Chapter 4
The narrator struggles to find the right herbs to treat the poison affecting the unconscious Lycan, gathering common healing plants in the cold, rainy forest. Rye, despite her own pain, is determined to help, driven by her fierce devotion to her mate, even though he is already bound to another. Their shared desire is to erase Alexander, the Lycan, from their lives, a shadow they want to banish forever.
Upon returning, they find Candy curled up beside the Lycan, showing affection toward the narrator. Candy’s urgent groan reveals she can do more than offer comfort, and together with Rye, they manage to lift the heavy Lycan onto Candy’s back. Candy carries them swiftly through the forest to the Pack Healer’s home, skillfully avoiding other pack members and protecting the narrator from harm.
At the healer’s residence, Oliver recognizes the seriousness of the situation and praises the narrator’s first aid efforts. He warns that the Alpha has sent people after her, doubting her mental state, and advises her to run, as her future looks bleak. Despite the danger, the narrator is determined to divorce Alexander, who has betrayed her by marking another woman, breaking the sacred marriage rule.
Oliver agrees to help and care for the Lycan, who is likely the Lycan King, but the narrator wants no further ties to him and plans to erase herself from everything, sending divorce papers anonymously to her parents. As she rides away toward safety, Rye expresses disappointment over their mate, but the narrator insists that the Lycan King would never accept someone like her—overweight and unremarkable—and it is easier to leave him behind than face rejection again.
Though she believes she has left the Lycan King in the past, the narrator unknowingly faces a relentless future, with the Lycan King already pursuing her, a nightmare she cannot escape.
Chapter 4
Finding the right herbs proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated. Since I had no clue about the exact poison coursing through his veins, I gathered the most common healing plants and those known for their anti-venom properties, hoping they would at least slow the damage. The forest around us was damp and quiet, the cold winter rain drizzling softly, adding a chill to the air that seeped through my clothes.
Rye was insistent, almost frantic, about collecting as many herbs as possible. Despite the sharp pain she was enduring, her determination to protect her mate was fierce—an act of devotion that was complicated by the fact she was already bound to another. Still, in our hearts, Alexander was someone we were ready to erase, a shadow we wanted to banish forever. I didn’t stop Rye; her desperation was palpable, and I understood it all too well.
When we finally returned, the sight that greeted us was unexpected. He was still lying there on the cold, damp floor, but what caught me off guard was Candy’s presence—she was curled up right beside him. As soon as she spotted me, she dashed over and pressed her forehead against my arm, nuzzling me with an eager, almost childlike excitement.
“Thought I vanished, didn’t you?” I murmured, smiling gently as I wrapped my arms around her. Perhaps she had stayed close to the Lycan because of the scent of my clothes wrapped loosely around him. I stroked her belly softly as I approached him. Thankfully, the bleeding had stopped, but his face was ghostly pale. There was little else I could do; carrying him in this state was out of the question.
Then, a soft groan from Candy caught my attention. It was a low, urgent sound that made me realize she might be able to do more than just offer comfort. I turned to her as she began munching on a banana leaf, her eyes meeting mine with a silent plea.
“I need your help, Candy,” I said firmly, rising to my feet and moving toward the massive Lycan’s head. He was still unconscious, which was a relief—otherwise, he might have thrown another tantrum, childish and wild. “We have to get him to the Healer’s residence. Help me lift him p>
Without hesitation, Candy stood tall before me. I managed to lift half of his weight, Rye lending me her strength to make the task manageable. Candy knelt down, making it easier for me to hoist his heavy body onto her broad back.
“Thank you, love. You’re doing amazing,” I whispered, planting a tender kiss on her forehead as she rose to her feet. She neighed softly, lowering herself again with a playful glint in her eyes.
“I’ll carry you, love. Just a little while,” she said, her voice full of warmth.
I gathered the herbs from the ground and climbed onto her back. “Let’s go, Candy. We have someone to protect.” She snorted softly, biting on a banana leaf as she took off toward the forest clearing.
Through the emerald corridors formed by twisted branches and dappled sunlight, she moved like a streak of power and grace. Her mane flowed behind her like a ribbon caught in the breeze, her hooves drumming against the mossy earth. In that moment, she looked like a forest spirit, a fairy weaving through the green and golden light.
Rye purred quietly beside me, her senses overwhelmed by his presence. The scent of the Lycan was thick and commanding, stirring the bond that tethered us all. She longed to touch her mate, to feel him close, but knew the constraints that bound us. Not until we freed ourselves from Alexander’s shadow could we truly act.
Candy, my sweet companion, led us safely to the Pack Healer’s home, skillfully avoiding any other pack members. Her intelligence shone through; she knew how to shield me from harm, how to navigate dangers I couldn’t see.
“Thank you,” I said again, pressing a kiss to her forehead as I slid from her back. Then I hurried to the door and began knocking urgently.
