Chapter 110: A Little Too Much
Nina froze. Her heart slammed against her ribs so hard it almost hurt. The world around her faded into silence.
Did...
Did he just say—
She lifted her head slowly, searching his face.
"I..." Her lips parted, but no sound came.
Rodrigo smiled, the corners of his eyes softening as he looked at her. "I love you," he repeated without hesitation. "A little too much, Nina."
Nina could only stare at him, her throat tightening. She wanted to answer. She wanted to tell him everything swelling inside her chest, but the words refused to come.
A smile tugged at Rodrigo’s lips. He reached up and brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. Before she could recover enough to protest, he slipped both arms around her again and pulled her tightly against him, holding her as though she were going to disappear at any second.
A smile trembled across her face as the corners of her eyes burned. She blinked, but it was too late. A single tear escaped, tracing a warm path down her cheek.
Rodrigo frowned. His thumb caught the tear before it could fall any farther. "Nina..." His voice softened. "Why are you crying?"
He would hate you if he found out what you did, Nina.
The voice crashed through her mind—cold and merciless.
You are going to end his entire race. That is your fate.
"No..." The whisper escaped before she could stop it.
Rodrigo’s brows knitted together. "Nina, what is wrong?"
She shook her head frantically as another tear slipped free. No. There has to be another way. She had to end this. She couldn’t let that happen.
"I..." Her lips moved, but before she could speak, her vision blurred.
Rodrigo’s smile disappeared.
She tried to take a breath, but the air caught halfway down her throat. The world around her tilted. She blinked hard, willing her vision to clear, but it only grew worse.
"Nina." Rodrigo’s voice sounded farther away. "What is happening?"
She looked down. Her hands were trembling violently. Something warm slid over her lips. She frowned. It was wet.
A drop landed on the front of her dress. Tap. Another. Tap, tap.
Dark crimson spread across the pale fabric. Blood.
Her breath hitched. More drops followed, splattering against her dress.
"Nina!" Rodrigo cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. His hands were shaking. Her vision swam. "Nina, stay with me!"
She wanted to. God, she wanted to. But her body refused to obey.
The warmth drained from her skin. Her knees buckled, and then darkness rushed in from the edges of her vision. The last thing she felt was Rodrigo catching her before she hit the ground.
Then... there was nothing.
Nina’s eyelids fluttered open.
A sharp pain pulsed through her head, making her wince before she had even fully opened her eyes. She raised a hand instinctively, pressing her fingers against her temple as she lay still, waiting for the pounding to ease. It didn’t.
Instead, memories came rushing back in scattered pieces. Rodrigo. The blood. The darkness.
Nina cursed under her breath. She had passed out right in front of him.
Her eyes opened wider. The wooden ceiling above her slowly came into focus. She frowned; she was in her own room, not the Alpha’s chambers. Why was she here?
Before she could gather her thoughts, voices drifted into her ears.
"...She’s awake!"
"The Luna is awake!"
"Luna!"
The room suddenly stirred with movement. Nina turned her head slowly, blinking several times as the blurry figures surrounding her bed gradually became clear.
Moreen was the first face she recognized. She was sitting beside the bed, both of Nina’s hands clasped tightly in hers. Her eyes were swollen and red, as though she had been crying for a long time. The moment their eyes met, relief washed over the girl’s face.
"My Lady..." Moreen breathed, a shaky smile spreading across her lips. "Thank the Moon Goddess. You finally woke up."
Nina frowned slightly. "Moreen..." Her voice came out hoarse. "What happened?"
Moreen opened her mouth to answer but stopped when someone stepped forward.
Nina’s gaze shifted. It was the Matriarch’s healer.
The elderly woman smiled warmly as she approached the bed. "You’re finally awake, Luna."
Nina stared at her. For some reason, the woman’s smile unsettled her. It wasn’t unkind—if anything, it was too gentle, as though she had been expecting this.
"How are you feeling?" the healer asked.
Nina didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she looked around the room. Everything looked normal. The curtains had been opened, allowing the afternoon light to spill across the floor. Fresh herbs rested on a nearby table, filling the room with their scent. But he was nowhere to be found.
She turned back to the woman. "Where is the Alpha?"
The room grew strangely quiet.
The healer did not respond right away; instead, she walked toward the table and picked up a tray.
"The Alpha remained by your bedside since the morning you collapsed," she said gently. "He refused to leave, no matter how much we insisted he should rest. It was only after urgent matters demanded his attention that he agreed to step away. He has not been gone for long. I imagine the moment he hears you are awake, he will return."
Nina released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She lowered her eyes briefly before looking back at the healer. "...I collapsed?"
"You do not remember?"
Nina slowly shook her head. "I remember..." Her brows drew together as she searched her memories. "The Alpha and I... we were talking..." She swallowed. "Then everything became blurry."
The healer nodded slowly. "You have been out for a long time."
Nina’s stomach tightened. "...How long?"
The elderly woman looked at her quietly. "You have been unconscious for two days."
Dread coiled through Nina, and her face paled. "Two days?"
"Yes."
Nina’s hands trembled; the symptom was becoming worse. If she had already begun losing consciousness like this, then she didn’t have much time left. Her breathing became uneven.
"Drink this," the woman said, holding a bowl out toward her.
Nina looked down. The liquid inside was black, almost like ink.
"It will ease the pain in your head and calm your heart."
Nina didn’t reach for it immediately. Instead, she lifted her eyes to meet the older woman’s gaze. For several long seconds, neither of them spoke. Finally, Nina accepted the bowl, the liquid warming her palms.
Nina turned to Moreen. "Moreen."
"Yes?" the girl answered.
"I would like to speak with the healer, she paused,
’’Alone."