Clara’s POV
“I’m ready.”
Asher nodded and placed his hand lightly on my chest.
Instantly, a powerful yet gentle energy surged into my body.
It felt like a hot spring bubbling up in a frozen lake. My wolf, suppressed for three long years, began to tremble and stir.
“Good,” Asher’s voice whispered in my ear. “Feel your wolf. Don’t fight it.”
Silver light flowed from him into me. I could feel the Silver Dust toxins being cleansed away, bit by bit.
The ritual lasted for three full hours.
As the last ray of moonlight hit the altar, my wolf let out its first true howl in three years.
“It was a success,” Asher smiled, exhausted. “Clara, your wolf has reawakened.”
I sat up, feeling the power course through my veins again.
It was a wonderful feeling, like being given a new life.
“Thank you, Asher,” I took his hand. “I feel… I feel alive again.”
“Go and rest,” he said gently. “You’ll feel even better tomorrow.”
But at midnight, a searing pain shot through me.
I curled up in bed, my body convulsing. My wolf, suppressed for so long, was violently rejecting the sudden surge of power.
“Aaargh-!” I couldn’t help but scream.
The butler, Ben, rushed into the room and his face paled when he saw my condition.
“Get Asher!” he yelled at a maid. “Now!”
A few minutes later, Asher burst into the room.
Seeing me in agony, he immediately checked my condition.
“This is bad,” his face grew grim. “Her wolf and her body are having a severe rejection. Three years of suppression was too
long. The sudden awakening is too much for her to bear.”
“What do we do?” Ben asked anxiously.
“A second ritual,” Asher said without hesitation. “I’ll have to use my own core essence to stabilize her wolf.”
“No!” Ben stopped him. “That will drain your own core! You could be permanently crippled!”
“There’s no other way,” Asher was already preparing. “If I don’t, she’ll die.”
“But…”
“Prepare the ritual supplies!” Asher’s tone left no room for argument. “Now!”
I was brought back to the sanctuary, but this time, the ritual was far more dangerous.
Asher would have to transfer his own core wolf essence to me.
This was an extremely perilous act. The slightest mistake could cost him his life.
1/2
“Clara, hold on,” he placed his hand over my heart. “I will save you.”
A massive surge of power erupted from him. This time, it wasn’t a gentle guidance, but a direct transfer of power.
I could feel his wolf burning, consuming its own life force to save me.
“Asher, don’t…” I said weakly. “It’s too dangerous…”
“Hush,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “I’m not going to let you die.”
The silver light was even more brilliant than before, illuminating the entire sanctuary.
Under his guidance, my wolf gradually stabilized, and the rejection reaction slowly subsided.
But with every passing moment, Asher’s face grew paler.
When I woke up again, it was the next afternoon.
I felt better than ever. My wolf was completely stable, and my power was steadily returning.
But when I saw Asher sitting by my bed, my heart clenched.
His face was as white as paper, the light gone from his eyes.
“You’re awake,” he smiled weakly. “How do you feel?”
“Asher…” tears welled in my eyes. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I can’t lose you,” he gently stroked my face. “I lost you once, ten years ago. I won’t lose you a second time.”
“But your power…”
“It will recover,” he shook his head. “My core essence is damaged, but it’s not permanent. It will just take a long time to heal.”
I knew he was trying to comfort me.
The loss of one’s core essence was a devastating blow. It could take decades to recover–if a wolf recovered at all.
“I’m so sorry…” I took his hand. “It’s all my fault…”
“Don’t be sorry,” his voice was still gentle. “Clara, some things are worth the risk.” His voice was soft but firm. “You are worth the risk.”
Friends.
The word stirred a complex mix of emotions in my heart.
“Besides,” his eyes shone with a determined light, “even though my power is damaged, I’m still the best healer in this family. I can recover with you, get stronger with you.”
“What do you mean?”
He gently squeezed my hand. “Let’s get stronger together, okay? I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
BIG SALE:3500 BONUS FREE FOR YOU!–
