Chapter 0080

Alexander

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!” Isabella panics, desperately rummaging through cabinets, pulling out various small containers, searching frantically.

“Athena, breathe.” I plead. Her agony was palpable. I could feel her fading away from me.

She releases a terrifying gasp. Blood sprays across me as more begins to drip from her nose.

‘I can’t find it! Where is it?” Isabella cries out desperately.

“Isabella,” My voice drops to a whisper. “Isabella, we’re out of options.”

“I know it’s here, where did I put it?” Isabella sobs while tearing through another cabinet.

It had been years since I witnessed Isabella break down like this. The raw fear, the panic, the terrifying unknown. She hadn’t reacted this severely when Gabriel rejected her. In truth, she hadn’t been this distraught since our parents’ tragic deaths.

“Isabella, stop this!”

“No, it’s here somewhere, we still have time!”

Athena’s racing heartbeat had slowed dramatically. It was barely detectable now, her breaths becoming dangerously shallow. She was suffering excruciating pain, blood now seeping from the corners of her eyes.

“FOUND IT!” Isabella spins around and plunges a large syringe directly into Athena’s heart.

Her heart stops completely.

“What the hell did you just do?” I snarl at my sister.

‘It’s the antidote!

“There is no antidote for Wolfsbane Toxin!

“I paid a Witch in the city to help me develop it.” Heavy tears stream down her cheeks. “After you both were nearly poisoned, I had to find a solution. It has to work. It must work!”

I stare at my sister in disbelief. An antidote was unheard of, especially for Wolfsbane Toxin. If such a thing existed, every Wolf pack would keep it stocked.

‘Listen.’ Titan murmurs.

Her heart gradually begins beating again. Faint, but undoubtedly beating. Athena’s lungs start filling properly as she draws in oxygen. She coughs weakly, bringing up less blood than before.

Isabella maintains her distance, too afraid to approach closer. “She needs complete rest now.” She mumbles, avoiding eye contact.

“Why would he do this? He spent all his time educating us about Lycans, begging me to protect his sister. Why would he betray us like this?” I mutter, more to myself than Isabella.

“Where is he now?

“With Sebastian, they’re heading to the city to track Dominic and that treacherous female.

‘I don’t know him well, but hasn’t he been imprisoned for ages? He wouldn’t have access to any of this. Caleb mentioned he grabbed her wrist, but she wasn’t injected there.” Isabella moves to another cabinet, retrieving cleaning wipes. She approaches Athena cautiously, “May I?”

I nod permission and she begins wiping blood from Athena’s face as it finally stops flowing. “That was pure Wolfsbane Toxin, not leaves that had been marinating. That came fresh from the stem, I’m certain you told me it has limited potency this way. It must be used immediately.”

She was absolutely right, I had told her that.

“This doesn’t make sense. Who else has she encountered recently?” Isabella questions.

“Sebastian, Theodore. Damn!

“What?”

“Genevieve, she saw us leaving the dungeons. She deliberately collided with Athena.

“No, surely she wouldn’t go this far. Surely.....Actually, I don’t know why I’m even attempting to defend her.

“Does anyone else know about the antidote?” I ask.

“No, well, only you now.” She gently combs Athena’s hair back, carefully wiping away the blood.

“Keep it that way.”

Isabella glares at me, her eyes widening in realization. “You’re going to let Genevieve believe she succeeded?”

“Well that was her intention, wasn’t it? I might as well let her think her plan worked.”

“I assume you’re....”

“Absolutely. She won’t survive another night.”

Placing my hand against Athena’s forehead, I feel her fever subsiding. I desperately want to stay with her, but this cannot wait.

“Don’t allow anyone inside and absolutely do not speak to anyone.” I instruct Isabella.

Exiting the hospital, I mentally link several pack members as I cross the grounds to where Genevieve had conveniently intercepted us. There was nothing on the ground, nothing concealed in the snow, but she already knew dropping evidence would be a fatal mistake.