Chapter 136
136 The Lie I Chose
Henry’s POV
“Alpha, please cat a little. Even the strongest alpha on the continent still needs food when he’s sick.”
Mariana stood before me with a bowl of hot soup, her round doe eyes filled with concern.
I stared at her blankly, but inside, my disgust boiled over.
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I never liked Mariana. The only reason I treated her decently before was because she once saved me. But now that I knew who she really was, I felt nothing but revulsion. And yet… I had to keep her close. For now, she was necessary for the part she was playing–our so–called “devoted heroine.”
Seven days ago, after saving Aubrey in Gold Mountain, the virus in my body finally exploded. It hit hard. fast, and fierce–and in the chaos of the final pursuit, I got hit with a poisoned arrow laced with werewolf
venom.
Between the arrow and the virus, I lost a dangerous amount of blood. I nearly died there on that mountain.
But somehow–miraculously–I held on. I didn’t die. I kept breathing.
When I was secretly brought back to Shadowmoon Pack, the wolf healer Yan Xu examined me thoroughly… and then discovered somethin
that shocked him.
A needle. Buried deep in my chest. Working its way out.
He gasped, eyes wide. “This needle–I remember it! Alph
you once came to me, saying Aubrey stabbed a needle into you. I even praised her–an omega that young, skilled in ancient dry needling? But now I understand. That wasn’t just any needle. This wasn’t one of those temporary needles used to buy a few minutes to administer aid. This was a rare technique–it’s lasted far longer than any standard technique. That means the person who used it has incredible energy control! Alpha, we need to bring Aubrey here to treat you!”
“No!”
I refused immediately.
I wasn’t going to risk Aubrey–not for anything. The virus inside me was deadly to omegas. She was only eighteen. She didn’t deserve to pay for my life with hers. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access s of novels early and in the highest quality.
I also made it clear that no one was to speak a word about how I’d skipped the antibody injection to save her.
Later, my father gathered more wolf lealers, the best he could find, but none of them could help. In the end, they began praying to the Moon/Goddess for a miracle,
A miracle. I scoffed at that. A dying Alpha doesn’t need vague promises or whispered hopes. He needs to make sure his Pack survives after he’s 5 gone.
So I started planning. Choosing a successor. Reviewing land ledgers. Restructuring patrol routes. My father was too old to lead anymore. Shadowmoon Pack needed strength after me.
As for Aubrey, I had someone tell Jax she got hurt falling off a cliff during a trip. I didn’t want anyone to know she’d cracked the T–flu virus. If I die, who’s left to protect an omega like her?
136 The Lie I Chose
+8 Pearts:
After that, I brought Mariana in, told her to stay by my side, and ordered my betas to spread rumors that she had rushed to Stella Pack to save me.
I figured that once Aubrey heard the news… she wouldn’t come see me again.
Damn it
I’d worked so hard to chip away at her frozen heart–only to turn away now, to walk away just when she was starting to let me in.
Then, just as that bitter thought settled in, the beta steward contacted me through the mind link.
“Alpha, Miss Mary is here. She’s right outside. Should we let her in?”
Aubrey?
She actually came?
My heart leapt–then sank, hard.
These past days, my father and the top healers had tried everything to keep me alive. But it hadn’t worked. I was dying. Soon. And I didn’t want her to see me like this–rotting, fading, weak.
Especially not her. The woman I love.
Yes. Love.
Me. The alpha who always put pack interests above all else—I’d fallen in love, for the first time. And I chose to love her in silence.
If she believes I abandoned her… if she hears about my death and feels nothing but disappointment–at least she won’t grieve too deeply.
What a noble lie, huh?
I never thought I’d go this far… for an omega.
Aubrey. I love you. And I’m sorry- But I’m going to lie to you.
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