Everlasting

Chapter 75 - Part A

"Yeah, Zed, can you show Elder Luther the map of the extension? Hardin put it somewhere and I can't find it-...are you kidding me?" I whine, turning around to see Zed holding up the map which has been staring at me for the last ten minutes.

"Maybe Doc should check your eyes." Zed muses.

"If my head wasn't screwed on I'd lose that too." I scoff, taking the map and storming out the office and back outside.

"Sorry for the wait, it's been a little hectic here." I admit to the Elder standing in front of me.

"Understandable. Has the rogue recovered?" Luther asks me, attempting to be somewhat caring.

"She's doing great. Winter just started training with Beck and Zed actually, she's going back to school next week so she's begun training for graduation." I say with a proud smile.

"Isn't she only fifteen?" Luther arches his eyebrow.

I nod my head. "Winter is training to be a protector, she did want to try for warrior but given this law against rogues, protector is the closest thing to it." I explain.

"Perhaps if she proves herself to be trusting, you will one day find a way to allow rogues to train as warriors within the packs." Luther says, and he grins mischievously.

"Are you serious?" I whisper, beyond shocked, and excited.

"One day." He confirms, making it clear that that day isn't anytime soon. I have hope, and I know that if this alliance goes well the Elders will be more open to suggestions of change.

"Sounds like a plan." I smile warmly, feeling like a child that just got told they're going to Disneyland.

"How did it go with Kade?" Luther seems a little concerned.

"He had the nerve to ask me if we could talk, like he suddenly woke up feeling guilty about everything." I grunt, displeased by it all.

"Perhaps he has had a change of attitude, good people tend to do that to us." Luther states.

Is he taking about the woman Kade was with?

"It wasn't his attitude that needed changing, it was his morals." I retort, disgruntled and annoyed.

"Let's talk about this- woah! Are you alright?" Luther rushes to catch me as I sway so hard that I stumble off the steps.

Inhaling sharply, I grip his arms afraid of trusting my legs right now. Suddenly I felt strange, far worse than the last time I felt dizzy. It's only been three days since I got better, I figured I'd be fine.

"Yeah...I just-" My stomach churns and vomit spews everywhere like someone had tossed a huge meteor into a giant volcano and it erupted in a split second.

Luther pats my back and holds me up as I bring up everything I've eaten in the past few days, my stomach wrenching painfully. My body trembles and I felt cold, sweaty and weak. It wasn't just vomiting that causes it, no, it's the fever.

"I don't...I don't feel good." I voice tiredly, hanging on to Luther, not trusting myself to be able to hold my own weight right now.

Why am I suddenly so weak?

"I've got her." Zed is the one that arrives first, gently picking me up and rushing me inside.

My eyes drift tiredly, I could see Luther on the phone as he follows us upstairs, but I couldn't make anything out. The ringing in my ears drowns out all voices, but I saw their faces, the packs fear as they watch Zed whisk me away. I felt like it was all in slow motion, like this is the last thing I might ever see.

I want Hardin. Is the thing I thought before darkness consumes me.