities.

Althea followed my gaze and placed her grip on the bracelet. "I’m sure the Elders sensed her magic output. They’re... Silent. And I haven’t told them about the dark sigils connecting her to the Vein yet."

"Don’t." I shook my head, my jaw clenching. "Don’t do it. Not until we’ve fully understood what’s going on here."

If the other Luminari coven elders found out about Odessa’s connection to the Vein... Our lives would be anything but peaceful from thereon out.

The last witch who tapped into the Vein was sealed in it. Odessa, being a direct key to unlocking its chaotic magic, could quickly shoot up her status from "misunderstood hybrid" to "harbinger of doom".

And if that becomes the case, the moon knows I’d rather die than let them harm her or seal her away. At this point, I would declare war on anyone who dares to do that.

"About her magic... It’s going to take time for her to gain actual control because there are too many factors playing out in her." Althea spoke up just then. "First, her wolf side pushes her magic to be more chaotic and... Predatory. Then her witch bloodline... Her mother and I are descended from Nyx."

That’s one thing that confuses me.

"If you’re a descendant of the witch who first tapped into the Vein, why then don’t you have those dark sigils like Odessa? Why aren’t you connected to it?" I queried, raising an eyebrow.

Althea let out a breath, glancing at Odessa briefly before she spoke. "The key is her hybrid blood. That and whatever dark ritual the Lord of the North performed on her during your mission in Mexico."

I sucked in a deep breath, tearing my gaze away from Althea and grabbing Odessa’s palm, squeezing it tenderly.

"I fear the Blood moon would have some unforeseen effects on Odessa," Althea revealed out of the blue.

Gods, this was becoming too much...

"I have a special tea... A potion. It’ll calm her two sides, witch and wolf, while also suppressing her magic." She continued, causing me to squint my eyes at her.

That... Didn’t sound like a bad idea.

"And you’re sure this tea wouldn’t have any effects?" I asked and she nodded simply.

"It shouldn’t."

But I wasn’t satisfied. "Shouldn’t or wouldn’t?"

She smiled wryly, turning around the bed and walking to me. When she got to where I sat at the other side, she placed a hesitant but gentle hand on my shoulder.

"She will be fine, Kaelos. I assure you."

I couldn’t even pretend to smile in return, bringing my gaze back to Odessa and staring at her face. She stirred in her sleep, her eyelids fluttering.

Like she was dreaming...

"I sure hope so..."