The Three Who Chose Me
Chapter 60: Fractures

Chapter 60: Fractures

Kiel

"What do you mean you can’t move?" Varen’s voice cut through the haze, sharp with panic and confusion. His brows were furrowed as he stared at me like I’d grown a second head. "Kiel. What the hell do you mean by that?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My muscles were locked, like something had wrapped invisible chains around my limbs, rooting me to the ground. My jaw clenched as I struggled internally, trying to command my body to take a single step. Just one.

But I couldn’t. I physically couldn’t.

It wasn’t fear.

It wasn’t shock.

It was something else.

Something... ancient.

"I don’t know," I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know what’s happening."

Then—just like that—the pressure eased.

The invisible weight lifted, and my body obeyed again. My legs gave way slightly, but I caught myself. I blinked and shook my head like I could physically shake off whatever the hell had just taken hold of me.

"It’s nothing," I lied, avoiding Varen’s eyes. "Forget it."

"Kiel—"

"I said it’s nothing," I repeated more firmly. I looked down at Josie, limp in Varen’s arms, her face flushed with heat. My chest clenched. No more wasting time.

Thorne, I mind-linked sharply, get to the clinic now. Josie’s burning up.

His response came almost immediately.

What happened?! What the hell did you do?!

I didn’t respond. I cut the link before he could throw more accusations my way. The last thing I needed was Thorne’s rage blaring in my head.

Varen and I raced to the pack hospital. Neither of us said a word. The silence was oppressive, but I welcomed it. I didn’t know how to explain what I had seen, what I had felt. The wind, the vines, the water—Josie hadn’t just interacted with nature.

She had commanded it.

And it had listened.

She had no idea what she’d done. That much was clear from the blankness in her eyes. But I couldn’t deny what I had witnessed. Something powerful was inside her. Something raw. And dangerous.

We reached the clinic in under five minutes. The doors swung open as we burst in, the familiar scent of antiseptic flooding my nose. The same damn doctor who had approved the wolfsbane treatment for Josie came rushing out.

His expression faltered the moment he saw her.

"Oh no," he muttered, his hands hovering uncertainly. "What happened?"

"She collapsed," Varen barked. "Her temperature’s through the roof."

The doctor nodded, gesturing for us to follow him as he led the way to one of the operating rooms. "We’ll stabilize her. Don’t worry."

I didn’t trust him. Not after everything. Not after how easily he’d pushed for the wolfsbane despite Thorne’s warnings. But we had no other choice in that moment.

Varen laid Josie down gently on the examination table, stepping back as the doctor began checking her vitals. I stood frozen by the doorway, fists clenched at my sides.

Ten minutes later, the clinic doors flew open again.

Thorne stormed in like a god of war, dressed in all black, his eyes blazing with fury. His aura hit the room like a tidal wave, choking and heavy.

"What. The. Fuck," he growled, striding toward us like a predator. "I leave her in your care for one night—one night—and this is what happens?"

"Thorne—" I started.

But he didn’t let me speak.

"You were supposed to watch her!"

"Don’t you dare put this on us!" Varen snapped, stepping between us before things could explode. "She was fine. She was sleeping, and I left for five minutes. We brought her here as soon as something felt off!"

"You left her?" Thorne spat the words like venom. "You left her alone?"

Varen’s jaw tensed. "I don’t answer to you, Thorne. Not now. Not when we’re scared out of our minds. You can blame us later, but right now—either help or get out."

The room went still.

Thorne’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t push it. Not this time. Instead, he turned his attention to the operating room.

"Who’s treating her?" he demanded.

I glanced through the glass window. "Who else? The same pack doctor. He was here—"

I didn’t even get to finish.

Thorne was already moving.

"Get out of there," he bellowed as he shoved the doors open and stormed into the room. "Get your filthy hands away from her!"

The doctor stumbled back, stuttering. "Alpha—I—I was only—"

Thorne didn’t listen.

He grabbed the man by the collar and punched him.

Hard.

The crack echoed through the hall. Blood sprayed from the doctor’s nose as he reeled back, crashing into the cabinets. Thorne didn’t stop. Blow after blow landed, his fury unleashed like a storm as the man crumpled to the ground.

"Thorne!" Varen yelled, rushing to the doorway. "Stop! He’s a doctor—!"

"He’s a traitor!" Thorne roared. "He approved that wolfsbane treatment! And now look what’s happening!"

With one final kick to the doctor’s ribs, he turned and grabbed the arm of a younger woman in scrubs who had been frozen near the monitors.

"You," Thorne hissed, dragging her forward. "Fix her. Or I swear on every god you believe in, I’ll end you."

The woman’s eyes went wide with fear, but she nodded frantically. "Y-yes, Alpha. Right away."

She took over immediately, checking Josie’s vitals, switching equipment, adjusting her IV. Her hands trembled, but she worked quickly.

Varen stepped forward, jaw clenched. "Thorne, that was insane—"

"Don’t you apologize for me," Thorne snapped. "Don’t even think about it. That bastard nearly killed her."

"But this isn’t the way—"

"He’s going to the dungeon," Thorne cut in. "Call the guards."

"You’re serious?"

"Dead serious."

Varen turned to me, frustrated. "Kiel, say something! You’ve just been standing there—what the hell is going on with you?"

I looked at him slowly. "There’s a reason things are the way they are, Varen. You know Thorne doesn’t act unless there’s more to it."

"What are you talking about?" he asked, frowning.

"I mean," I said, walking closer, "that I want to know what happened, too. You were the one who first mentioned the wolfsbane. That it was good for her."

Varen’s face twisted in confusion. "What? Are you saying I gave her something? Of course I didn’t!"

Thorne reentered the room, his shirt soaked with blood that wasn’t his. His breathing was rough, his fists still clenched. "He didn’t give her anything," he said flatly. "But I know who did."

"Who?" Varen demanded.

Thorne looked between us, his eyes like ice. "The witch warned me this might happen. She told me someone would tamper with her treatment. That the wolfsbane would be used against her. I should’ve listened. I should’ve shut it down sooner."

"Then why didn’t you?" I asked, my voice harsher than I intended.

"Because I thought we’d be able to watch her." Thorne’s tone cracked with restrained fury. "I thought we could keep her safe. But someone... someone got to her."

"Michelle," I said.

He nodded grimly. "Who else?"

I swore under my breath. "I knew we shouldn’t have taken that damn drug."

Varen’s face paled as realization dawned. "Wait... That’s why you attacked the doctor?"

Thorne’s gaze was cold. "Yes. He’s not just incompetent. He’s complicit. And I’m going to find out how and why. Personally."

"You’re going to torture him?" Varen asked, his voice low.

"Gladly."

No one argued.

Not because we agreed.

But because... we understood.

We waited in a tense silence. The younger doctor worked fast, her face growing more and more grim with every passing minute. The machines beeped steadily, but Josie didn’t stir. She was so still, too still. My stomach churned.

Finally, the doctor stepped out, her expression tight.

"She’s stable," she said softly. "No internal damage. But... she was given an overdose. A significant one."

"Of what?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Wolfsbane," she confirmed. "We’re trying to flush it out of her system, but... it’ll take time."

No one spoke.

My chest felt hollow.

We had failed her.

Again.

I stared through the glass at her still form. She looked peaceful. Too peaceful.

A lie.

I clenched my fists, swallowing the lump rising in my throat.

And for the first time in a long time... I felt powerless.

Again.