๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. "๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐!" ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. "๐ท๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ณ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ซ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐."
๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
"๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ?" ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐. "๐ฐ'๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐. ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐."
๐ฐ ๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ . "๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐."
๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ณ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
I wake up with a start, my heart racing and my sheets drenched in sweat as the memories of what happened Came flooding making me realize it wasn't a dream. It takes me a moment to realize I'm in my own bed, in the healer's sanctuary. The events of the previous day come flooding back โ Luca's battered body, the Pack attack, the healer's urgent chanting...
At first, I think it was all just a terrible dream. But as I sit up and look around, I see the healer, Elara, sitting in a chair beside my bed, her eyes watchful.
"Good morning, Luna," she says softly. "How are you feeling?" She asked as she held my hands .
I rub my eyes, trying to shake off the haze. "What... what happened to Luca?" I said panicking, looking around in search of Luca.
Elara's expression turns serious. "He's stable, but still unconscious. I've been keeping a close eye on him." She said as she lowered her gaze in a sad gaze.
I throw off the covers and swing my legs over the side of the bed. "I need to see him." I said
Elara nods. "I expected as much. Let's go." Elara didn't wait for me before she started walking out of the room.
I rush out of the room, Elara following close behind. We navigate the winding corridors of the sanctuary, and I can feel my anxiety growing with each step.
Finally, we reach Luca's ward, and I burst through the door. He lies motionless on the bed, his face still bruised and swollen. I rush to his side, taking his hand in mine.
"Luca, my love, please wake up," I whisper, tears streaming down my face.
I press my fingers to Luca's wrist, feeling his pulse. It's there, but it's weak and faint. My heart skips a beat as I sense the fragility of his life force.
I look up, my eyes locking onto Elara's concerned expression. She approaches me, her steps quiet.
"Luna, we need to speak," she says, her voice low and serious.
I nod, feeling a sense of trepidation. What does she need to tell me?
I gently lay Luca's hand back on the bed, my touch lingering for a moment. I follow Elara out of the ward, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
We step into a small, cozy room adjacent to the ward. The door closes softly behind us, and Elara gestures for me to sit. I do, my heart pounding in my chest.
Elara's expression is grave as she begins to speak. "Luna, I need to be honest with you. Luca's case is critical. The attack... it's caused significant damage. We're looking at a long and difficult recovery, with many potential medical complications." She said Sighing loudly as she say I wasn't ready to say anything and Continued speaking.
I feel a cold dread creeping up my spine as she continues.
"The treatment he requires... it's going to be expensive. Very expensive. I'm not talking about a small fortune, Luna." She said while I just slapped my forehead in exhaustion as I sat down trying to process everything That Elara Just said.
"...We're not talking about a small fortune, Luna. We're not just talking about the cost of my services, but also the rare herbs, the specialized care... it adds up quickly. And to make matters worse, Luca's family... they're not in the best financial position to cover these costs."
I frown, confusion etched on my face. "But they're wealthy, aren't they? I mean, they're one of the most influential packs in the land."
Elara nods. "They are, but... they've recently incurred some significant expenses. Moon's travel, the mating ... it's all added up. They've spent nearly half their fortune in the past year alone. And now, with Luca's medical bills... it's going to be a struggle for them to cover everything."
I feel a wave of worry wash over me. We can't let Luca's pack go bankrupt because of his medical bills. But what can we do? I think back to the conversation I had with Aria earlier... Maybe there's a way to raise the funds we need.
"Elara, can I ask you something?" I say, a plan is beginning to form in my mind. "How much time do we have to raise the funds? And are there any... alternative treatments we could consider?" I asked Elara while She just stared at me.
Elara nods understandingly. "I see what you're getting at, Luna. Yes, we can work out a payment plan. It doesn't have to be a lump sum. We can break it down into smaller, manageable amounts. Even monthly payments would be acceptable, as long as we can see a commitment to covering the costs." She explained while I smiled in Satisfaction as I breathe a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.
"That's great, Elara. I was worried we'd have to come up with the entire amount at once. But if we can spread it out over time... I think we can make it work." I said.
Elara smiles, her expression softening. "I'm glad we can work something out, Luna. I want to see Luca recover just as much as you do. And I'm willing to work with you to make that happen." She said smiling warmly.
I nod, feeling a sense of determination. "Okay, let's do it. Let's get Luca the help he needs, no matter what it takes." I said in determination.
Elara's expression turns somber, and she places a gentle hand on my arm. "Luna, I'm sorry to tell you this, but... you're alone in covering the sum. Luca's Pack has spent their resources on his sister's travels and his own mating ceremony. They won't be able to contribute to his medical expenses." She explained Sadly.
My eyes widen in shock, and I feel like I've been punched in the gut. "What? But... but I thought they would help!" I stuttered, gulping, Sweating, Panickingโฆ
Elara's grip on my arm tightens. "I'm afraid not, Luna. You're on your own in this. But don't worry, we'll work out a payment plan that suits you. It won't be easy, but... we'll make it work." She said.
I feel a wave of despair wash over me, and my mind races with the impossible task ahead. How can I possibly cover the entire sum on my own?" But I know I have to try... for Luca's sake.
And with that, Elara's words hang in the air, leaving me with a sense of uncertainty and a daunting challenge aheadโฆ