“Healer Oliver! Are you in? This is urgent!” I called out, my voice echoing slightly in the quiet clearing.
Oliver was a man of his word and discretion. I trusted him as much as I had trusted my grandfather when he was alive. After a tense minute, the door was unlocked from within. I stepped back to give space.
“Who is it?” came his voice. He adjusted his glasses and looked at me in surprise. “Oh, Goddess! Lady Roana! What brings you here?” he exclaimed, stepping outside immediately.
“I need your help. I found a patient and—” I turned to reveal the unconscious Lycan.
Oliver froze for a moment, his eyes widening. “Not your average patient,” he muttered under his breath.
My shoulders sagged with relief and exhaustion. “Can you treat him? I don’t think I can stay much longer.” My father would surely send people to find me soon. Alexander was relentless in his pursuit to bring me back, but I refused to live with a man who had betrayed me.
“Yes, I can help. Looks like you’ve done the first aid well,” Oliver said, nodding approvingly.
“I tried my best. I don’t really know what’s wrong with him now,” I admitted, laughing nervously. Medicine wasn’t my forte, but I had learned enough to survive.
“Good work. But I heard you ran away in anger. My wife mentioned the Alpha has already sent people after you p>
“What?” I gasped, my voice trembling.
“They say you’re not thinking clearly, having some mental troubles. Is everything okay p>
“Do I seem like I’m losing my mind, Oliver?” I asked, my tone icy.
He moved closer to the Lycan, studying him carefully. “No one could bandage wounds this well if they were truly losing it, my lady. But your future doesn’t look very bright today p>
He looked back at me, serious. “You should run. I doubt your parents will help with what they think is your madness p>
I was silent for a moment as he examined the Lycan. Then I gathered my courage and said, “I need your help p>
I was determined to divorce Alexander before leaving this place. Once the papers were signed, he wouldn’t have any control over me. After all, he had marked another woman, breaking the first rule of marriage—no one could claim another while still bound to a lawful spouse.
“I’ll do whatever you need,” Oliver said earnestly. “But what should I do with this young man? If I’m right, he’s someone we all know p>
I understood his meaning. The only Lycan of note was the Lycan King. But I couldn’t allow myself to get tangled with that ruthless ruler, a man who would never accept someone like me—an overweight, unremarkable wolf.
“You don’t have to worry about him. Just don’t tell him I sent you. I plan to erase myself from everything. No strings attached,” I explained. “All you need to do is send an envelope to my parents anonymously p>
Oliver nodded silently. After ensuring the Lycan was settled in his care, I mounted my horse and rode straight toward the border. I would send the divorce papers once I found a safe place, far from prying eyes.
“What about our mate?” Rye purred, disappointment thick in her voice.
“Do you really think the Lycan King would accept someone like me, Rye? They’re all part of our past now. Please, stop dwelling on it p>
Rye howled in fierce disagreement, but we both knew the truth. I had faced countless rejections—no one wanted to partner with me at prom or in university projects, simply because I wasn’t attractive enough.
The conclusion was clear: whoever our mate was, the first thing he would do upon waking was to reject me. He would turn away from an ugly, overweight woman.
It was easier to leave him behind than to watch Rye suffer the same agonizing pain of rejection.
Yet, deep down, I thought I had left him in the past. Little did I realize, the Lycan King was already chasing my future—a nightmare I could never outrun.
The chapter closes on a poignant moment of fragile hope intertwined with looming uncertainty. Despite the weight of past betrayals and the harsh realities of her world, the protagonist’s determination to protect those she cares for shines through. Her bond with Candy and Rye underscores a complex web of loyalty and love, even as she wrestles with feelings of inadequacy and the shadow of a powerful enemy. The quiet strength in her actions reveals a woman ready to face whatever comes next, even if it means stepping into the unknown alone.
Yet beneath the surface, the tension between past and future lingers like the cold winter rain—a reminder that escape is never simple. The desire to sever ties and reclaim autonomy is met with the harsh truth that some connections, especially those forged in pain and power, refuse to be easily broken. This chapter captures the delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience, setting the stage for a journey marked by courage, sacrifice, and the hope for a new beginning beyond the shadows of the past.
In the next chapter, tensions will rise as the consequences of the Lycan King’s injury ripple through the pack and beyond. The fragile alliance between the narrator, Rye, and Candy will be tested as they confront the harsh realities of their choices and the looming threat of Alexander’s relentless pursuit. Emotional undercurrents will deepen, revealing more about the characters’ inner struggles and the sacrifices they’re willing to make for freedom and survival.
Expect a mix of urgency and vulnerability as the narrator navigates the dangerous path of severing ties with a powerful figure who refuses to let go. The arrival of the healer may bring temporary relief, but it also opens doors to new complications and questions about loyalty and trust. As the story unfolds, the shadows of the past will continue to haunt, challenging the characters to face their fears and redefine their destinies in a world where love and power collide.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.