The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 307

Laila’s POV

The doctor’s words struck me like a physical blow. Wolfsbane was a rare poison. Because of its toxicity, particularly to werewolves, its growth and distribution was highly regulated, banned in most places. How had something like that turned up in my daughter?

“You are certain?” Jason asked, seemingly as confused as I was, with the way his brows pulled together.

“Wolfsbane is very distinctive,” the healer said. “There can be no mistake. But to be extra certain, we tested samples. Twice. Both came back positive.”

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Jason said.

“Do you have any idea how the poisoning could have happened?” the healer asked. He only briefly glanced at Jason before settling his stare on me. I felt like I was under a microscope here, like all of this was my fault.

Was it my fault?

I tried to think back. “I’ve been with Ava all the time. I don’t remember anything strange happening that could have involved poison. She’s been in and out of hospitals and medical care facilities her whole life. Could she have been accidentally exposed?”

“Unlikely,” the healer said. “Only research facilities carry the poison itself. Here at the hospital, we only have treatments.”

“So you can treat her?” I asked.

“We can try, but we don’t have the full antidote.”

“Few do,” Jason said, his jaw clenched.

“Wait. All of this… If Ava has been poisoned…” My heart squeezed tightly in my chest. “Is someone trying to hurt my daughter?”

“Not necessarily,” the healer said. “Wolfsbane stays in a werewolf’s bloodstream for life, which is part of the reason it is so dangerous. It constrains wolf essence, hurting not just the human side of the werewolf, but also the wolf itself. The poison becomes connected to the body in ways we don’t fully understand. We do know that because of this, mothers will sometimes pass the poisoning on to their children before birth.”

Jason’s gaze snapped to me.

My eyes went wide.

“You think… I… could be poisoned?”

“That could explain why your wolf struggled to manifest for so long,” Jason said. “And while it still remains weak inside you

even now.”

“A weak wolf is a definite symptom of the poisoning,” the healer said. “And it would explain why Ava tested positive. Laila, would you consent to a blood test? While the poison is rare, we always make certain we are stocked up fully with supplies in case an outbreak were to ever occur.”

I shuddered at the thought of such a terrible poison being used as a kind of weapon. I was glad they were prepared, even if I was now a little frightened to find out the truth for myself.

But, it would be better to be certain that Ava was not the target. If I had been the one poisoned, and given it to Ava in turn, I would feel horrible, responsible, but also in some way relieved that she was an innocent bystander. I’d rather be the target than her, any day.

“Yes, I consent,” I said.

“This way, then,” the healer said.

+30 Bonus

Jasou pressed his hand to my lower back for just a moment, a silent and brief show of comfort and care, before I walked away, following the healer into the back rooms.

The healer led me to a side room that was used for drawing blood. Anurse there drew a vial of blood from my arm, but it was the healer who tested it. He took a drop of my blood from the vial and then added it to a container of clear fluid. As soon as the red droplet hit the fluid, the entire container changed to a bright purple color.

“What does that mean?” I asked, dread rising within me like I already knew the truth.

“It’s positive,” the healer said. “The fastest positive I’ve ever seen.”

That dread I’d been trying to contain washed over me in a large, ruthless wave.

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