(AMARI'S POV)
Just like that, he fell to the ground. Like a bag of apples.
I have had so many medical cases before me. But never have I felt as scared as I do now.
"Kaelen?" I called out in shock as I rushed to him. I laid him out and quickly loosened the buttons on his shirt. I placed my ear on his heart and then felt his wrist. There was a weak pulse that made me panic, but it was better than nothing. I unfastened all his buttons and tore the shirt open so that my hand could move over his body, gently.
My heart started racing as I sensed the weakness in his pressure points. I tapped his chest twice and listened carefully.
My blood ran cold.
His pulse was fading.
"No…"
In a flash, I raced to the door but Vlad wasn't there.
"Mr. Vlad!!" I called out, starting to wander. "Mr. Vlad! Mr.—"
I gasped and jumped back when I turned and saw the middle-aged man in front of me, his blank expression forever in place.
"How may I—"
"The Alpha is in danger. He fainted and—"
I wasn't expecting to see the clear flags of panic in his eyes as Vlad ran back to the pool house.
"What happened?" He asked me, bending over Alpha Kaelen.
"He fainted." I said, but then I decided against that. "His Wolf-Energy has given out and his Wolf-Life is almost nonexistent. He must be struggling with critical Wolf Paralysis. If we don't act now, he will die."
Vlad stood up, eyes widened as he stared at me.
"H-how do you know all this?"
You're not yet a doctor, Amari. You're only an assistant healer.
"I am an assistant healer." I said, fighting the urge to want to lie. "But I am very sure of what I am saying. I can try to save him with a method that has a very high chance of stabilizing him, but we must act now, please."
"How do I know if I can trust you?" He asked, trying to get the truth from my eyes.
"You can't know. But I'd be a fool to endanger my life and my sister's when we are fully at your mercy."
He watched me for one second and then:
"What do you need?"
Relief washed over me. "I need the Alpha on a table, then I need a bowl of warm water, a towel, and four clean needles."
"Where do I find needles?" Vlad asked no one in particular.
"We need to hurry." I urged.
He nodded. "I'll be back."
He was out of the house while I sat on the ground beside Kaelen and held his hand in mine.
"Kaelen Blackwood, stay with us. Please, stay with us." I coaxed softly. "You lead your wolf. Lead him back to us. You are your wolf; he must listen to you and not depart."
I was reciting that for the fifth time when two men strolled into the living room. They had hardened faces and were totally dressed in black. I immediately recognized them as the tough-looking guards who stood around.
Without a word, they lifted Kaelen up and I followed them until the Alpha was laid on a big table.
I didn't let them step back before I started to peel the shirt off his body. I unbuckled his belt and popped open the buttons on his trousers.
Vlad came in next, a woman dressed in a maid's outfit following closely behind. She had the bowl of water, the towel, and the needles. I quickly dipped the towel in the warm water and placed it over his head, letting the water drip to the table.
"We need more help, a real doctor maybe." I said, not glancing at Vlad as I spoke.
"I have sent for help." He said, and then he told everyone but me to step back.
"Help us, Goddess." I whispered.
I drove the needle into my own arm first, letting it draw blood before transferring it to his chest.
Just as I stepped back with a prayer on my lips, the door burst open and the room seemed to be suddenly plunged into chaos.
"Kaelen!" A woman screamed, running forward. I recognized her as Vanessa. She ran to the table and held his head, crying. "Oh my son!"
"What's she doing here?" An angry, familiar voice spat. My chest tightened the moment I saw Neoma. How could I forget her name? She had assaulted Rudina and me just last night. Her angry brown eyes bore into mine.
"Oh goddess, he has needles in him!" Someone gasped. She was peeping behind Neoma initially, and as she stepped forward I realized two things. She was around the same age as Rudina and she had to be Neoma's sister or daughter with that striking resemblance.
"Alvari! Leave here now!" Neoma commanded instantly.
"But mother—"
"Leave!"
Alvari snorted, gave one last look at Kaelen, then at me before she stalked off mumbling.
Neoma turned to me, eyes flashing as she marched over. "What have you done to him?!" She demanded harshly.
"I'm trying to stabilize him. He's in danger now and I—"
"How dare you! You touched the Alpha with no permission? Who gave you the—"
"I did, Gamma Neoma." Vlad stepped forward. "She has experience in the medical field and the Alpha urgently needed direct aid, so I—"
"You insolent—"
"Kaelen?!" Vanessa's shriek made us all turn to the table where Kaelen had started vibrating.
My heart rose.
It's working. It's working.
"What's happening to him?" Vanessa cried, trying to hold him.
I hurried to her. "We need to give him space. He is trying to bring his wolf back."
She stepped back with a gasp as Kaelen's body hit the surface even harder and louder. Then, he stopped.
There was a moment of silence and then Vanessa rushed to her son again. She placed her ear over his chest and then reached for his pulse, then dropped him with a cry.
She turned to me, her bloodshot eyes showing horror.
"He's not breathing. He's dead."
My stomach sank and my heart started racing.
"I need to take out the needles. We can—" I was trying to move forward but a pair of stronger arms grabbed me and pushed me to the ground.
"Enough of your rubbish!" She snarled. "She killed the Alpha! Seize her!!"
"No, wait. Please." But the same men who had moved Kaelen were now before me.
I tried to move backwards but they lunged at me.