AT THE SAME TIME
MICHAEL'S POINT OF VIEW:
She walks beside me like nothing's wrong. But I know better. Her steps are even now, smooth and quiet, but I can feel it. The slight weight she leans into my arm. The way her breath hitches every few paces. She's still pretending everything is fine, and I'm letting her, for now.
"Is the village treating you alright?" I asked, letting my voice stay warm, casual.
"It's peaceful here." She said, offering me a sideways glance. "Bit too quiet sometimes. But not bad."
I hum in response, nodding like I believe her. But inside, I'm already speaking another language.
"System." I think, keeping my expression unreadable. "Give me a deeper diagnostic. Override her surface privacy locks. Just enough to see what she won't tell me."I said in my mind.
"Request acknowledged. Executing scan. Subject Isabella Authority level -player override – high clearance granted."System said.
A brief pause. She's still talking something about the kids in the village and how one of them tried to eat a flower he thought was candy. But my mind is already locked onto the incoming data.
"Status - tired. Mental strain. - Moderate (related to past pack trauma and emotional confusion) Energy - 61%, hydration - low. Medical note, sleep aid prescribed by healer Mirella – dosage low, non addictive. Current bond Rating: 68%. Warning - emotional suppression observed. Subject avoids expressing discomfort to maintain perceived balance. Recommend gentle reinforcement."System said.
Of course she's hiding it. Of course she's trying to carry everything like she's still in that cursed Black Dawn pack that treated her like a footnote in someone else's prophecy. And now she's here, helping people, pretending she's fine. While breaking down quietly. I glance at her again. Her lips move, and I catch the tail end of something about wolf pups and stealing her socks from the washing line. I smile faintly.
"You ever think about getting proper rest? Letting someone else worry for once?"I asked.
She gives me a suspicious side eye.
"Are you trying to mother me now?"She chuckled.
"No. But if I could tuck you in and force feed you soup, I probably would." I chuckled.
Her laugh is soft, but real.
"Possessive much?"She asked.
"I just care." I murmur, letting the truth bleed through. Of course I am, only about her.
"Subject Isabella's heart rate rising. Emotional resonance confirmed. Bond rating now - 69%."System said.
"What's with the look?"She asked.
"Nothing." I lie smoothly. "Just glad I came today."
And I am. Because now I know what she's not saying. Now I can protect her properly, even if she doesn't know I already am. And I'll keep checking. As many times as it takes. Because I've already decided. I'm not letting her burn herself out again. She stumbled, just a little near the edge of the well. Barely noticeable. But I noticed.
"I'll walk you home." I said before she could object.
She opened her mouth like she was going to protest, then blinked up at me, tired.
"Okay." She said.
That single word told me more than anything else today. She never says yes that easily. Her house in Moon's chosen village isn't far, but she leans into me by the time we reach the steps. I help her sit on the little couch near the window. The place is small, quiet… neat, in a way that says no one else lives here. Perfect. Private. I decided to check her and I could feel the heat radiating from Isabella's forehead as I brushed my fingers across her skin. It wasn't normal. She wasn't acting like herself she was too sluggish, too quiet. Something was definitely wrong.
"Isabella, you're burning up. This is serious." I said, my voice tinged with concern.
She gave me a weak smile, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"It's nothing, really, Michael. I'm just a little tired."Isabella said.
I could see right through her. She never looked this pale, never seemed so distant. I wasn't going to let her down. I reached forward and gently took her wrist, feeling her pulse. It was weak. Too weak.
"System, scan her. Now."I whispered.
The system activated, and the diagnostic screen appeared in front of me almost immediately. My heart skipped a beat as the information came through.
"Toxin. Light toxin detected in bloodstream. Severity - moderate, non-lethal at this stage. Source - unknown, ingestion likely. Recommended action - administer antidote."System said.
I cursed under my breath. A toxin? That explained the dizziness, the flushed skin, and the way she was barely able to keep her eyes open.
"System, administer the antidote immediately. How do I give it to her."I whispered.
The system paused briefly before responding.
"Antidote can be administered orally. Immediate ingestion is recommended. Results will be visible in 15 minutes." System said.
"You need to drink this. It'll help you, I promise." I said, handing her the vial.
But Isabella hesitated, her brow furrowing. She pushed my hand away gently, her voice weak.
"No, Michael... I don't want to..."She started.
I wasn't having it. She was too stubborn for her own good.
"Iabella, you're not in a position to refuse right now. You're poisoned. I can't let you keep pretending it's nothing."I said.
She shook her head, her eyes darting around, still fighting it. Before I could argue further, her legs gave way, and I caught her in my arms just in time to prevent her from collapsing.
"Isabella!"I shouted.
Her body felt limp against me, and her head rested on my shoulder, her breath shallow.
"Warning. Isabella's vital signs are weakening. Immediate action required."System said.
I didn't need the system to tell me that. Panic set in. She was slipping away, and I couldn't allow that. I didn't hesitate this time. I grabbed the vial again and looked at her for a moment, weighing the situation. She needed this, but I knew she wasn't in any state to swallow it on her own.
"I'm sorry, Isabella. You're not going to get any better if you don't take this."I said.
I tilted her head back slightly and poured the antidote into her mouth, hoping she would just swallow it. But her body didn't respond immediately. She looked dazed, her eyes blinking slowly, almost like she wasn't fully aware of what was happening.
"Please, Isabella... Just trust me."I said.
She didn't pull away, but her body was still limp, her mind clouded by the toxin. I knew she wouldn't be able to process the antidote unless I took a more direct approach. I leaned in, brushing my lips against hers and pressing them softly against her. It was quick, a means to an end, but it felt like everything in that moment. I felt her breathe in, her lips soft against mine as I helped her ingest the antidote. The seconds seemed to stretch into eternity as I pulled away. I could feel her pulse faint, but steady, beneath my fingers as I held her close.
"Antidote administration complete. Toxin levels stabilizing. Results will be visible in 15 minutes."System said.
I ran a hand over her forehead, sighing in relief that she was at least still breathing, still here.
"You're going to be okay, Isabella. Just hang on for a little longer."I said.
She barely responded, her body still too weak to fight against the toxin's effects, but I could feel her breathing slowing, deepening, like she was beginning to relax under my touch. I stayed beside her, not moving, watching her carefully as the minutes passed.
"I'm not going anywhere, Isabella. I'll stay here until you're better."I said.
She was still too quiet, too out of it to respond, but I knew she could hear me. That was enough for now. I wouldn't leave her side. Not when she needed me.