His face darkened. “Scarlett, you’re just biased against me. Cursing me now that I’ve proven you wrong.”
He took a step toward the stairs.
“I’ll show you just how wrong you are.”
In my head, I counted.
One… two… three…
Seven… eight… nine…
Ten.
A sickening crack echoed through the hall.
Leo dropped like a stone. He collapsed to his knees–then tumbled down the marble staircase.
Gasps and screams erupted.
A wolf near the front cried out, “Goddess! His legs–what the hell just happened?!”
Chapter 4
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Chapter 5
Leo’s pants tore as he crashed down the stairs, leaving his mangled legs fully exposed to the crowd.
Gasps erupted through the hall.
“Oh god–his legs…”
“They looked normal earlier! What the hell happened?”
“The skin’s blackened… bones look like mush. His legs are rotting.”
“Where’s Aria? Didn’t she swear he was healed?”
Leo lay twitching on the floor, groaning in agony. His wolf let out a strangled whimper before going silent. No one dared go near.
Aria stood frozen, color draining from her face.
“I–I don’t understand… He was fine just a minute ago…‘
Then Mrs. Russell stormed in. The moment her eyes landed on Leo, her face contorted with fury.
She marched straight up to Aria and stapped her hard across the face.
“You swore you’d heal him! This is what you call healing?!”
“If Leo’s legs are ruined–you’ll pay the price.”
She turned to the guards.
Take her. Lock her up in the punishment hold. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
Two warriors seized Aria by the arms.
She kicked and screamed as they dragged her from the room.
“Leo! Say something–please! I didn’t mean to hurt you, I swear!”
“Don’t let them take me! I did everything for you!”
But Leo was too far gone–curled on the floor, drenched in pain, unable to speak.
Mrs. Russell turned to me, her voice trembling.
“Miss Scarlett… is there anything we can do? Can his legs be saved?”
I gave a long sigh.
“It’s too late. The rot’s too deep.”
“Get him to the hospital. They’ll have to amputate if you want to keep him alive.”
E
At that, Mrs. Russell’s eyes rolled back and she collapsed in a dead faint.
Leo struggled to lift his head, his voice hoarse with fury.
“No! I’m Skyclaw’s Alpha–I hunt, I protect, I lead! I’m not losing my legs!”
He glared at me with a burning hatred.
“This is your doing. You want me ruined! You’re no healer–you’re a fraud! I won’t let
you
win!”
“No one’s cutting me open!”
I let out a humorless laugh.
“Ruin you? Please. Don’t flatter yourself.”
“You know damn well what Aria slipped into that ‘miracle cure.“”
“Live or die, Leo–that’s on you. I’ve got nothing left to say.”
turned and walked away.
Lucian, who’d been watching silently this whole time, followed me out into the corridor.
Chapter 5
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“Scarlett,” he said, catching up. “Did you know this would happen to him?”
I met his gaze, cold and steady.
“What, are you blaming me for not giving him a heads–up?”
Lucian shook his head quickly.
“No–no, not at all. He’s always been my rival. I’m not losing sleep over this. Honestly? I’m glad he fell.”
“I just… I’m curious. You sounded sure his legs were going to fail.”
He hesitated, then added awkwardly, “I didn’t mean for it to come out like that…”
His clumsy attempt at backtracking made me chuckle.
“Relax. I believe you.”
P
“Mrs. Russell sent me a video of Aria mixing her medicine. There was a vial with no label. At first, I just had a bad feeling.”
“But the moment I saw Leo standing? I knew.”
“It had to be Bone–Eater’s Water. It gives a short burst of movement–paralyzed limbs look like they’re healing… right before the rot sets in and eats the body from the inside out.”
“Lucian’s face darkened.
“You’re saying… Aria meant to cripple him?”
Chapter 5
