Crowned by Fate Chapter 81

Skye's POV

Her eyes fluttered closed as blood continued to pour from her mouth, her body arching in agony against my restraining hands.

"Drive faster!" I screamed at Adrian, genuine terror replacing the calm I'd been desperately trying to maintain. "Something's wrong with her! She's dying!"

The vehicle lurched forward, engine roaring as Adrian pushed it to its limits. Ryder leaned over the seat, his young face contorted with panic as he tried to help me stabilize Nadia's convulsing body.

Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the convulsion stopped. Nadia's eyes opened slowly, her gaze unfocused but somehow peaceful. To my astonishment, her lips curved into a faint smile, blood staining her teeth crimson.

"It's no use," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the engine's roar. "I can only... accompany you... this far."

She coughed again, more blood spilling from her mouth, soaking into her already ruined shirt. The metallic scent of it filled the confined space, making my stomach clench with dread.

"Nadia, hold on," Adrian commanded, his voice breaking with an emotion I'd never heard from him before—raw fear. "We're almost at the hospital. Just hold on."

Nadia struggled to lift her hand, her fingers trembling as they brushed against my cheek. "No use," she repeated, each word clearly costing her precious energy. "Kane... implanted wolf poison capsules... in my body. If you broke... the agreement... he would activate them." Her breathing grew more labored. "Or maybe... he never intended... to let me live anyway."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Ryder exploded, his fists clenching in helpless rage. "If I'd known, I would have killed Kane right there!"

"And then what?" Nadia rasped, her eyes finding Ryder's with surprising clarity. "Elias already died... rescuing me. I couldn't bear... to see any more of you... sacrifice yourselves... for me."

I pulled her closer, cradling her broken body against mine as if I could somehow transfer my strength to her. "Don't talk like that," I insisted, fighting back tears. "Lydia will have a solution. She always does. Just rest now, save your strength."

The remainder of the journey passed in tense silence, broken only by Nadia's labored breathing and occasional whimpers of pain that she couldn't suppress. When we finally screeched to a halt outside Oasisborn's medical facility, a team was already waiting—Lydia at the forefront, her masked face revealing nothing of her emotions as she directed the emergency response.

Medical staff swarmed around us as we carried Nadia inside, their urgent voices and efficient movements creating a whirlwind of activity. They whisked her away into an examination room, leaving us standing helplessly in the corridor.

Garrett arrived moments later, his uneven gait more pronounced than usual as he rushed down the hallway. His face, normally so composed, was contorted with fear.

"Where is she?" he demanded, his voice cracking. "Is she—?"

"They're working on her now," Adrian replied, placing a steadying hand on the younger wolf's shoulder.

Garrett shook it off, pacing the corridor with frantic energy. I'd never seen him like this—the usually quiet, reserved technology specialist completely unraveled by emotion. His fingers twisted together nervously, his breathing ragged and uneven.

"This is my fault," he muttered, limping back and forth. "I should have detected those capsules in my scans. I should have known Kane would have a contingency plan."

"You couldn't have known," I tried to reassure him, though my own voice sounded hollow with fear.

Venus and Lydia rushed toward us as we entered the medical facility. Lydia immediately donned a white medical coat and hurried into the emergency room, her masked face set with determination as the doors swung shut behind her.

We were left in the corridor, a tableau of anxious anticipation. Venus paced the hallway, her single arm wrapped protectively around herself. Adrian stood motionless, his usual commanding presence replaced by the stillness of someone bracing for terrible news.

The minutes stretched into an eternity as we waited. Other pack members began to arrive, having heard the news of Nadia's return. The council members gathered—all except Marcus, who remained at the border ensuring our security.

After what seemed like hours, the emergency room doors finally opened. Dr. Elaine Chen emerged with Lydia by her side, their expressions confirming our worst fears before they spoke a single word.

"The infection is too severe," Dr. Chen said, her voice clinically detached though her eyes betrayed her emotion. "The wolf poison capsules were implanted directly beneath the skin near her heart. Surgical removal would kill her instantly, and the poison is already spreading throughout her system."

Lydia stepped forward, her green eyes sorrowful above her decorative mask. "My remedies can only ease her pain now," she admitted, her melodic voice heavy with regret. "Kane's method was... exceptionally cruel. Designed to ensure a slow, painful death if activated."

Garrett made a strangled sound, somewhere between a growl and a sob, before slamming his fist into the wall with enough force to crack the plaster. Adrian didn't reprimand him—perhaps understanding that in this moment, Garrett's wolf needed some outlet for the helpless rage we all felt.

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the distant sounds of medical equipment and the muffled voices of staff attending to other patients. Every wolf in Oasisborn could likely feel the pack bond straining, preparing to sever one of its strongest connections.

A sudden electronic bell pierced the heavy silence—the call button from Nadia's room. We exchanged alarmed glances before rushing to her door.

Inside, Nadia looked surprisingly alert, her eyes clear and her posture more upright than before. This sudden improvement sent a chill through me. My mother had once told me that dying people often experienced a final surge of energy—a "rallying" before the end. Seeing Nadia's improved condition didn't reassure me; it terrified me.

"I need to speak with Skye," she announced, her voice stronger than it had been in the SUV. "Alone, please."

The others hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave, but Adrian nodded after a moment. "If that's what you want."

"It is," Nadia confirmed, her eyes finding mine across the room.

One by one, they filed out—Adrian squeezing my shoulder gently as he passed, Garrett's gaze lingering on Nadia until the very last moment before the door closed behind them.

Nadia patted the edge of her bed, indicating I should sit beside her. When I did, she took my hand in hers, her grip surprisingly firm.

"I need you to do something for me," she began without preamble. "When I'm gone, the pack will need a new Beta."