My mother collapses to her knees, desperate to comfort me amidst sweat-soaked pain and shifting.
‘What is wrong with him, Ryker?’ She panics with concern.
‘I don’t know. Magnus shouldn’t be in pain. I’ve never seen a shift like this before. Something isn’t right. We must get him to his room and call the pack doctor.’
Seth, Leon, and my father rally to my side, supporting me as we ascend the stairs towards my room.
‘He’s got a fever,’ Astrid notes, brushing my forehead with worry as I lay in bed.
‘I’ll get the pack doctor now,’ Seth declares, swiftly departing.
By my bedside, my mother remains, diligently patting my face with a cold cloth. My entire body trembles, rendering me unable to utter a word.
‘Maybe it has something to do with shifting early?’ Ryker conjectures.
‘Maybe,’ Astrid replies in thought.
The pack doctor arrives, examining my condition.
‘He has a fever, but I’m struggling to see how it has anything to do with shifting. And you mentioned he was in immense pain when he shifted back?’ The doctor inquires.
‘Yes, he was crying out in pain, Doctor,’ my father responds.
The doctor stands, perplexed, hand beneath his chin. ‘I see, well, I don’t know what to say. I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ll take some blood samples and see if I can find anything. But, for now, keep Magnus cool and hydrated until his fever breaks.’
‘Thank you, Doctor,’ my father acknowledges, escorting him out.
Through a tumultuous night of sweating, tossing, and turning, morning arrives, and I'm still shaken. My mother had succumbed to fatigue and fallen asleep at some point through the night. Her head rests on my bed, her hand over mine.
A knock at my door stirs her awake.
‘I’ll be right back, Magnus,’ she says groggily and yawns.
Opening the door, she faces May, Nina, Zak, and Flint.
‘Dad just told us Magnus is unwell? Is he going to be okay?’ Josie asks anxiously.
‘I'm sure once the fever breaks, he will be fine,’ Mother assures them.
‘Can we see him?’ Nina pleads.
‘I'm sure Magnus would like to see you all,’ she smiles, inviting them into my room.
They enter my room, faces marked with concern as they witness my shivering and sweating. Incoherent mumbling escapes my lips.
‘Shh, save your energy, just rest,’ the sweet, melodious voice of Nina whispers.
I feel a tender warmth as Nina takes my hand, cradling it between hers. She claims the seat my mother occupied through the night, still holding my hand tightly.
‘You go rest, Luna. I’ll stay and watch over him for you,’ Nina offers to Astrid.
‘Thank you, Nina. I would appreciate that,’ my mother responds.
‘You get better soon, brother,’ Flint says with a worried grimace.
‘Yeah, we have school tomorrow and would rather you go with us,’ Josie adds, hopeful I'll be well enough to attend.
They exit the room, leaving Nina at my side. She continues holding my hand. ‘Last night, the entire town talked about your wolf shifting early and how your wolf is pure white. Even some of our neighbouring packs have already heard. Some of the Alphas want to come to see you for themselves to confirm if it’s true,’ she says. Nina then takes a face washer, rinses it in cold water, and gently dabs away the sweat from my face. She approaches the window, opening it wide to let the fresh breeze whirl through the room.
Nina remains by my side for the next hour until my parents enter with the pack doctor.
‘He still has the fever? There was nothing unusual about the blood results, which doesn’t help explain why he shifted early. There has to be more to it, like something we can’t see?’ the doctor says, pondering in thought.
Nina, also deep in thought, speaks up. ‘Like magic?’ She suggests, capturing everyone’s attention.
The doctor pauses, considering her words. ‘Exactly like magic. It might also explain him shifting early,’ he admits.
‘I don’t understand,’ Astrid confesses.
‘I have a friend, Yiselda, who may be able to help. Her visit will have to remain secret, though. No one must know she was here or that she exists,’ the doctor warns.
‘Why is that?’ Nina asks curiously.
The doctor hesitates but eventually responds. ‘Because Yiselda is a witch, and with your permission, I’d like her to come here to meet and assess Magnus. She will see if any magic is involved.’
My father stares at the doctor, perplexed. ‘But I thought witches haven’t existed in over a hundred years,’ he remarks.
The doctor locks eyes with my father. ‘There is a small coven of witches that no one knows about that still exists. They don’t make themselves known to the public for fear of being hunted and killed,’ he explains.
My father thinks for a moment and then nods. ‘I see. If you think it will help Magnus, you have my approval,’ he says.
The doctor nods and takes his leave.
Nina eases back into the chair, gently holding my hand, when Claire bursts into the room.
‘Boo-boo,’ she calls, approaching my bed. ‘I heard what happened last night. I heard you are unwell,’ Claire nudges Nina, prompting her to move.
Nina frowns and steps back with my parents. Claire takes the seat, grabbing my hand and squeezing it too tightly for comfort.
‘Claire, I’m sure Magnus appreciates that you have come to see him, but he needs his rest,’ my mother says.
‘Oh, Luna, don’t fret. I will take over and watch over him while you all rest. It’s the least I can do since I am his girlfriend,’ Claire says, shooting Nina a quick glare.
‘You can stay with him for a couple of hours, Claire, and then I’ll be back to watch over him,’ my mother informs her.
‘Okay, Luna, I’ll take good care of him,’ Claire smiles.
‘I’m sure you will,’ my mother replies with uncertainty.
As they exit the room, I'm left alone with Claire. She insists on refreshing the face washer with fresh, cold water. She approaches my ensuite and returns, leaving a trail of water from the facewasher she hasn’t squeezed out. She plops it onto my face, and the excess water dribbles down my chest and pillow. She may as well of thrown me in the ocean at this rate.
Claire glares at the open window. ‘That breeze is messing my hair up, Boo-boo. Give me a moment while I shut the windows,’ she says.
I try to tell her to leave the windows open, but no words come out. The room becomes stuffy, and my fever worsens.
‘Oh Boo-boo, I’ll hop in bed beside you,’ Claire frowns with worry.
The last thing I need is more body warmth. I already feel sticky and overheated. Claire lies beside me, sliding her fingers through my hair, tugging at it to soothe me. It isn't very pleasant, and I can't do anything about it.