Chapter 151 Dangerous visit BECKY Before my brain could start spinning out with the possibilities of this revelation, I gestured to the cots pressed up against the walls. “Why don’t you take a seat and tell me more about this,” I advised gently. “I’ll go grab a stool and then we can talk.” The mother nodded, and as they got situated back in their beds, I stepped into the office and grabbed the stool in front of the desk, along with a notepad and a pen. I carefully wheeled the chair out into the hallway in front of their beds and opened the pad to a fresh sheet of paper once I sat down. “So, before we start, what are your names?” I asked with a small smile. “I’m we start, what are your names?” Becky, and I’m a researcher and healer in training from Anemond.” “Anemond?” the mother asked in surprise, and when I nodded, her eyes widened. “Wow. I’ve never been to the capital before. Is it as amazing as they say?” “Parts of it are alright,” I admitted, and then I leaned in closer. “But from what I’ve seen of Wild Crawler… it’s much better here.” “Really?” she gasped, and her hand fell to her chest. “My goodness. That’s quite a compliment. Well, anyways, my name is Angela, and this is my daughter, Marina.” Marina smiled and tucked her blonde hair behind her ear. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” I said genuinely. “Now, could you tell me more about what you said? That the disease came from the mountain? What does that ean?” Marina and Angela glanced at one another and then Angela cleared her throat. “I didn’t believe the rumors when I went there for a visit,” she explained quietly,

1/4 and she folded her hands in her lap. “But it seemed to be true. Otherwise, why would Marina and I have gotten infected so quickly after our trip?”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t I see that same pattern in other patients’ records?” I asked respectfully. “I didn’t see any evidence stating that the patients. here all came from near the mountains?” Angela let out a small sigh and then shook her head. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I know that not all of the people who got infected came here for help because they knew this wasn’t going to be cured. I know a few people, neighbors, friends, people I’ve known my whole life… they chose to stay home rather than die in this cold, dark clinic.” At the mention of death, Angela’s eyes started to well up with tears. “Hey, don’t cry-” I tried to soothe her, but it was no use. The tears spilled onto her pale cheeks, and when I looked over at Marina, I was saddened to see that she was crying as well. My heart began to ache as sadness knawed at my belly. This was a terrible situation that no one deserved to be in. Both Angela and Marina were far too young to have to worry about death. Though I nearly joined them in their fit of upset, I managed to pull myself together. I needed to stay under control and put them at ease to keep the other patients from panicking as well. “Shhh,” I attempted again to soothe them. “Please, don’t cry. It’s going to be alright. I promise I’m going to visit the mountain area and try to find some evidence to corroborate your theory. I’ll take some samples, interview some people, and do everything in my power to get us closer to some answers.” “Thank you,” Marina sniffled, and after she wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve, she turned to her still-weeping mother. “Please, Mother. Take a deep breath. Let’s try to get some sleep, alright? You’ve been awake for hours.” Angela nodded, and eventually, she layed down in her col. As Marina tucked her in and wrapped a blanket around her, recurring memories flashed in my mind. I’d 2/4 spent countless nights doing the same for my own ailing mother. I would wipe her tears, tuck her into bed, and soothe her cries. It was a difficult job, but I would do it a million times over. “Get some sleep,” I said gently. “Good night, ladies.” “Good night, Healer Becky,” Marina said, and as I walked back down the corridor, a smile reached my

lips. Healer Becky. No one had ever called me that before. When I returned to the office, I closed the door and lay down on the couch. Though I was physically tired, my mind raced. I didn’t know how much I believed in a “curse of the mountain” but there had to be something behind Angela’s belief, and I wanted to find out what it was. When Dic kson arrived at the clinic early the next morning, I felt like the walking dead. I was awake, but just barely, and hadn’t left my perch on the office couch. “Good morning,” he greeted me chipperly, and he gestured to me with a brown paper bag. “I brought us some breakfast.”” “That’s very kind of you,” I said, and I stifled a yawn as he rifled through the bag. He handed me a fragrant pastry, and my mouth began to water as I accepted it gratefully. “Did something happen last night?” he frowned as his blue eyes trailed over me. “Your eyes have dark circles. Did you get any rest?” 1 took a bite of the pastry and then shook my head. “No,” I said. “Not exactly. But I do have something I’d like to discuss with you.” “Of course,” Dic kson replied seriously, and he dragged a chair over to me. He took a seat and then studied me closely. “What’s going on?” 3/4 I took a breath and then told him what Angela had told me last night. Dic kson. listened carefully, and once I was finished, he frowned. “I’ve heard of this before,” he admitted, and his eyebrows knitted together. “But I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time. People tend to believe in superstition when they find medical science unable to clear their doubts and fears. What do you think, Becky? Is this something you find any validity in?” I looked at him for a moment and then answered. “Dic kson, have you heard anything about sorcery before?” I wondered. His frown deepened and he shook his head. “No.”

I sighed and decided to be frank. “I don’t completely believe in what Angela said,” I began. “But me and my colleagues in Anemond highly suspect that this disease is related to old sorcery.” Dic kson looked shocked, to say the least, but I continued anyway. I briefly told him what we had found in Anemond- the poison and the suspicious sorcerer, but I didn’t give him all of the details. As I finished the story, Dic kson remained silent. I knew he probably didn’t believe me. Just as I was about to say something else, he let out a heavy exhale. “This definitely isn’t what I expected you to tell me,” he said slowly. “And it’s hard for me to believe in the existence of sorcery. But I agree with you, Becky. Since we have no clue yet how to cure the disease, any information is worth investigating.” I nodded. “We should visit the mountain area,” Dic kson decided. “But I think you should report this information to the Alpha first. He needs to be aware and evaluate the risk of it all. If what Angela says is true, it’s highly possible that we could get infected by visiting the area.” 4/4 BECKY

Chapter 152 Angela’s friend I went to Wild Crawler’s Pack House immediately after our conversation. Dic kson remained at the clinic in my stead. He’d gotten plenty of rest the night before, so he was awake enough to handle the patients while I was away. The entire walk there, I tried to formulate a plan. I needed Alpha Rayden’s permission and blessing to leave since I was a guest in his Pack, and I wanted to speak with him in a way that demonstrated that I was up to the task of investigating the mountain area of Wild Crawler. Being younger than most of my peers presented me with a challenge when it came to most things. While I wasn’t as experienced as most, I was a hard worker and quick on my feet. Once I reached the Pack House, Jasper escorted me to the Alpha. Rayden was sitting in his library and when I entered the room, his eyebrows knitted together. “Becky,” he greeted me as his dark eyes studied me with concern. “Is everything alright? You look exhausted.” “It was a long night,” I admitted and I managed a small smile. “I appreciate you asking. I’m okay, though.” “Good,” Rayden noted, and then he tilted his head slightly. “How can I help you then?” I took a breath and then explained everything I had heard from Angela and Marina in the clinic. I told the story in vivid detail so Alpha Rayden could get a clear image of what was happening, or at least what could be happening. When I asked for his permission to leave, he simply nodded. “Of course,” he said. “But I must insist that you take extra guards with you. The 1/5 strange. I don’t want you to go alone, not when you’re a guest of mine.” “Thank you, Alpha Rayden,” I replied gratefully. “I appreciate it.” With his blessing in mind, I asked to use one of the Pack House phones to call Cas sandra in

Anemond. Since this project was hers, I wanted to make sure she knew what was happening here and get her advice since she had once lived here. Erika answered the clinic phone and after some brief small talk, she handed it over to Cas sandra. “Becky?” she asked in surprise. “Is everything okay? How are you?”