Chapter 2 Two

Alisha's pov

"Aetheric Collapse Syndrome is a rare, progressive condition that occurs when a human body is bonded longterm to werewolf/Lycan alpha energy without the biological capacity to sustain it."

My lips quivered, tears springing to my eyes as I gasped in between sobs. "What do you mean, doctor. Are you saying - t- that I'm dying?"

There was a grave expression on his face.

"In simple terms, Mrs Malroy, Your body has been burning itself out trying to survive in a supernatural world it was never to be in."

I stared at him, feeling my eyes burn, my vision already clouding with dark spots.

Zaden and I were childhood friends - the best mates. His father had taken me in as a father figure when I was found abandoned in the rain forest as a baby. At eighteen, while people claimed their mates under the full moon, Zaden's father orchestrated our marriage together.

I was in love with him- ready to give up my entire humanity just to be with him, to bear all the furses and rumors that I was a human never supposed to belong.

And now I was dying- and he didn't know because he couldn't be bothered to be at the hospital. Not even my own son Ben. His childbirth had almost taken my life, considering he was part something I was not, yet, despite having to be stitched for weeks to heal, still having to breastfeed him and care for him- I wonder. Oh goddess, where did I go wrong.

I let the weight of the doctor's words settle for a moment before I was able to stop sobbing.

"Is there a way to manage this? I mean, I've never heard of this sickness in my life," my breath shuddered. "How long do I even have got to live."

He exhaled slowly. "If untreated - weeks maybe or less."

My fingers tightened around the sheets and I blinked away tears. I expected to panic even more, but as the seconds went by, I realized it wouldn't be worth it. All I felt was an emptiness spreading through my chest even as tears made their way down my cheeks again.

"Although there is one alternative," he added quickly, after I haven't said anything in a while. "But it's not here. Now within our world."

I looked at him. "The human world?"

He nodded. "Human treatment will focus on

Suppressing the autoimmune response, Removing foreign energetic residue and Physical separation from pack lands. It is a slow process and you must understand that when you get there, it will be extremely difficult to return back to our world," he got up. "Werewolf medicine can stabilize temporarily but that's all it can do for you. Your best chance is in the human world."

A slow process. The chance of it working might even be low with how uncertain he sounded. And- I might never come back. I might never see Zaden or Ben again. What was the use of getting treated of o never see them again.

But there was a fragile chance at survival.

I swallowed. If it was only just a few days to live, then I didn't mind spending my last days with the people I love instead. It will be worth having never to see them again. I couldn't bear it.

"We administered a stabilizing treatment earlier," the doctor cut through my thoughts again "that's what helped earlier. I honestly - wasn't sure that you would have-"

"That's fine doctor," I replied, forcing a smile. He looked at me for a moment before silently nodding as though in understanding of what my decision was. "I'm ready to go home. How long again before I'm unable to continue using the werewolf treatment regime."

"10 days." He quietly replied, unable to meet my eyes.

I closed my eyes after wiping the tears that slipped. I would stop pretending to be strong and tell them everything. Right now, I need their support more than ever.

The pack house light was dim, signifying the banquet was over. As expected, guests who could not return to their respective packs would stay at the guest quarters.

My vision swam and I pressed my palm to the wall, my pulse roaring in my ears as I made my way into the house..

I could sense someone still in the living room. At the entrance, I stood there and watched Zaden, sprawled against the couch, his hands massaging Natasha's feet.

She was sprawled against the couch like a queen, her eyes dazzling, shimmering even as they laughed and talked like old lovers.

My throat tightened as I stood there, out of place, watching them. The whole world seemed to still as I hid behind the fringe curtains and watched him lean in close before they kissed. It was slow at first, but like a horror scene, I watched them increase their pace, his hands moved over her body ferverently as he kissed her with so much passion.

A cry threatened to tear from my throat, but I quickly suppressed it with a hand over my mouth, feeling my heart bolt towards my stomach instead.

