Raphael's POV
My breathing is becoming intermittent and short, while my whole body is starting to go numb. I can not move any of my limbs as I lie on my bed. The doctor who has been attending me since last night has given up, though he cannot admit it. I have seen it on his face and his demeanour has completely changed, like someone who is afraid to be the harbinger of the worst news.
My Dad and Mom have endured a sleepless night by opting to stay by my side. Their hope of my making a smooth recovery immediately after the doctor had appeared has been drastically declining with each passing minute. My piercing groans, precipitated by the excruciating pain tearing through my chest, have not boosted their hopes either. I have since avoided looking at their haggard, gloomy faces by turning towards the wall.
I am to blame for what befell me. Holy sh*t, why the hell didn't I kill that girl when I had the opportunity? At least, she couldn't have been able to stab me as she did later! Was it sympathy for the lose of her parents, or ...? Well, I can't explain it, but I must admit that something touched my heart on realizing that she was a girl. Not just any other girl, but a beautiful and well-endowed one. Lust?
It must have been lust because Rip, my wolf, was very silent. He neither encouraged me to rip her apart, nor approved of my lustful desire when I peeked at her bosom. He only found cause to blame me after we had been wounded. He has been silent since then. It is like he has also given up on the fight for recovery.
My thoracic cavity is filling up with fluid, and no matter how much I expel the sputum, it does not decongest. I go into convulsions in a series of coughing fits. My Dad and some other persons hold and fold my limbs while my mum go into some sobbing spree.
"Hold on, son! I know you are strong enough to overcome this!" My Dad implores while massaging my chest.
"I fear the sword must have been laced with some poison," I hear my Omega opine. "And am sure the girl must be knowing the antidote."
"What can she possibly do that the good and able doctor hasn't done?'' my mom poses. "You should have killed her when you had the chance, son! See what she did to you!" She observes, her chest heaving with sobbing.
"Word has it that she learnt some medication ideas from her mother," Jules, my Omega, adds hesitantly.
"What can we possibly lose by trying her?" Dad quips. "Go and get her here now!"
I hear Jules hurrying out of the room as my mind gets clouded into oblivion. Time passes without my knowledge.
I think I must have gone into a vegetative state because the next thing I hear is Dad giving orders to the girl.
"Look at what you did to my only son even after he had spared your life!" Dad fumes at the girl.
"But he had killed my mother!" The girl retorts back. She has some guts. I must give her credit. No one speaks to Dad that way and lives to tell the story.
"Listen, you God-forsaken scoundrel!" It is all he can do to control his rising anger. "You have only one option. You treat that wound and make sure that he survives, otherwise your life will be of no use to me. Do I make myself loud and clear?"
"Loud and clear, old man, but. . ."
"Your Majesty! The last time am tolerating such insolence, do you understand?" He roars at her.
"Yes, your. . . Majesty, but on one condition?"
"Nonsense!" My mom interjects, punctuating her words with a hard slap across the girl's face. "You are at no position to make any demands, do you dig me?"
Lucia just stares at Mum, baring her teeth while clenching her fists. I'm sure she would have hit back if the odds weren't overwhelmingly against her.
"Let her be," Dad restrains mom. "For listening's sake, what condition are you talking about?" He inquires from the girl.
"I should be set free to go once he gets cured," she states without mincing words.
"Well, that is not for me to decide. Lest you forget, he is the one who wanted you alive and consequently ensured that you were brought here. I don't know what he wants of you, but I can assure you that the only thing in my mind right now is that he doesn't succumb to that wound you inflicted on him, do you get what I mean?" He growls at her.
"Yes, your Majesty. However, I would feel at ease knowing that I have some assurance from you about my freedom," she persists. "Why should I trouble myself in saving him if my life would still be miserable?"
"What! As already stated, the only option you have is saving him, otherwise I will have your pathetic body for breakfast tomorrow morning if he dies!" He fumes at her. "No more wasting of time. Get to work now!"
I can feel Lucia giving in and consequently she moves to my bed and presses her hand on the wound on my chest. Her action triggers some excruciating pain that pricks all my senses. I open my eyes just as I grab at her hand. I squeeze with all the energy still left in me.
She tries to pull free from my grasp, but changes her mind when she locks eyes with me. I expect to see fear in her eyes, but what I see is neither fear, nor disdain. I don't know if it is empathy or some shreds of tenderness.
I don't exactly know for how long we stare at each other's eyes, but one thing am sure is that the warmth radiating from her has lulled every fabric of my smarting body. I loosen my grip on her and she suddenly turns her face, blushing.
"I just want to examine the wound so that I can make the right diagnosis. I'm sorry if I caused you more pain," she apologizes, avoiding my eyes.
"Do whatever you have to do, but never press there again without prior warning, do you understand?" I want to bark at her, but I instead find myself softening up on her. Quite unlike me, especially since she is the cause of my prostrate self.
"Sure. May I, now?" She asks, already removing the dressing on the wound. Her soft fingers massaged the hair that had nothing to do with the wound. I bet she is admiring the heavily-muscled chest and all that goes with it. "Well, this doesn't look good?" She says after a long dilly-dallying.
"What does that mean?" My Dad interjects. "The question is, can you treat it?"
"Yes, but I need to get the right herbs first," she responds.
"Which ones? Just name them and we will send for them."
"They are very rare and are only found in one place. Plus, I only know them by their appearance."
"Just say wherever they are found and you will be taken there!" My father says, sounding exasperated.
"They are found on the border between the Blood Moon Pack and ours, or rather what used to be our territory."
"Argh! That is a long way off, considering the fact that you are wolfless. Don't worry, Jules here will take you."
"Your Majesty, something is not right here," Mum observes. "What if it is a gimmick for her to get away? Considering what she is capable of, Jules alone might be no match for her. Add three more warriors."
"You are right, dear," Dad concurs. "Jules, take three fastest men with you. Ensure that she picks the herbs. Kill her if she tries to dodge you. You should be back before noon. Go!"
Lucia stands up from the bed and turns to look at me. Once again, we lock eyes. I can not tell whether it is mocking laughter I see in her eyes or some yearning admiration. She seems to be enticed and hypnotized by my bluish eyes and the hairy, muscular chest. Rip, what do you think? Why are you so silent on this important matter? How are we going to find our mate if you behave this way? Are you intimidated by the girl, perhaps?
She turns on her heels and struts out of the room. I feel like rising to beg her to come back, but my whole body is numb. What do I care if she comes back or not? I'm not even sure if I will still be up and kicking by the time they come back with the said herbs.