Chapter 2 - THE BLOOD-STAINED HEALER
"Clear the hall! Get the grand healer NOW!"
Gideon’s voice tore through the grand stone corridors of Winterborne Keep like a war horn. He burst through the main heavy oak doors, carrying Adelaide tightly against his chest. He was soaked in blood—both the blood of the mercenaries he had slaughtered and the precious life force leaking from his mate.
Guards rushed forward, but the dark, murderous aura radiating from their King made them halt in terror. Gideon looked like a demon unleashed from the underworld. His fur cape was drenched, his dark eyes ablaze.
He kicked open the doors to his private royal chambers—not the guest room in the east wing where she had been staying, but his own secure, heavily guarded sanctuary. He laid her down gently on the massive bed covered in thick furs, his hands shaking violently as he pulled away.
Old Marcus, the head healer of the Northern Pack, rushed into the room, carrying wooden trunks of herbs, bandages, and silver needles. Behind him came two female attendants, but when they saw the blood soaking Adelaide’s white gown, they gasped in horror.
"Out! Everyone out except Marcus!" Gideon roared.
"Your Grace, you must let the maidservants strip her clothes to clean the wounds—" Marcus started, but Gideon rounded on him, his fangs fully extending.
"No male or female in this fortress touches her skin except you, Marcus! And if she stops breathing, I will tear this kingdom down stone by stone, starting with you!" Gideon growled, his Alpha aura crushing the air out of the room.
Marcus swallowed hard, nodding rapidly. "I need hot water! Clean cloths! Silver root and moon-shade ointment!"
Gideon himself cut away the torn, bloody fabric of Adelaide’s dress with his dagger, his heart breaking with every layer revealed. Her back was a nightmare of purple bruises and reopened scars from her past in Crestfall. Three of her ribs were clearly broken, dipping unnaturally into her abdomen.
As Marcus worked frantically, stitching deep gashes and applying cooling herbs to her shattered ribs, Adelaide began to writhe in agony, fever taking hold of her shivering frame.
"She’s slipping into shock, my King," Marcus said, sweat pouring down his pale forehead despite the chill in the room. "Her body is too weak. She has suffered years of starvation and abuse before coming here. Her Omega spirit is too fragile to heal these wounds on its own."
"Then what do I do?" Gideon demanded, his voice thick with raw emotion. "I will give you all the gold in the North. I will march on Crestfall tonight!"
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"Gold cannot fix a broken spirit, Your Grace," Marcus said softly, looking up at his terrifying King with pity. "She needs an Alpha’s energy. She needs the mate bond... she needs your blood."
Gideon didn't hesitate for a single second.
