Lacking Humanity|Half Crescent

Chapter Thirty-Five (Rewritten)

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With Sage now laid out in the guest room, she was able to be treated and replenished with another round of the herbal concoction from the witches approved by the wolf Healers.

But also another mixture of Andy's blood, straight from the source.

It wasn't something Sage favored, but it was giving her some relief that she couldn't outright deny it.

For Julian, seeing Hera so caught up in the aftermath of this poison, was a shock. Shifting his initial reaction from the first outbreak, but didn't have the time to make an official message—Not when had been berated by Alanna multiple times for withholding Hera without any more concrete evidence.

Or evidence that it didn't look like it had Lucy's fingerprints all over it.

Even if Luna of Oak Wood hadn't been born into the pack, she was very familiar with the laws and bylaws and even took to reprimanding the Alpha. This evidently led to an apology that Julian had made at Sage's bedside with the room packed with other visitors.

Even now, with Sage snoozing away, battling an onset fever caused by her immune system still being as weak. Alanna had made another attempt to visit the couple, even if she had already visited an hour before. The tray of ready-made sandwiches in her arms seemed pointless now.

Not when Hera had refused to eat in the previous meals, but Alanna carried it with the hopes that Andy would eat something, given that it's been half a day so far, and he still refused to move.

"You know...In your letter warning us about Noah's attack, you never mentioned her."
"I thought Swift Tail attacking us was much more pressing than a potential mate bond that's not going to work out," he responded, his voice rougher than normal. But Alanna was not discouraged when she managed to get him to speak. "Of course it will. She loves you."

"She loves her Mate, whether he's alive or not—She loves him." Andy sighed, hating the truth more than thought possible.
"I love my Mateo with all my heart. Julian knows this. And I know Julian loves and adores Emily, but we can't always have what we want. If her Mate is still alive, then...Then your agreement is off." Alanna's whisper of the settlement caused his eyes to flicker towards her momentarily.

"You heard?"
"It was hard not to when your Betas were discussing what you said, but I see how she looks at you, too. This was an act of jealousy, Andy, and she was right to feel worried."
"Where is Lucy now?" Andy questioned, wanting to—needing to know. And Alanna's smile emulated as she nodded. Perhaps her visit came with a fair bit of good news. However, even though she was still healing from the side effects she endured throughout the night, it was blessed knowledge to know that the truth was coming out.

Slowly but surely.
"Chained outside, you know the rules. The victim gets first dibs on what is given as punishment." Andy nodded instantly, his body straightening as he tried to settle his erratic heart.

It was one thing to believe Lucy was up to no good, but have factual evidence behind it?

With a quick step up to the window, he pulled away the curtain to see the tiny specks that made up both Lucy and her friend. Though, it was difficult to see the chains through the blizzard swirling around, threatening a brutal night.

They wouldn't die, no, not when they were forced to shift to fur, then chained.

"What's your plan when her Mate is alive?"
"Kill him. What other choice is there?" Alanna gawked that the answer fell so easily. "You'd kill him? The father of her pups—" 

Andy turned away again, growling as he wasn't sure what lie to keep to himself or not. "I am capable enough of fathering two pups. Hers are young enough that they can adapt quickly. I did it, so can they."