My Sister, My mate

004

Juan’s P•O•V

I bounced out of my room, excitement radiating from every pore. Today was the day I started school. My dream of becoming a doctor was finally within reach.

Mother smiled warmly as she watched me jubilate, “You look lovely, dear,” She said, eyes shining with pride.

Just then, Elwyn strolled into the room, his hands tucked into his pockets. He threw a card at me, and I caught it mid-air. Mother’s eyes widened in surprise, “Elwyn, that’s too much,” She cautioned.

He shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye, “It’s nothing. I just want to make sure Juan has everything she needs. I want her to r****h the school,” He grinned, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s the code?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. His grin widened, “Our little secret,” He said, winking at me.

I felt a sudden urge to peck his face, but I remembered that he wouldn’t appreciate that in front of our parents. Instead, I ran to hug him, feeling a rush of excitement and gratitude.

“Thanks, my love!” I exclaimed, before rushing away to start my new adventure.

~•~~

I trudged out of the school building, my feet aching from a long day of classes. Linda walked beside me, chattering excitedly about her own day. I had begged Mother to let Linda accompany me to school, she was my friend, and she had finally agreed.

We waited outside the school park for our driver, but no one showed up after several minutes, and I tried calling Elwyn. But he didn’t pick up, no matter how many times I tried. I called my parents, but they didn’t answer either.

Linda placed a reassuring hand on my arm, “Don’t worry. We can just take a cab,”

I hesitated, but eventually agreed. We hailed a cab and headed to the Pack house. When we arrived, Mother rushed out to hug me, beaming with a broad smile.

“Hey, sweetie! How was your first day of school?” She asked, holding me at arm’s length. I hugged her back, but felt a growing sense of unease. Where was Elwyn? Why hadn’t he come to greet me?

“Mother, where’s Elwyn?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light. Mother’s smile faltered for a moment before she recovered, “He’s just busy, dear,”

I wanted to go to his room, but Father stopped me, asking about my day instead, “So, how was school?” He asked, eyes crinkling at the corners.

I gave him a brief reply, then tried to excuse myself to see Elwyn. But my parents kept stopping me, exchanging worried glances, “Father, I want to go see Elwyn,” I said, trying to push past him.

But Father held me firm, “There’s something you need to know,” He stated, calmly. Mother urged him not to say anything, but he refused, “Elwyn’s been poisoned,” He declared, extremely serious.

“What happened?” I stuttered, my mind reeling. Father’s expression turned somber, “There was an unexpected war after you left. Elwyn tried to prevent it, but he was poisoned in the process,”

I didn’t wait for my parents to react. I turned and ran crazily to Elwyn’s room, my heart pounding in my chest. I burst through the door, slamming it open with a loud crash.

My eyes scanned the room, and my heart sank when I saw Elwyn lying on the bed, unconscious. He looked like he was fighting for his life.

I walked closer to him, my knees trembling as I knelt down beside him. I reached out and touched his hand, feeling a chill run down my spine. His hand was cold.

I wrapped my hands around his, trying to warm him up. Elwyn looked so vulnerable, and weak. Tears welled up in my eyes as I gazed at him, my heart aching with fear and worry.

If only I was a doctor already, I thought desperately. I would know what to do to save him. But I was just a student, powerless to help my brother.

I knew Elwyn had done this for our people, to protect them from harm. But that knowledge didn’t ease my pain or fear. I felt so helpless, so afraid of losing him.

I took a deep breath and stood up, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. I walked back to our parents, who were waiting anxiously in the living room, ‘Will he survive?” I asked, my voice shaking with fear.

Mother and Father exchanged a glance, and then Mother smiled weakly, “Elwyn is a fighter. He’ll pull through,”

Father nodded in agreement, “We’ve got the best healers working on him. He’ll be okay,”

I nodded, trying to hold onto their words of reassurance. But as I looked back at his room, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of dread that had settled in my heart.

°°

I trudged through the school days, my mind preoccupied with Elwyn's condition. For the first few days, he hadn’t woken up, and I had watched over him every spare minute.

But then, something changed. Elwyn woke up, but he refused to see me, “I’m sure he’ll come around, Juan. He just needs some time to recover,” Mother said, trying to comfort me.

