He took a shaky breath in, “Cory… You could’ve died any day. At any time-”
Cory then looked at Grayson, “What does that matter to you? That’s what you wante-”
Grayson grabbed Cory’s face, the scarlet-haired man hissed in pain at the icy touch, “Why would you think that? I would never want you dead…”
Lucian calmly removed Grayson’s hands from Cory’s face, “Alpha, please compose yourself.”
Grayson took a shaky breath in, ignoring the constricting pain in his heart, “What about his wrists? They aren’t healing and they’re getting infected.”
“I can apply a salve to disinfect and soothe the wounds. There is nothing I can do about the nausea and the sweating. Those are the withdrawal symptoms. The increased body temperature is necessary for his scent to be restored. Think of it as unclogging his pores.” Ambrose informed Grayson as he walked to the door, but he stopped at the door.
“Grayson, there is something else I need to discuss with you. Join me outside”, Ambrose left the cottage.
Grayson made his way outside but paused when he heard Cory speak in a tired whisper, “Lucian… May I please have a word?”
“Stay and tell me what he says”, Grayson instructed through the pack link.
Grayson left the cottage and followed Ambrose into a little clearing a few feet from the cottage.
Ambrose turned around and faced Grayson, they were relatively the same height but Grayson was roughly a few inches taller, “His withdrawals could last for months.”
Grayson sighed in defeat, closing his eyes miserably, “He could die from them…” The thought of Cory’s death sent a chill down Grayson’s spine, his muscles went taut in an attempt to do something – but there was nothing he could do to protect the younger male from the withdrawal symptoms of a toxic drug.
“Yes, and he probably will… But, from my studies on lycanthropes, I remember a ritual that will narrow the time frame into one night – maximum two.”
Grayson’s eyes then snapped open, full of hope, “Then do it.”
Ambrose sighed this time, “The pain he will experience will be something only felt in the deepest pits of hell… And, you cannot be in the cottage during the time of detox – your scent could aggravate the symptoms.”
Grayson clenched his jaw, “I am staying there with him.” His blue eyes turned yellow in possessiveness. Ambrose noticed the change of eye colour but kept his observation to himself – Grayson will discover soon.
“If that is your verdict then I cannot stop you – it is not my place. But, do know, your scent will make the pain he will experience much more severe.” Ambrose spoke and turned to leave.
Something flashed before Grayson’s eyes, “Ambrose, he says my touch feels like ice – that it hurts him… What- Can that be remedied?” Grayson asked in a jumble.
Ambrose frowned in thought, “I will have to research that. I will let you know if I come to a solution. I am going back to my cottage to retrieve the herbs for the salve and the necessary equipment for the ritual. I will return shortly to apply the salve – the ritual, however, can only be performed at night.” The black haired man then walked off.
Grayson turned to go back to the cottage but Lucian walked out. Grayson signalled him to come closer. Lucian complied and made his way over to the white-haired Alpha.
“What did he say?” Grayson asked.
“It’s better for me to show you”, Lucian replied and sent the memory to Grayson through the pack link.
Grayson was instantly transported into Lucian’s shoes in the memory – as if he were Lucian. Cory kept quiet for a while, his breathing laboured and strained.
“Lucian, I wanted to apologise for putting you to sleep in the alley. And for frightening you”, Cory huffed out – clearly struggling to speak.
“It’s okay”, Lucian responded.
Cory huffed out a few more breaths and tears clearly welled in his brown eyes, “Lucian…Please…Get me out of here…” Cory begged tiredly.
“Cory, no one is going to hurt you…” Lucian reassured.
Cory shook his head sluggishly, “You don’t understand, Lucian… The last time I saw Grayson – you saw it too… He held murder in his eyes. Blue murder in frost-blue eyes – blue…hatred. I’m…already being hurt, you are all already hurting me”, Cory placed a hand to his sweaty forehead as a stray tear escaped his shut eyes.
“Cor-” Lucian began but Cory cut him off.
“Please, Lucian! Sneak me out! I can make it to Blackwood and-” This time Lucian cut the younger male off.
“Cory, I can’t betray my Alpha. Grayson will expl-”
Cory huffed in clear pain, “Whatever. Never mind. Thank you for listening… Please leave.”
Grayson took a sharp intake of breath at the conversation he had just witnessed. His insides felt like they were being stabbed by hot needles – puncturing painful holes in all his organs.
“Thank you, Lucian…” Grayson whispered hoarsely – not even bothering to mask the pain in his voice.
“I- Yes Alpha”, Lucian stopped his thought and bowed his head.
“No, please, tell me what you were going to say”, Grayson spoke.
“Grayson”, Lucian began, dropping the Alpha honorific and speaking to Grayson as a friend, “Cory is scared. I understand that you want to win his trust and forgiveness. But, perhaps the best route of action is to show him that he doesn’t have anything to be afraid of first.”
Grayson nodded at his friend’s words. Lucian knew that was the end of the conversation and walked away through the woods. Grayson stalked to the cottage but paused outside the old wooden door.
“What am I supposed to do?” Grayson whispered desperately.
“Anything to protect mate” A clear voice spoke in Grayson Lightpaw’s mind.
Grayson’s eyes widened and he backed away from the door.
“Apollo! You’re…speaking to me again?” Grayson asked his wolf – who he hadn’t heard from for four long years. His inner wolf that snarled at him the moment he rejected Cory. His wolf that went silent after a few months in the first year of angered carnage at Grayson for rejecting his mate.
“You brought mate back. Don’t hurt him again, kid. If he needs space, you give him space. You protect mate at all costs” Apollo spoke in a low, tired voice.
“I will, Apollo. I will”, Grayson promised his tired wolf. He knew Apollo was slowly dying without his mate. Grayson knew that he had a lot he needed to make right – all caused by his temper and pride.
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