I remembered the way Narine shrank when Maravek tried to examine her mouth.
“If she were human,” he continued. “She’d likely have succumbed to death long ago. Her wolf genetics are the only reason she’s still alive.”
I closed my eyes, as my throat tightened.
“We’ll start with nutritional rehabilitation,” Maravek continued. “Intravenous vitamins and nutrients for the first few days. Oral consumption will come gradually once her digestive system stabilizes.”
I nodded, absorbing his every word.
“Hydration therapy will also be crucial,” He added. “Possibly through IV fluids for the first few days, or oral rehydration solution when she begins to regain some strength. We’ll also need to monitor her electrolyte balance closely.”
I remained still, with my arms crossed.
“And her dental condition,” he added gravely, “will need immediate intervention. Cleanings, fillings… possibly extractions if the decay has reached the roots. We’ll do what we can until her wolf is strong enough to take over the regenerative process. But until then, her pain tolerance will be tested.”
“How long will it take?” I asked.
“That depends on her.” He hesitated before adding, “Recovery will be a long, uphill journey. We’re not talking days, or even weeks. This will take months, maybe more, requiring patience, consistency, and care. And as her mate,” he looked me in the eye, “your presence will be as vital.”
My gaze flickered to the roaring hearth behind him. The word mate still felt foreign on my tongue, yet it stirred something deep inside me. I wasn’t sure what to call it yet. But I knew I wasn’t walking away.
“She will receive the best,” I said firmly. “Money, time, manpower, none of that is a concern. Just get her everything she needs without delay. That’s your only priority.”
Maravek bowed deeply. “Your will is my command, Your Majesty. I’ll begin immediately.”
He turned toward the door, but paused, casting one last glance over his shoulder. “But, Your Majesty,” he uttered, “you should understand something, the scars of the body… those are easy. Bones mend and flesh regenerates. But the wounds carved into the mind and soul?” He shook his head slightly. “That’s where the real war lies. We can patch her up. We can ease the pain. But the trust, the safety she needs to feel again? That’s something only she can find. And it won’t come easily.”
“I understand,” I replied after a moment. “I’ll be there. Whatever it takes, however long it takes.”
He nodded, and turned to leave.
“Maravek,” I called softly. He stopped. “Will she ever be able to talk again?”
He hesitated, then turned back toward me.
“It’s hard to say for certain. From what I’ve observed, it’s likely a case of psychogenic mutism or perhaps selective mutism, both triggered by severe psychological trauma. In simpler terms, her mind has learned to equate speaking with danger. The body remembers pain even when the mouth forgets the words. It’s a survival mechanism.”
I frowned, absorbing his words. It made sense, in the most horrifying way.
“She hasn’t spoken in three years,” he continued. “That kind of silence rewires the brain, not just psychologically, it creates changes in the neurobiological pathways, which means even if the danger is gone, her body still believes that speaking will lead to pain or punishment.”
“So what now?”
“There’s hope,” he responded. “If she begins to feel safe again, truly safe, and her nervous system recalibrates… the block may lift. But it won’t happen because we push.”
It didn’t matter to me. Whether she spoke today, in a year, or never again, her silence didn’t change the fact that I had already chosen to stand beside her.
“Thank you,” I mumble. “You may begin preparations. Leave no detail unchecked.”
He bowed once more and slipped from the study. Once the door closed, I remained rooted in place, with my eyes fixed on the fireplace. The flames cast a warm glow across the room, but I felt no warmth inside. Just a slow-burning fury.
I pulled out my phone and typed a message to Lupercus.
Dig into everything. I want a full report. Who she is. Where she came from. Who dared tortured her. I want names, locations, and motives. Leave no stone unturned. My thumb hovered for a second before I hit send.
And then I stared at the screen, wondering how the hell a stranger had crawled into my world and made it feel like it had always been missing her.
The sharp ding of the elevator pulled me from my thoughts like a slap of cold water. The doors slid open, and I stepped into the sterile hallway of the medical wing. My senses immediately picked up on the flurry of movement, the clipped tones of nurses conversing, the rhythmic clack of equipment being moved, and the sharp scent of antiseptics.
As soon as I pushed the door open, the atmosphere shifted. Every head turned, and in unison, they bowed.
“Supreme Alpha,” they greeted.
I gave a low, approving growl, and their heads lifted once more.
Maravek was the first to approach, his white coat fluttering behind him like a battle cloak. “Everything is going in accordance with the treatment plan, Your Highness. In fact, I was just about to head up to your room to place her on IV therapy.”
“Good,” I nodded, scanning the organized chaos of the wing. “I came to see the progress myself.”
“Lychia,” he called over his shoulder, “do you have everything prepped?”
“Yes, Doctor,” a young nurse answered quickly, with her arms already cradling the IV kit and supplemental fluids.
“Then let’s head up…if we may,” he added, turning to me with a slight incline of his head.
I gave a curt nod and took the lead. We stepped back into the elevator. The soft hum of the ascent was the only sound until the ding echoed again, this time announcing our arrival at the topmost floor of the palace, my private wing.
I pushed the doors open.
She was still curled in bed, her frame small and motionless beneath the thick duvet. Her breathing was soft, and her face looked almost peaceful. A small snore escaped her lips, and it made me smile.
I gave Maravek a silent nod.
Without a word, Lychia sprang into action, assembling the IV stand under Maravek’s watchful eye. The needle found its way into her vein with ease. I watched her body tense slightly at the unfamiliar intrusion, and her fingers twitched against the sheets.
Lychia injected a slow-release fluid into the bag, a vitamin-rich cocktail Maravek had said would help stabilize her more gently than anything invasive.
Maravek stepped back quietly. “We’ll return tomorrow to monitor her levels and adjust the doses.”
I gave a stiff nod. “Thank you.”
Without another word, he turned, Lychia following closely behind. The door clicked softly shut behind them, and silence once again filled the room.
I stood rooted for a moment, watching as her chest rose and fell rhythmically.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, then crossed the room and sank into the sofa. I leaned back and placed a hand over my eyes, finally allowing the exhaustion to catch up.
NARINE’S POV
It’s been thirty sunrises and sunsets since I woke up in this… dreamscape of a nightmare.
I said dreamscape because sometimes, it doesn’t feel real.
I got my daily dose of sunlight out on the balcony. Hasmik made sure of it. She had become a constant in my life, quiet, attentive, and never overbearing. She never pressured me for anything. She simply assisted and left.
Maravek and Lychia came in regularly, checked my vitals, replaced my IV fluids, and adjusted my medications. They told me I was doing better. And I suppose I was.
Color had returned to my cheeks, slightly. My lips weren’t as cracked anymore, either. My nails were starting to grow back healthy, and my teeth… well, they had gone through a hell of a repair process.
The IVs, the vitamins, and the constant dental work… it all made me drowsy. Sleep was no longer a choice, it crept up on me like an unavoidable tide. And then… There was him.
Sargis.
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