At the Montgomery pack, Marinetta lay unconscious on her bed. A small bird flew in through the open window, the bird flew around the room for a few minutes before landing gently beside e Marinetta It hopped around her motionless form, spreading her feathers on her its tiny feet pattering softly on the bedsheet.
After some time, Marinetta's eyelids fluttered, and she slowly regained consciousness. As she opened her eyes, she heard the bird's soft chirps and felt its light movements.
"Your noise is disturbing me, can't you be silent for some minute," she mumbled groggily, trying to wave the bird away.
The bird tilted its head and chirped, "I've been waiting for you to wake up since. I am so worried I didn't see you yesterday"
Marinetta laughed softly, the absurdity of the talking bird momentarily lifting her spirits. But as her laughter faded, the events from earlier came rushing back to her mind. She remembered the fight, the fury, and the moment she had stabbed Harley.
Panic seized her, and she bolted upright, pushing the bird aside as she scrambled out of bed. She ran out of the room, her heart pounding with fear and guilt.
She dashed through the corridors of their home, desperately searching for any sign of Harley around the whole building, She finally found him in the infirmary, lying pale and still on a bed, with Maranda and Zack tending to his wounds.
"Harley!" Marinetta cried, rushing to his side. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw the bandages wrapped around his torso.
Maranda looked up, her expression a mix of concern and relief. "He's stable for now, but it was a close call, the dagger is not an ordinary one and the wound is so deep that it why is not healing on time but he will wake up "
"I'm so sorry," Marinetta whispered, clutching Harley's hand. "I didn't mean to... I wasn't myself."
Zack placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We know. It wasn't your fault. Monica took over and you can't control it"
Marinetta nodded, but the guilt still gnawed at her. "I need to fix this. I need to make things right."
As she vowed to find a way to heal the rift between the packs and atone for her actions, the Montgomery pack faced an uncertain future. The failed peace talks and the attack on Harley had left deep scars, and Marietta knew that redemption would not come easily.
Marinetta stood on the rooftop of one of the buildings in the Montgomery pack territory, consumed by thoughts of Harley's health. The guilt weighed heavily on her, and she couldn't shake the image of him lying wounded because of her.
As she stared out into the distance, lost in her turmoil, a familiar voice broke through her thoughts. "You don't have to blame yourself for what happened."
Marinetta's eyes widened, recognizing the voice. "Monica," she whispered, knowing that her werewolf spirit had awakened within her.
"You made me do something I shouldn't have done," Marinetta said aloud, her voice trembling with anger and sorrow.
Monica's voice was soothing, almost regretful. "I didn't mean to harm our mate. I was trying to teach Thalia a lesson. I didn't know the Power would be that much and It was Harley who jumped in front of her."
Marinetta clenched her fists, the conflict within her boiling over. "But it was still my hands that hurt him. How can I forgive myself for that? What eyes will others be using to see me like a bad person"
Monica sighed. "I'm sorry, Marietta. I truly am. I intended to protect us, to defend our honor. I didn't foresee this outcome i never expected this "
Marietta closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "We need to make things right, Monica. We can't let this tear our pack apart or let our enemies exploit our weakness."
Monica's voice was firm. "Then we must be stronger, smarter. We must find a way to heal the rift between the packs and ensure Harley's sacrifice isn't in vain."
Marinetta opened her eyes, a new determination burning within them. "You're right. We will find a way to make peace. For Harley, for our pack, and ourselves."
With that resolve, Marinetta descended from the rooftop, ready to face the challenges ahead. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to restore what had been broken and to find redemption for herself and Monica. The path to peace would be fraught with obstacles, but together, they would navigate it and emerge stronger than ever.
*************
At the Laufey pack, Thalia woke up feeling unusually weak. She noticed that her wounds were not healing, a troubling sign for someone with her abilities. Determined to regain her strength, she stumbled to her secret locker and retrieved a vial of the red liquid. She drank it quickly, then another, and another, until she had consumed four in total. Still, there was no change.
Panic gripped her as she realized the red liquid wasn't working. In a fit of desperation and frustration, she drank the remaining vials and smashed the empty bottles against the wall. Suddenly, an intense pain seized her body, and she let out a scream that echoed through the halls.
Silas and Lola rushed in, their eyes wide with alarm. "Mom" Silas shouted, running to her side.
Thalia's body convulsed, the pain overwhelming her. She looked up at Silas and Lola, her eyes filled with fear and confusion. "It's not working," she gasped. "The red liquid... it's not working."
Before they could react, Thalia collapsed, her body writhing in agony. Silas knelt beside her, trying to hold her still. "We need to help her! Lola, get the doctor!"
Lola nodded and ran out of the room, her heart pounding with fear for Thalia. Silas stayed by Thalia's side, his mind racing. The red liquid had always been his mother's secret weapon, her source of strength and resilience. If it no longer worked, what did that mean for him?
As Thalia's screams subsided into unconsciousness, Silas felt a cold dread settle over him. This was more than a physical ailment; it was a sign that something had fundamentally changed. And with the peace talks in shambles and their pack's future uncertain, this new crisis could not have come at a worse time.
When the doctor arrived, they worked quickly to stabilize Thalia, but the underlying cause of her condition remained a mystery. Silas knew that whatever was happening to Thalia might soon affect him. The fragile balance of power between the packs was shifting, and he had to be ready for whatever came next.