Fated To Not Just One, But Three - Chapter 494

Chapter 494: The Price
Lennox POV

For years, I’d shared my mind with him, my wolf, my partner, my rage, and balance. Without him, I was half alive. Less than that. I forced myself to focus, straining harder, calling out through the link. Come on… answer me. Please. Still nothing. I opened my eyes again, sweat breaking across my forehead. My pulse thundered in my ears. My hands were shaking, my breath coming too fast. The silence in my head was louder than any scream.

I glanced around the room, at the small window covered with a thin curtain, at the old wooden desk pushed against the wall, at the single lantern flickering weakly beside my bed. This wasn’t a room. This was exile.

“Four years…” I murmured, my voice hoarse. “And they left me here like this?”

My jaw clenched, rage slowly overtaking fear. If what that woman said was true, if Olivia, Levi, and Louis hadn’t come, then what had become of them? What did she mean by what they built without you?

The door opened suddenly, and the young woman from earlier entered, escorted by an older lady. From their resemblance, I could tell this was her mother. The elderly woman immediately bowed her head in deep respect.

“Welcome back, Alpha Lennox,” she greeted softly. Her tone was respectful, but I didn’t feel like an Alpha anymore. I felt like a vegetable.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, concerned, as she slowly and respectfully approached me.

I frowned. “Why can’t I move my legs? Why is my wolf silent? Where is this place? Where is my family? What the hell is going on?” I didn’t even realize I was shouting until my voice echoed back at me from the walls.

The elderly woman, who was old enough to be my mother, had a calm look on her face, and it annoyed me even more.

“Please, Alpha,” she said gently. “Calm yourself. I will answer all your questions, but first, allow me to examine you.”

I glared at her. “And who the hell are you?”

She didn’t look offended. Instead, she pulled up a wooden chair and sat beside me. “My name is Martha,” she said calmly. “And this is my daughter, Annabel. We are healers and diviners. This is our home. Four years ago, you were brought here by your brother, Alpha Levi. Since then, we’ve been the ones caring for you.”

Her voice was respectful, but her eyes held pity, and that made my blood boil. I hated pity. I hated sympathy.

I clenched my jaw. “So Levi brought me here and just left me?”

Martha sighed quietly. “Your case was delicate. Many thought there was no hope. Your body was broken beyond natural healing. Even your wolf had gone silent. The healers of your pack tried everything, but your condition worsened. Everyone believed you would never wake again.”

I stared at her, my mind spinning. “Everyone… lost hope,” I repeated hollowly.

She nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“Please, let me examine you,” Annabel urged softly, and this time I didn’t argue.

Annabel stepped closer, her hands glowing faintly with soft golden light as she checked the markings on my arms and chest. The gentle warmth of her healing energy spread through me, but it felt muted, disconnected.

“What’s wrong with me?” I asked again, my voice cracking this time. “Why can’t I move my legs? Why can’t I feel my wolf?”

Martha’s calm expression faltered slightly. She exchanged a look with her daughter, who stopped her examination midway. Something in their silence made my stomach twist. Something was very wrong.

“Tell me,” I demanded, my tone rude and panicked. “Tell me what’s wrong!”

Martha drew in a long, slow breath. “Alpha Lennox…” She hesitated, her voice dropping lower. “I’m afraid the Moon Goddess’ second chance came with a heavy cost.”

My heart pounded. “What are you talking about?”

She met my gaze, her eyes filled with sorrow and pity. “Your wolf, he’s gone. You’re wolfless. The bond between you and him was severed when you were brought back.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. “No,” I whispered.

Martha’s voice wavered as she continued, “And your legs, the lower part of your body sustained damage beyond what healing can restore. You’ve been paralyzed too… but it might be temporary.”

“No.” My voice rose, trembling. “You’re wrong.”

Annabel stepped back, her expression full of pity. “We’ve checked, Alpha. Many times. You were given another chance at life, but it came with a price.”

I shook my head violently. “No! That’s impossible! You’re lying!”

Martha reached for my arm, but I jerked away. “No! You don’t understand!” My voice broke, echoing through the small room. “I’m an Alpha! I can’t be wolfless! And crippled!”

The walls seemed to close in. I slammed my fists against the bed, the pain barely registering. “I should’ve died then! Not this… not like this!”

Martha’s calm voice broke through my panic. “The Moon Goddess chose to spare your life, Alpha Lennox. But she never promised it would be easy.”

Her words burned.

I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my temples, tears stinging my eyes even as I fought them back. My wolf, gone. My legs, useless. My rank, my strength, my identity, shattered.

All that remained was me. A shell of a man.

Why would the Moon Goddess bring me back just to take everything away?

I clenched my fists. My throat burned, but I forced myself to speak through it. “There has to be something you can do,” I rasped. “You’re healers, aren’t you? Fix it. Fix me.”

Martha exchanged a heavy look with her daughter, then placed a gentle hand on my arm. “We will try, Alpha Lennox,” she said quietly. “But your condition is not one that herbs or spells alone can mend. The damage is spiritual, part of your very essence.”

“Then find a way,” I snapped. “I don’t care what it takes. Just fix it.”

Martha’s eyes softened, not with pity this time, but sympathy, like she already knew there was no cure. “We’ll see what we can do. For now, you need to rest. I’ll contact Alpha Levi and inform him that you’re awake.”

Levi.

The name alone made my stomach twist.

As she stood to leave, I stopped her. “Wait.”

She turned slowly.

“Tell me the truth.” My voice was low, strained. “Has anyone, any member of my family, been here? My brothers. Olivia. Anyone.”

The room fell silent.

Martha didn’t answer right away. Her hesitation was all the confirmation I needed, but I needed to hear it.

“Answer me,” I demanded, my tone breaking.

She sighed, a sound that carried both weariness and guilt. “No, Alpha Lennox. None of your family has visited.”

My chest caved in. “What?”

She continued softly, almost as if afraid to speak. “Alpha Levi often calls to check on your condition. He makes sure you have everything you need: the best potions, care, and protection. But…” She trailed off, lowering her gaze. “…no one has come in person. Not once.”

The words hit me harder than any blade ever could.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe. The world blurred around me.

Four years.

And they never visited?

“No…” I whispered, shaking my head. “You’re lying. You have to be lying.”

“Alpha Lennox—”

“Don’t call me that!” I shouted, my voice raw and trembling. “Don’t you dare call me that when I’m nothing but a cripple lying in a stranger’s house!”

The fury in me built until it broke, replaced by something far worse: grief. My vision clouded, and before I could stop it, a tear slipped down my cheek.

“They left me…” I muttered, my voice barely audible. “My family, my mate…”

Annabel stepped forward as if to comfort me, but I turned away, clenching the sheets in my fists until they nearly tore.

Martha sighed softly, her voice full of regret. “Perhaps it was guilt. Or fear. Sometimes people stay away because they cannot bear the sight of what’s been lost.”

Her words only twisted the knife deeper. It made me angrier. That was a pathetic excuse.

Martha turned toward her daughter. “Send a message to Alpha Levi. Tell him he’s awake.”

I frowned. “Don’t!”