I stayed still as they pulled apart before she bid him goodnight, hurrying upstairs to one of the grand rooms he lets her stay at when she came to visit.

Silence ensued as I looked towards Zaden who was sprawled over the couch, barely filled with any indignation or guilt.

An Omega walked in and informed him of my return, and his expression seemed to sullen as he waved her off like it was no news.

Suddenly, just as I took faltering steps back to leave, I heard something in my head.

'She's much better suited. I wonder what my father ever saw in Alisha'

I frowned. That was Zaden's voice. But his gaze was fixated on his bottle of wine, and the words I just heard in my mind, as though they had brushed against it- his lips weren't moving to say them.

'I wish I had every moment like this with her. Seeing her makes everything worthwhile- I just wish I didn't spend most of my years wasted with your mother'

I froze.

It was sharp clear and unmistakable. And not only that, he was talking with someone through the mindlink. He always spoke through the mindlink, a lost and distant thought in his eyes. I always wondered what he was saying, or thinking about.

Only, this time around, I could hear it.

'Father, you clearly prefer her more, and so do I. I'm so ashamed when I have to tell people at school that a human birthed me. I just wish it was Natasha instead."

My breath caught painfully in my chest. I looked at the stairs. Ben was supposed to be asleep.

Was this how they communicated to each other both in my presence and absence?

Was this how they really felt?

I was dying. I have weeks if not days left to live and I wished to spend my final moments with my family.

A family I've given everything I had. I've sacrificed so much for. And after all these years, they've only seen me as a fool.

My ears continued ringing, much louder than they did, yet I swiftly turned and headed upstairs, tears in my eyes as I tried to block out their thoughts but I couldn't.

'Will you tell her of you and Natasha, father- '

'The elders have approved the mating ceremony. She will learn of it soon enough and maybe she will stop her dramatic rendezvous and learn to be more like her.'

'I hope she stays at the hospital all night. I hate having to pretend I enjoy her company in my room, father.'

'that will all stop soon when Natasha is in the picture.'

My chest was so tight it hurt to breathe. The world seemed to tilt as I staggered into my room.

Natasha has always been the better choice. She has already been accepted by the pack. She was trained in the Alpha camp, she's beautiful, strong and resilient. Zaden has always had a soft spot for her and Ben's quite fond of her.

But I never knew it was to this extent.

A bitter smile strained across my lips. It's as though I've been blind- but all these while, I've just been scared that I wasted so many years of my life towards this union of this family. All to just be seen as a substitute.

In the bed, I numbly looked around. When last had Zaden walked into this room and made love to me. When has he ever even made love to me. The only time he has slept with me was only to fulfill a duty and after Zaden was born, he has never stepped foot into this room.

I clamped a hand over my mouth to smoother the sound that tore out of my throat. The image of them both in the living room burned into my memory. It was so painful- my chest felt like it was being stabbed

I hadn't been a wife or mother. Just a placeholder a mere convenience.

They wouldn't care if I dropped dead. I immediately got out of bed and grabbed hold of a luggage, tossing it towards the bed.

Tears blurred my vision, but I could still find my way around my closet, dragging out the few items I had.

My heart burned, my breath coming in shallow, broke. Gasps and tears streamed freely now, soaking into the fabric of my dress.

I had practiced what I would say. How they'd react. Every word carefully In hopes that just for my last few days, I would let myself be weak and vulnerable with them.

Laughing, I realized how gullible I had been. The doctor just like any of the pack members who were aware of my dilemma must have thought me a fool.

But no. Never again. I would rather go into the human world uncertain of my return, than give what was left of my life to people who wouldn't care if I never existed in their lives.

My hands trembled as I took out the medical reports from the doctor, going over the words again with blurry vision. I had planned to show them this, but they don't deserve to know.

I shredded it in half and then into pieces before letting them drift to the floor.

If they would not choose me, for all the times they never did, I would choose myself a thousand folds.

They wanted Natasha? They could have her. I wanted nothing to do with this place nor this family ever again.