Aegis was back in her Pack, The Forest Lake and Forest Dew Packs were close friends, so even though she was a Lake wolf she loved spending her time visiting and staying over at the Dew Pack with Harold so much so she practically had her own room at the Dew Pack's Pack-House. But for the last four months she hadn’t seen Harold once. He was studying and training with an allied Pack somewhere overseas along with Aaron who would take over as Beta since the Beta had recently died leaving no heir either. Luna Brea wasn’t happy with her son not being home, but it was something she knew would happen since her mate, Alpha Rodrick, desperately hoped for his son to grow their pack and become a stronger more influential Pack and well as for Aaron it was his ‘duty’ to accompany his ‘future Alpha’, growing a strong trust worthy bond between Betas and Alphas since a young age is something current Betas and Alphas strive for in their children – Loyalty that cannot be bought a ‘friendship’ that will never betray.

Aegis missed her friend and her brother spite him rarely talking to her she knew he cared. Harold, he’d only be coming ‘home once he turns ten and then sent to continue his studies after his first shift and learning to ‘control’ his wolf.

Her little baby brother was the cutest little pup, and she loved watching him sleep, mostly because she didn’t have anyone else to play with since even Aiden was training and studying alongside their Pack’s Alpha Heir. Every other pup in their Pack were all ‘teens’ and didn’t like playing with ‘babies’. She and now baby Tristan were the 'babies'. They weren't a big pack, about a third the size Harold's pack was.

“Hey… Aegis! I was talking with you!” Aiden snapped his fingers in front of Aegis to get her attention.

“I was asking what you want to do this weekend.” This was probably the only few times he wasn’t busy and Aiden, he never disappointed to play with his baby sister, Valerie on the other hand was a sea full of hate and either ignored Aegis’ very existence or made sure to push and shunt her around when no one was around, threatening her not to dare so a word to anyone or else...

“I want to learn how to swim!” She quickly flipped her ‘frown’ upside down and was back to her cheery old self. She had been practicing on her speech with Aiden and had almost completely gotten rid of her ‘baby-ish lisp’.

“Is something wrong? You’ve been out of sorts lately?” Aiden held his hand against her forehead, thinking she might have a fever, her cheeks bright red and her eyes shiny. Both he and Aaron had come down with a fever when their eyes turned from a brown to an amber yellow color. Valerie’s never changed, still the same grey-blue color, a dull comparison to their mother’s.

“Fine.” She said shoeing her brother’s hand away, but he seemed a bit concerned, he waited a moment longer focused on her eyes, recalling their parents telling him the little nuances that hints that the pup’s eyes are changing color, but he didn’t see any of it other than that she had a fever… And till today Aegis has never gotten sick… not even a little cough or stuffy nose…

“Well unfortunately Dad said to stay away from the lake for a while! So no swimming lessons, think of something else.”

“Can I go visit Cas?” Her eyes lit up.

“We’ll ask Dad, maybe you can go next month when Dad heads that way to go help with border inspection of the other Packs’ territories.” Aegis wobbled slightly Aiden quickly reaching out to grab her.

“Aegis!” He felt her head again, she was burning up!

“Mom! Dad!” He called, the panic in his voice was enough to have them come running.

…

“You can discharge Mr. Jarvis.” A doctor with auburn curls and hazel eyes said as she finally came back from her rounds. Other patients in the waiting room, mostly men, were all staring at her, the few women with their children rolling their eyes, some irritated even with their husbands – caught staring at the bewitching doctor.

“Yes Doctor Stein.” The ‘nurse’ said as she handed the doctor a file.

“Doctor Kirby wants your opinion on one of his patients.” The doctor quickly scanned the information in the folder and handed it back.

“I agree with his diagnosis. Nothing seems out of the ordinary in any of the blood works. And the x-ray is good.”

“Thank you Doctor Stein.”

“Please, call me Loretta.” The doctor, Loretta smiled.

“Anything I can help here with?” Loretta nudged to the full waiting room.

“Always a pleasure to have you help us out here…” She halted when the doctor’s phone rang.

“Sorry, I have to take this.” The person calling was someone she considered family, and even though in the last few years they haven’t talked much, she’d never drop their calls especially when it was the first time in three years they called.

“Vanessa? What’s wrong?” She got straight to the point.

“It’s Aegis…” Loretta’s heart almost skipped a few beats, her hand ever so slightly shaking…

“What happened?”

“Her eyes… Loretta… Her left eye…” Vanessa was hesitating, but she could already guess.

“I’ll be there in a bit, let me just get someone to fill in for me.” She said and hung up. One look at the nurse and a nod in understanding, Loretta was on her way.

Loretta didn’t say much, and headed straight to Aegis’ room where she last recalled it was… 

But the girl was always a joy to see running around the Pack House whenever she came to visit Harold. In her darkest moments whenever she found herself feeling ‘depressed’ Only Aegis had a means to brighten her day with her smiles and giggles, even these days that Harold wasn’t there she’d still come around to visit, just incase Harold came back – Aegis would tell her.

Seeing her now, so sick…

“Her left eye…” Loretta quickly took out a small little torch light and checked… Red… she took a shaky breath, and checked the right as well, it was 'normal', even though not the same 'hazel' brown anymore, the golden iris was a pretty shade compared to her brothers' yellow eyes. Keeping her calm she smiled, patted the little girl's head softly. She couldn't allow the girl to be 'feared'... Slightly put off by how Vanessa was freaking out...

“Her eyes changed color and now she’s running a fever higher than either Aiden or Aaron had.” She didn’t let on that ‘something' was wrong, and continued as if this was all 'normal'.

“Loretta! Her eye is red… She’s… she’s cursed…”

“I’m a doctor not a witch." She said knowing that there wasn't anything she could do to change this fact, but her instincts to protect the child was running hot, fully aware of one little fact that was now more true than ever...

“But our baby girl… How are we going to life with her like this…”

“What do you mean how are you going to live with this? You continue like normal, as you always have. She’s still your daughter! You’re her parents! Just love her and protect her like you have always done!” Loretta snapped, taking a deep breath, perhaps it was best she left.

“Here it’ll help with her fever.” Loretta gave them some medicine she had quickly grabbed over the counter at the pharmacy by the hospital. She couldn’t stay… She was too scared that she’d say or do something that would further upset Vanessa and Andrew, something she’d regret… something that would cause Aegis more harm than it would her friends…

…

For the last three days, Aegis has been in and out of it.

“What the hell Andrew? Do you know what you did?” Aegis was stirred awake; she could hear her parents arguing.

“I did it for you… You would have been devastated when you found...”

“Think how devastated she was! Still is! She’s our friend! You…” Vanessa lowered her voice hearing Aegis moving, her soft moaning and whimpering alerting them she’s awake.

“Mommy… Daddy…” She was still slightly feverish, but at least it wasn’t as high anymore.

“We’ll talk about this later, all I know is that no one can find out… Not about what you did or about her!” Vanessa hissed and pulled Aegis in her arms.

“Sssshhhh… Cup-cake… You’re alright…” Aegis would recall this as one of the last time she was ‘happy’ and ‘loved’… She crawled into a ball clinging to her mother as she drifted back to sleep.