Chapter 17: You Must Live

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: You Must Live Lily drifted in and out of the pain. Her body felt heavy, blood warm and sticky against her skin. Voices echoed around her, distant and faint, like they belonged to another world. A gentle touch landed on her arm—steady, careful. The healer. Kael. He knelt beside her, opened his pouch, and reached for herbs and bandages. His voice was calm but urgent. “Can you hear me? Lily, stay with me.” He checked her wounds quickly, eyes narrowing. “Where does it hurt? Can you move your fingers?” Lily blinked slowly, her vision foggy. Her lips parted. She tried to speak, but no sound came. Only a whisper of a thought mouthed silently—let me die. Kael froze, he looked at Martha who was equally stunned. “Fine,” He sighed without a second thought. He wasn’t about to waste his time on someone who didn’t want to live. There were others more deserving of his help. Then—smack! The sound echoed across the field. Martha’s hand trembled in the air, just after she struck Lily’s cheek. Not hard, but firm enough to snap her back. Lily stared at her, stunned. Martha had never hit her before. Tears spilled down the older woman’s face. “You selfish girl,” she whispered, voice cracking. “After all the nights I prayed and watched over you—you want to give up now?” Lily’s eyes showed confusion and pain. “You think dying is noble?” Martha choked out. “That it makes you brave? No. What’s brave is staying. Breathing. Fighting. Even when no one sees you.” Lily tried to look away, ashamed, but Martha grabbed her chin and held her still. “You owe me this,” she said. “You owe yourself this. You don’t get to give up. Not after everything we’ve been through.” Something stirred in her heart. The feeling of warmth. For the first time in what felt like forever, Lily felt loved. Someone truly cared if she lived or died. Her lips trembled. She was ashamed of herself. How could she wish for death when Martha fought so hard to keep her alive? Using what strength she had left, Lily reached for Martha’s hand and squeezed it—a silent promise that she would stay. Martha looked back up Kael, who was still standing there with his supplies. He crouched back down and worked silently. But as he cleaned the wound, his face grew tense. The cloth in his hand came away soaked in blood and pus, and a foul stench rose. It was sharp, sickly, and wrong. “This isn’t good. It’s infected,” Kael said grimly. “No. Worse... It’s poisoned. Whatever bit her left something behind. It’s spreading fast.” Martha gripped Lily’s hand tightly. “Can’t you treat it?” Kael shook his head. “Not with what we have. None of the herbs, not even the strongest healing potions can heal this. The only thing that can cleanse a wound like this is an Alpha’s blood... or a mate’s.” Silence fell. Lily’s heart thudded painfully in her chest. ‘Alpha blood.’ The words echoed in her mind like a curse. What a cruel trick the Moon Goddess played! The only person who could save her now was the person who hated her the most. Zayn. The one who had rejected her. The one who looked at her like she was nothing. Her heart twisted at the thought. She exhaled slowly. “Alpha’s blood? Where is Alpha Zayn?” Martha asked, knowing he was the only one who could help in this situation. Kael asked around before hurrying back to them, “He was last seen near the pack house.” Martha looked down at her clutching her hand tightly. She didn’t have to say anything, Lily knew. She swallowed hard. Her whole body ached, inside and out. She made a promise to stay alive and she wasn’t about to break it.. Her fingers closed weakly around Martha’s, eyes filled with determination. Martha gave her a small smile. She understood. With her help, they made it across the field. Every step felt like fire. Her legs shook, her shoulder burned, but she didn’t stop. The pain didn’t scare her anymore. She had made her choice. Zayn was by the pack house with his top warriors, going over the battle they’d just fought. His voice was firm as he gave orders. He didn’t see them at first. Then he turned—and froze. He couldn’t believe she was still standing. He was certain she’d be dead by now. Yet here she was, limping towards him while holding on to her loyal maid for support. “What is this? What do you want?” He asked sharply. His wolf clawed in agony at the sight of her but he suppressed those emotions. Lily’s legs gave out. She dropped to her knees. Then she crawled. The warriors around them fell silent, their eyes fixed on her. Not one spoke. When she reached him, she wrapped her arms around his leg. Her small hands clung tightly. She looked up at him, lips moving faintly. Zayn stared down at her, stunned. She needed something from him but he wasn’t about to give it to her so easily. She should suffer more. The battle with the beasts reignited a flame within him. The flame of hate for her and everything she represented. “You want something from me?” he said, voice cold. “Then grovel properly. Nobody here will pity you, especially me.” Martha stepped forward, eyes full of tears. “Please, Alpha. She can’t speak—” “I wasn’t talking to you,” Zayn snapped. “If she wants to live so badly, she’ll show it.” Lily looked up at him, eyes burning. Then slowly, she pressed her forehead to the ground, her body shaking. Her shoulder throbbed with every heartbeat, and still, she didn’t move. Zayn stood above her, unmoved. Arms crossed, face hard. “If you want my help,” he said coldly, “say it.” She lifted her head, lips parted. Her mouth worked around the words, soundless, but desperate. Her throat burned. Still, she tried. “I...” The word cracked out, raw and broken. Her voice was barely more than a breath. Lily’s lips moved again. “P-please...” Then her body jerked. A wet cough tore through her. She leaned forward and vomited blood onto the dirt at his feet. Gasps echoed around them. A few warriors looked away. Others just watched, staring blankly, but not one moved to help her. Still, she didn’t stop trying. Her lips kept forming the word ‘please’, though nothing more came out. Martha dropped beside her, trying to steady her, sobbing quietly. Then— “Alpha Zayn,” Bianca called out, limping forward with Kael’s help. Zayn didn’t even look at her. “What do you want?” The icy tone of the Alpha didn’t waver her determination to help, “Please help her, Alpha Zayne. Her wound is poisoned and only an Alpha’s blood or the blood of her fated mate can heal her.” “Don’t you remember who she is?” Zayn said, finally turning to face her. “She’s a Brightpaw. Her brother ruined your family. Ruined you.” Bianca’s jaw clenched. Her hands balled into fists. “I remember,” she said. “But she’s not her brother.” Zayn narrowed his eyes. “She’s the same.” Bianca looked down at Lily, still heaving on the ground, face pale and blood-streaked. “She saved my life,” she said quietly. “A life for a life. I don’t want to owe her anything.” “She saved you?” he repeated, voice low and doubtful. Bianca nodded. “Yes. She threw herself in front of a beast to save me. She didn’t need to do that but she did.” Zayn laughed, “She threw herself in front of one of those things for you?” “For me,” Bianca said again, firmer now. “I was crawling. Bleeding. Everyone else ran. She ran toward the monster. I didn’t think she had it in her.” Zayn’s frown deepened. “I don’t believe it.” “It’s true Alpha. Bianca wouldn’t lie about this,” Kael came forward, backing his mate’s words, “As much as I hate to say it, if it wasn’t for her, Bianca would be dead.” Zayn’s jaw twitched. He looked back at her. Her body shook with effort. She was too weak to speak, too broken to move properly. He let out a low breath and stepped forward. Martha flinched as he approached, placing herself between him and Lily. “Alpha, you—” “Do you want me to save her or not?,” he snapped in annoyance. No one dared to say anything. Martha couldn’t believe it. Zayn roughly grabbed Lily’s chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. There was only fear in her eyes. “Look at me,” he said. She didn’t dare look away. “I’ll give you my blood,” he said. “You better not waste it.”