The Silent Luna's Trial (Maple and Finn) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 9

Christian’s Perspective

“Carrie, are you feeling alright? Is there any other pain anywhere?” I asked gently, concern etched deeply into my voice.

The instant her eyelids fluttered open, all of us hurried over, our expressions clouded with worry and relief.

Lysander was the first to break the silence. “Don’t ever put yourself in danger like that again. You’re family—we’ll always be here for you.”

Carrie’s eyes welled up, redness creeping in as her face contorted with a mixture of pain and vulnerability. She reached out, her trembling fingers wrapping around my hand.

“I was just… scared you didn’t want me anymore,” she whispered, voice trembling. “What happened back then… yes, I was at fault. But…”

Her words faltered as she bowed her head, soft, broken sobs slipping from her lips. The rawness of her pain struck a chord deep inside me, stirring something I hadn’t expected.

Around us, the others wore the same heartbroken expressions, their gazes heavy with unspoken sympathy.

“Don’t be afraid, Blair,” Lysander said gently, his tone soothing. “The past is behind us now. We’re all here for you.”

Orion and Zayden nodded in agreement, their voices warm and tender, full of care.

I looked at her, but a strange unease began to gnaw at my chest. It was as though something precious was slipping away from me, though I couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

“Christian,” Carrie’s voice was barely above a whisper as she met my eyes, fragile and uncertain. “Are you still angry with me?”

“No,” I assured her softly. “Don’t overthink it. Just try to rest.”

Just then, the pack doctor entered the room.

“How’s Carrie doing?” he inquired, stepping closer.

“Physically, she’s fine—” I started, but before I could finish, Carrie suddenly clutched her chest, a sharp, panicked scream tearing from her throat.

“It hurts—my chest—it hurts so much!” she cried out.

We all rushed to her side in alarm, panic rising like a tide.

—

Later that day, Carrie’s voice trembled as she said, “Lysander, Christian… I don’t want to stay here. I want to go home.”

Lysander frowned, clearly uneasy with the idea. “You’re not well. You need proper treatment.”

Tears slipped down Carrie’s cheeks as she lowered her gaze. “I know my condition better than anyone. But I don’t want to be here. I want to be home—with you.”

Even as I tried to serve Carrie her meal, my mind was elsewhere. I absentmindedly placed something on her plate she didn’t want.

“Christian, I don’t eat this,” she said, frowning slightly.

“Sorry,” I muttered quickly. “I wasn’t thinking.”

She didn’t seem upset, though. Instead, she asked the maid to bring her a bowl of soup.

“This is your favorite—pumpkin soup,” she said, smiling gently. “I had the kitchen make it just for you. You’ve been working too hard lately, haven’t you?”

Pumpkin soup was my favorite, the one Blair had made countless times over the past five years. The taste was comfortingly familiar, yet it left an aching emptiness in my chest.

A quiet voice whispered in the back of my mind: Something’s wrong. This isn’t right.

I blinked, forcing the thought away, and smiled. “After all these years, you still remember my favorite.”

Carrie’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, even her ears glowing. “Christian… I love you most. I remember everything you like.”

Before she could finish, my beta, Finn, burst through the door, panic written all over his face.

“Alpha—it’s bad. The rope… it snapped!”