Chapter 24 An Opening
After all, werewolves were prideful creatures. Once a pack rose to prominence—respected and revered by others—losing that status was a bitter pill to swallow. To fall from power and become a source of shame, mocked and looked down upon by the very packs that once respected them... how deeply must that have wounded their pride?
They couldn’t take it lying down. But since they couldn’t strike back at those who scorned them, they turned their frustrations inward—toward their Luna.
After all, everyone knew even their Alpha despised her. So they didn’t bother to hide their hatred. In their eyes, she had become the perfect outlet for everything they’d lost.
Sob... Sob...
"L-Luna Addison, please hang on..." the healer whispered, her voice so faint that the guards stationed outside the dungeon cell could barely make it out. Still, they frowned.
Though they were clearly displeased by the healer’s plea, none dared to voice their discontent. In the pack, a healer held a status nearly equal to that of an elder—their rare ability to heal with magic made them as revered as saints.
Only someone like Beta Greg, emboldened by his authority and arrogance, dared to flaunt dominance in front of a healer. The others knew better. All they could do was grit their teeth and pretend they hadn’t heard a thing.
Addison’s eyelashes fluttered weakly. The healer’s voice was little more than a muffled echo, as if she were submerged underwater—everything was distant, garbled. Her body felt impossibly heavy.
Each breath came shallower than the last, and soon, even the rise and fall of her chest was barely noticeable. She couldn’t feel her heartbeat anymore. The pain, once sharp and overwhelming, had faded into a dull numbness, dragging her deeper into the void.
She wanted to let go.
And yet, somewhere deep inside, a flicker of resistance stirred—soft but insistent. A presence, maybe a memory, maybe a voice... urging her, begging her to wake up. But how could she? Even the act of opening her eyes felt impossible. Her limbs wouldn’t respond. The darkness was cold, empty, and eerily quiet... but strangely, it felt safe.