—- Chapter16 Isla’s POV Time slowed to a crawl. The glint of silver. The snarl of the attacker. And then, a blur of motion. Ascent I knew better than my own. “Isla!” The word was a desperate prayer as Damien’s body slammed into mine, shielding me. The cursed, wolfsbane-laced blade sank deep into his chest with a sickening sound. “No-!” He collapsed into my arms, blood instantly soaking his white shirt. Silver poison began to spread, his skin paling before my eyes.
“Damien!” I held him, my hands scrambling to —- channel my healing energy, to fight the poison, my voice shaking with terror. “Why would you-“‘ “Run…” he choked out, blood bubbling at his lips. ” They’ll… come back…” The two attackers, rogues by their scent, froze, their faces paling when they recognized Damien. “Alpha!” one of them stammered. “We didn’t mean to hurt you-” “Get out,”‘ Damien’s weak voice still held absolute command.
“And if I ever see you again, I’ll kill you myself.” They dropped the box and fled. “Call an ambulance!” I screamed at a passerby. ” Hurry!” Minutes later, the sirens wailed. “Silver poisoning!” I told the paramedics. “And wolfsbane! He needs to get to the werewolf medical center now!” On the way, Damien’s vitals grew weaker and weaker. The poison was lethal, especially from a cursed blade. —- “Why?” I gripped his cold hand, my vision blurred with tears.
“Why did you save me?” He forced his eyes open, a weak, tragic smile on his lips. “Because… I couldn’t let you get hurt again.” At the medical center, healers swarmed around him. “The poison is nearing his heart!” “Get the silver-venom antiserum!” “His lupine healing factor is failing!” I was pushed outside the operating room, left to wait in an agony of suspense where every second felt like a century. An hour later, Damien’s mother arrived.
“This is all your fault!” she screamed at me, her face streaked with tears and hate. “If it weren’t for you, my son wouldn’t be in there!” I couldn’t argue. She was right.
