Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Cassia stiffened the moment Damien’s lips touched hers. She didn’t move, didn’t push him away. His arms still held her up, if she tried to pull back, she’d only fall.
But she didn’t kiss him back either. She just stood there, frozen, unsure of what to feel. Everything about it felt wrong. Her heart was pounding in her chest when a knock on the door shattered the moment.
“Doctor Cassia?” a voice called again.
Damien pulled away immediately and helped her steady herself. Cassia’s breath was ragged, her chest rising and falling with tension. She stared at him, so many words in her eyes, but none left her lips.
She walked to the door and opened it. Nurse Chloe stepped in and paused at the sight of the two of them alone.
Rumors had been spreading around the hospital, that Damien was interested in Cassia, that he had rejected every other woman for her.
Chloe quickly straightened her posture.
“Nurse Chloe?” Cassia asked, her voice sharp, laced with exhaustion.
“The serum, ma’am, it’s working. There’s improvement in the patients. The rashes are fading, and their color is returning. We’ll need more… if possible p>
Cassia’s face lit up for a moment. “Thank you. I’ll make sure we prepare more right away p>
The nurse nodded and left the office.
As soon as the door closed, the smile vanished from Cassia’s face. Damien saw it. He knew she was angry.
“Cassia… I’m sorry,” he said gently.
She didn’t reply. Her voice was flat, drained. “Please leave. I need to be alone p>
Damien gave a quiet nod and walked out.
Cassia collapsed into her chair the second the door shut. Her body ached with fatigue. She’d been up all night working, and now this. Her lips still tingled from the kiss, and she hated that it had affected her.
How could he kiss me like that? Like I’m just… available?
It made her feel violated and disrespected. But gods, the kiss… it had stirred something. Something she didn’t want to acknowledge.
She shook her head, forcing the thought away. She had more important things to do. She needed to train the lab techs on how to make the Moonroot serum.
Cassia headed back into the woods to gather more Moonroot, then returned to the hospital. Together with the pharmacist, they spent hours extracting compounds, brewing the serum, and producing over three hundred bottles of injections.
By the time they were done, Cassia was beyond exhausted. She gathered her laptop and bag and headed home, she still needed to do research. Finding the cure wasn’t enough. She had to know the cause.
Meanwhile…
1/3
4:20 pm D D D
Chapter 29
10 vouchers
Damien paced back and forth in his office, fists clenched in frustration. He couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss. What the hell had he been thinking?
With a growl, he slammed his fist on the desk, splitting it in two.
He was a beta, like his father, strong and disciplined. But when it came to Cassia, his self-control had snapped. He had liked her since the day they met. The moment their hands touched, his wolf had whispered mate.
He had held back all these years, out of respect for her pain, for her past. But last night… he couldn’t hold it in anymore. Now, she was probably furious with him.
Cassia, Amelia…was his second-chance mate. After losing his first mate in the fire, he never thought the Moon Goddess would bless him again. But she had. And it was her.
He would apologize again. He had to make it right.
And before he visited the Alpha’s house, he’d stop to buy a gift for Arthur. The boy, and Cassia meant everything to him now. They were his future.
At the Alpha Mansion p>
Cassia’s car rolled to a stop. She stepped out, dragging herself toward the door. She hadn’t expected what she saw inside.
The Council. All twenty members of Velaris were seated in the foyer, as though they’d been waiting for her.
Seraphina rushed over, eyes full of worry. “Cassia, are you alright p>
“I’m fine,” she replied, taken aback. “What’s going on p>
“They want to speak with you, about the disease. They’re scared, and they need answers p>
Cassia nodded solemnly and stepped into the room, placing her bag on a nearby chair. Her eyes swept across the room. These people were leaders. Warriors. Elders. And they were afraid.
“I know you’re all concerned about the sudden outbreak in the pack,” she began. “But I assure you, the situation is under control. I worked through the night and found the cure p>
A murmur passed through the council.
“What’s the cure?” one elder asked.
“Moonroot,” Cassia replied. “Processed into a serum p>
More murmurs followed. Seraphina raised a hand, calming the room.
“How did you know Moonroot was the cure?” another council member questioned,
“What’s the name of the illness p>
“Is it airborne p>
“Is it contagious by touch p>
Cassia took a breath. “I’ll answer all your questions. I recognized the symptoms through my studies. The disease is called Lupenthera. It’s a bloodborne virus, not airborne, and not spread through touch. I don’t yet know the source, but I’ll find it. For now, we must remain cautious, even with the cure in hand p>
2/3
3/3
4:20 pm DDD
Chapter 29
The council members nodded in understanding, their anxiety casing.
Seraphina dismissed them shortly after and turned to Cassia, concern still etched in her features.
“Are you okay p>
Cassia gave a weak nod. “I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep at all last night. Where’s Arthur p>
“I took him to school. I’ll pick him up later. You go rest. We’ll talk after you sleep p>
Cassia gave a soft smile and climbed the stairs to her room.
Red Moon Pack…
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Alpha Aiden emerged from a tense council meeting, his face grim. There had been an outbreak in his pack, too. Not as widespread yet, but enough to raise alarms. Some were dead already.
He stepped into his car, and it drove him back to the mansion. As he walked in, his son ran to him.
“Daddy!” Ethan cried, jumping into his arms.
Aiden smiled, holding the boy close and ruffling his hair. But the smile vanished the moment his eyes met Sofia’s. She had come from the kitchen, smiling at the sight of father and son.
His chest tightened.
“Go to your mother,” he said, placing Ethan down. The boy obeyed, running to Sofia.
Just then, Alpha Alaric, Aiden’s father, descended the stairs.
“Dad, why weren’t you at the council meeting p>
Alaric scowled. “Your mother’s sick, down with whatever disease is spreading and you expect me to sit in a meeting? I was out looking for help p>
Aiden’s brows furrowed. “Did you find anything p>
“Yes. I found out there’s a doctor, someone who’s successfully treated it. A specialist in this sort of illness p>
“Who p>
“She’s from Velaris. Cassia Wrenmoor. Daughter of Alpha Seraphina p>
Aiden froze.