CHAPTER 60 - THE WEIGHT OF DEATH

490 29 28
                                        

My eyes followed the intricate carvings that spread across the ceiling above me. I had never really noticed them before, but now it was one of the few things I did constantly. It was an easy thing to do. Easier than thinking. Easier than feeling.

I sighed, my fingers tightening around the pillow that still carried the faint scent of Egon. It was one of the rare moments that he wasn't here. I knew he would have stayed if I had asked. But he had already neglected his duties too much for my sake. Keeping him here would be selfish. And I had been selfish enough.

I couldn't yet bear the thought of stepping out of this bed, of facing the world beyond these walls. Carrying the weight of being a Luna while every part of me threatened to crumble felt exhausting. Even the idea of getting up felt like too much.

But I couldn't ask Egon to do the same. The pack needed him. So when I had seen the conflict in his eyes, the struggle between his duty and his desire to stay, I had forced a reassuring smile and told him I would be fine, that he should go.

I lied, of course. Because the moment he walked out the door, the emptiness crashed over me, consuming me whole. I wondered if I might ever find the strength to leave this bed again.

A voice in the back of my mind reminded me that I had duties too. As Egon's mate, people expected things from me. Yet, I pushed the thought away, just as I did every morning. Tomorrow, I told myself. Tomorrow, I would try. But I knew it was a lie, just like all the other empty promises I had made the mornings before.

A gentle knock pulled me from my thoughts. "Luna, I've come to help you with your bath," Ayla's soft voice drifted through the closed door.

I sighed. Ayla was one of the few people Egon allowed into our quarters. I was grateful. I wasn't sure I could handle more company.

I didn't want to move, but I had seen how much my condition affected Egon. The dark circles under his eyes had deepened, and his eyes still hadn't regained their usual bright blue colour since the moment I had woken up. It seemed that when I was stressed, it reflected onto Egon, often in a much more intense way.

He was always gentle and patient with me, but his temper with others had grown short. The few he permitted to visit bore the brunt of his frustration. Pepin had learned that the hard way when he suggested I should step outside for some fresh air. Egon had growled at him, warning him not to interfere with the well-being of his mate.

Egon's reaction would probably have been a bit exaggerated, and Pepin was probably right. Still, I couldn't help but feel relieved by Egon's intervention. I wasn't ready to step outside this room yet.

But for Egon's sake, I started making small efforts. It might have been easier to ignore my own well-being, but watching Egon suffer was something I couldn't turn away from.

I began eating again, despite how nauseous the thought of food made me, and I allowed Ayla to help me bathe every day. It wasn't much, but it was enough to soothe Egon's worry, even if just a little. The darkness in Egon's eyes didn't fade, but the exhaustion in his features had eased slightly.

"I'm coming," I called out softly as I forced myself upright and made my way towards the door. My body had healed. It had taken two more blood transfusions from Egon to cure all of my injuries. But my body had grown stiff from days of barely moving.

As I opened the door, Ayla's face lit up with a smile, and she bowed slightly as she saw me.

"I filled the bath with fresh lavender and rose petals," she told me as she led the way to the bathroom. "I bought them at the market this morning. The vendor mentioned they're good for calming the body."

Shifters - The King of Wolves - Book 1Where stories live. Discover now