Eila stepped forward and greeted Luna Priscilla with a respectful bow.
Luna received her with a warm smile, her silver-grey eyes gleaming kindly. "What brings you to the infirmary, my dear child?" she inquired with grace.
Eila returned the smile, though it was tinged with sorrow. She gestured softly toward the beds at the far end of the room. "Just them, my Luna."
Priscilla followed her gaze, understanding dawning in her expression. She laid a gentle hand on Eila's shoulder. "I am deeply grateful for thy bravery during the attack. Truly, I cannot imagine the state of the pack had you not been there. And yet," she paused, her brow furrowing slightly, "I cannot fathom why those shadowed beings chose to strike at the… or our pack."
Eila nodded solemnly. "Neither can I, my Luna. But I do believe they served a greater force. Someone—or something—moves behind the veil."
Luna Priscilla regarded her with thoughtfulness and a quiet strength. "Let us hope the Moon Goddess grants us clarity," she said. "Thank you, Eila, for your courage. And may your parents return swiftly to full health."
Eila offered her gratitude for Luna's kindness, and then the two parted ways.
She crossed the infirmary and reached her parents' bedside. A nurse was tending to them, carefully changing their linens and fresh garments. Without hesitation, Eila stepped in to assist. As she gently helped dress her mother, her eyes caught something strange—dark marks along their backs. She turned to the nurse, concerned.
"Do you know about these spots?" she asked.
The nurse shook her head, clearly unsettled. "Nay, my lady. I have seen nothing like it."
Eila's fingers tingled with unease. She summoned her healing gift and laid her hands upon the marks, calling upon her power. The blackness faded slightly but did not vanish entirely. Tiny shadowy dots remained etched in their skin, like the traces of some deeper magic.
Her heart began to race.
She leaned in, speaking softly to her mother—and to her surprise, her mother's eyelids fluttered. Eila gasped, tears stinging her eyes. Hope surged. She hurried to fetch the head healer.
The man examined them thoroughly and, after a long pause, gave her a glimmer of joy. "They stir. If the Moon smiles upon us, they may awaken in a matter of days."
It was the best news Eila had received in some time. Yet the healer could not explain the strange black residue. That mystery remained unsolved.
Still, she clung to the hope and left the infirmary with a lighter heart, making her way to the dining hall to meet her mates.
Upon entering, she scanned the grand chamber. Her gaze landed upon them—Lukas and Zois, seated at the long bench reserved for the Alpha family. They beckoned her with easy smiles.
Eila licked her lips nervously and walked toward them.
They rose slightly from their seats, each taking one of her hands and brushing it with a kiss. In their matching grey-blue jackets, white shirts, and tailored trousers, they looked every inch the princes of the pack. Their eyes held nothing but admiration for her.
"Come," Lukas said, guiding her gently. "Sit with us."
They made room for her between them, and Eila, though flustered, did as bid. Her heart thudded wildly. She tried to eat, for she was genuinely famished—but nerves made each bite feel tenfold heavier. Still, the glazed chicken, rice, cheese, and beans were delicious and hearty.
Her mates ate gracefully, barely uttering a word, yet their presence was calming. She drank from her cup and excused herself soon after, eager to prepare for training.
"An hour, and we'll join you," Zois assured her, a smile tugging at his lips.
As Eila made her way out of the hall, hushed whispers reached her ears. Not the Jo kind laced with awe or gratitude.
"Isn't that Beta's mate?"
"What business has she had with the Alpha heirs?"
"She acts as though she belongs at their table…"
Their words stung like thorns. Only days ago, these very voices had sung her praises for her healing hands, for risking herself to save them. Now they questioned her virtue.
But Eila understood, bitter though it was—the pack knew of her bond with Leonard. The connection she shared with Lukas and Zois had not been spoken aloud, not yet declared to the pack. Perhaps not even to their parents.
She walked on, her head held high, but her thoughts stirred uneasily.