Page 47 of Wild Fated

A laugh bubbled up from my throat, and I found myself grinning at a joke I couldn't remember hearing. My eyes were unfocused, my vision hazy from the combination of alcohol and the swirling lights. I turned and saw a guy standing next to me, his arm draped over my shoulders. His breath was hot againstmy ear as he whispered something I couldn't make out over the music.

My skin prickled as his hand slid down my arm, his fingers brushing against my hip. I didn't flinch. Didn't pull away. In that moment, I didn't care. I was numb. That was the whole point of going to those parties, wasn't it? To forget.

I wanted to forget everything. Who I was. What I was capable.The voice inside my head.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I ignored it. It was probably my pack mates wondering where I was. Wondering why I wasn't at the latest training session or pack meeting. I told myself I didn't care. That I needed a break, that I was allowed to have fun.

The guy's hand slipped lower, resting on my thigh, and I still didn't move. My wolf stirred, but I pushed her down. I didn't want to think about what she wanted. What I should've been doing instead of getting drunk and letting some guy grope me in the middle of a crowded room.

My phone buzzed again. And again. I frowned and pulled it out, squinting at the screen. The words blurred together, and I had to blink several times before they came into focus.

Lana,it's your brother. He's in the hospital.

The room spun around me,the music fading to a dull throb in the background. I read the message again, my brain struggling to process the words. Hospital. Brother. The guy next to me said something, but his voice was muffled, like I was underwater.

I stumbled back, the cup slipping from my fingers and spilling its contents on the sticky floor. The guy's hand fell away, and I pushed through the crowd, my heart pounding in my ears. I needed to get out. I needed to breathe.

I burst through the front door, the cool night air hitting my face like a slap. I leaned against the railing, my mind racing. My brother. In the hospital. I hadn't even known he was sick. How could I not know? What kind of sister was I?

I drew a shaky breath, my eyes stinging with tears. I'd been so wrapped up in my own world, in my own pain, that I'd neglected the people who mattered most.

The music faded as I dropped back into myself. I shook as I stared at my reflection. So tough, Lana. So strong. Nothing ever fazed her. She was the Black Lake third. She was?—

I wanted to scream as a third mirror came into view. I was sucked into a dimly lit room, the curtains drawn to block out the harsh afternoon sun. I sat on the edge of the bed, my brother's hand limp in my grasp. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and something metallic and sterile that clung to the back of my throat.

My brother's chest rose and fell with labored breaths, each one a battle against the muscles that refused to cooperate. His skin clung to his bones, stretched taut like a drum. I could see the outline of his ribs, the way his collarbone jutted out from his neck. His eyes, once so full of life, now stared up at the ceiling with a dull resignation.

I reached over and adjusted his pillow, trying to make him more comfortable. His head lolled to the side, and I winced at the sight of the feeding tube inserted into his nostril. "Do you need water?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He shook his head, and I felt a pang of guilt for even asking. Of course, he didn't need water. He didn't need anything. His body was shutting down, piece by piece, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Shouldn’t his magic save him? Heal him from this?A tear slipped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. I didn't want him to see me cry. He'd seen enough pain already. "I'msorry I wasn't here sooner.” My voice trembled. "I should've been here. I should've known."

His fingers twitched in mine, and I looked up to see his eyes on me. "It's not your fault," he croaked, his voice barely audible.

I shook my head, unable to accept his forgiveness. "It is my fault. I was too wrapped up in my own shit."

He squeezed my hand with what little strength he had left. "Lana, it's not your fault."

I swallowed hard, my throat constricting. I wanted to tell him it wasn't fair. That he deserved better. But the words felt hollow. Empty.

He closed his eyes, a tear slipping down his cheek. "I don't want to die, Lana." The raw emotion in his voice shattered me.

I leaned in, pressing my forehead to his. "I know. I know." My voice cracked, and I felt his breath warm against my skin. "But you're not alone, okay? I'm here. Mom and Dad are here. We're all here."

He nodded, his breath ragged. "I'm scared."

I pulled back, my eyes locking onto his. "You're the bravest person I know. You always have been."

He tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace. "I don't feel brave."

"You don't have to feel it to be it." I squeezed his hand, my heart aching. "And when it's time, I'll be right here with you. I promise."

He nodded again, his eyes fluttering closed. I watched him, my chest tight with grief and love and a thousand other emotions I couldn't name. I wanted to take his pain away. To give him a future. But all I could do was sit there and hold his hand as he slipped away.

The memory faded like the others, and I was left standing in the mist, my heart in pieces. I wanted to scream at the injustice of it all, to demand answers from the universe. My wolf howledin my chest, her grief and rage mirroring my own. She wanted to hunt, to kill. But there was no enemy to fight, no prey to bring down.

The air grew colder, the mist thickening, and I hugged my arms around myself. The silence was deafening, pressing in on me from all sides. Then, like a whisper carried on the wind, I heard it.

---