I nodded, trying to hold back tears, “I understand,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

I walked away, feeling the weight of his rejection bearing down on me. I made my way to the garden, seeking solace in the peaceful surroundings.

~×Elwyn’s P•O•V×~

I watched Juan walk away, feeling a pang of guilt and regret. I knew my refusal to see her would hurt her, but I couldn’t help it. She was too precious to me, and I couldn’t bear the thought of her worrying about me.

Father’s voice broke into my thoughts, “Elwyn, how did you get poisoned so severely? Not once, but multiple times?”

I took a deep breath, explaining the situation, “There was a deadly disease that our opponent used against the stronger wolves. It works with our wolf form, and I was attacked with it multiple times during the war. It weakened them severely. Some of them might die.

I haven’t figured out what kind of poison it was, but Beta Eillot explained a little to me before he lost consciousness. He said it was a rare poison, one that attacks the wolf’s inner strength,” I said, remembering Beta Eillot’s words.

Alpha Wayne’s face darkened, “You risked your life, Elwyn. You should have been more careful,”

But Mother intervened, sounding calm and soothing, “Elwyn did the right thing, dearling. He protected our Pack, and now we have a clue about what’s causing the sudden illness among our Pack members. We can work towards finding a cure. I’m proud of you. You’re a true warrior,” Mother said, smiling at me.

~•~

I walked to the treating room, my mind preoccupied with the thought of finding a cure for the deadly disease that had been ravaging our Pack. Some of our members had already succumbed to the illness, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing any more.

After I entered the treating room, the doctor bowed to me and handed me a pair of gloves and a nose-cover. I put them on and began to patrol the room, checking on our sick members. My heart ached as I saw how weak and frail they were.

I turned to a corner, and I noticed a lady kneeling beside one of the beds. She wasn’t wearing a nose-cover, and she seemed to be speaking freely with the patient. I frowned, wondering who she was. We only had one female doctor on staff, and I was certain this woman wasn’t her.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I walked closer to the lady, “Stand up,” I said, my voice firm but polite. The lady’s panic was evident as she scrambled to her feet. She said nothing, just stood there, frozen in fear.

“Who are you?” I asked, my eyes narrowing. But before she could answer, I realized who she was, my sister. What was she doing here?

She looked up at me, giving a vivid eyes filled with bewilderment and fear, “Elwyn," She stuttered. I threw away the gloves from her hands and gently took her arm, leading her away from the treating room.

I could sense her anxiety, but I didn’t say anything. I just led her out of the room, making sure she was safe.

I led Juan to a quiet place, away from prying eyes. As soon as we stopped, she quickly pulled her hand away from mine, “What were you doing back there?” I asked, my voice firm but controlled.

Juan looked up at me, flashing a defensive gaze, “I was trying to help,” She said, maintaining a steady yet annoying tone.

I scoffed, my anger rising to the surface, “How could you help when you barely know anything?” I demanded, extreme anger boiling inside of me, inspite my attempts to sound good.

Her face twisted with a frown, and she bit her lower lip, a habit she had when she was anxious, “I’m sorry. But you shouldn’t be scolding me when you’ve been neglecting me all day. You’ve been avoiding me for after you gained conciousness. Did I do something inappropriate, Elwyn?”

I felt a pang of guilt, knowing she was right. We had promised each other that we wouldn’t keep secrets from each other. Her eyes flashed with anger, “You’re always pushing me away whenever you feel hurt. Stop it; I can’t endure it anymore,” She yelled, angrily, while more tears escaped from her eyes.

Suddenly, her expression softened, and she walked closer to me, “Are you hurt?” She asked, looking at me in search of bruises, and I know she wouldn’t be able to detect anything.

I looked at her, feeling a surge of love and guilt, “Name anything you want me to do, and I'll do it,” I said, looking at her with pleading eyes.

Juan’s face broke into a smile, and she threw her arms around me, peppering my face with kisses. As her lips touched my skin, I felt a sudden flutter in my chest. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt my face grow hot.

But I didn’t push her away. I let her continue kissing my face, feeling a sense of comfort and love wash over me. But then, she made to peck my lips, as she usually did. I stopped her, and she frowned, hitting me hard on the chest.

“I hate you!” She exclaimed, making her face scrunched up in anger, as she hit me harder, “I love you deeply, pretty sister,” I said, smiling softly.