At that, Raine didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she looked at Brianna: at her shaking hands and her tear-bright eyes. "I am not asking you to go there along with me," Raine said quietly.
"Y-you..." Brianna swallowed. Her fear battled with something else, perhaps determination or anger at what had happened. It appeared that she was having difficulty mustering the courage to help. "I- I am sorry. Y-you really think y-you’ll find something?" Brianna asked.
"I hope I can find something. There must be something that had happened."
However, Brianna’s voice dropped to a whisper. "I-If they see you in that room again, t-they will know that I-I have helped out..." Brianna looked away. Tears welled again. A long pause followed. She shook her head. "I-I’m sorry," she whispered. "I-I can’t."
Trying to suppress her disappointment, Raine held Brianna’s hand and gently caressed her back. She didn’t look angry, though, and she spoke gently. "I understand, Brianna."
The omega wiped her beautiful brown eyes, which now looked apologetic, with the back of her hand. She looked ashamed. "I-I don’t want you hurt again. I m-mean it."
Raine gave her a faint, tired smile. "I know. That’s very thoughtful of you." She inhaled slowly. Raine was still in pain, and Brianna was tending to her with attention. "I understand. Then help me in another way."
"H-how?" Brianna blinked.
"Can you see the situation in Landon’s room? See what the new healer is doing and every detail of what is happening there. Can you do that for me?"
Brianna straightened slightly and nodded slowly. She kept dabbing at the wounds along Raine’s shoulder with water that had already turned faintly pink, and though her hands trembled, she tried to appear composed, as if pretending to be steady might make it true.
"Y-you should not m-move too much," Brianna whispered, her voice catching between syllables the way it always did when she was anxious.
For a long moment, nobody spoke. Then Brianna began gathering the cloth and bowl, preparing to leave. "I-I will come back later," she said softly. "Before anyone n-notices." She stood up and got ready to leave. Raine watched her stand.
This was the moment.
"Brianna," Raine called her again. Brianna turned, and she reached for her hand. The contact was warm, familiar, and gentle enough that Brianna did not pull away. "I need you to trust me," Raine said. She inhaled, feeling for the rhythm beneath Brianna’s skin.
The pulse manipulation happens gradually.
She was a healer, after all. Being a healer was not magic; it was knowledge and an understanding of the body.
She could use her ability to heal people or to cause harm in other ways. As she held Brianna’s hand, she did not squeeze or inflict pain. She only made a small adjustment.
Raine said softly. "Do not be frightened."
Brianna frowned faintly. "Raine? W-what are you...?" Her words blurred. She grew dizzy.
Raine slowed her pulse down so that she passed out. She knew how the body worked. She could use her ability to heal people or... otherwise. But certainly, she meant no harm toward Brianna.
She lowered Brianna carefully as her knees weakened, guiding her down so her head did not strike the stone. "Sorry," Raine whispered.
Brianna’s pulse slowed under her fingertips; it wasn’t dangerous or permanent, just enough to make her lose consciousness. Within seconds, she was unconscious. Raine stayed there, kneeling, counting the beats.
One. Two. Three. Steady.
She checked Brianna’s pulse to make sure it was safe. She adjusted it back, restoring normal rhythm, ensuring no harm lingered.
Raine wasn’t sure whether she was doing the right thing or not. She wasn’t sure of anything, to say the least. But given the current situation, she needed to do this. She didn’t trust Ariana; she didn’t trust the new healer.
If something happened to Landon, if he died under another healer’s care, the blame would still be on her. Raine refused to die because of someone else’s mistake or get tangled up in other people’s schemes. She knew she was the easiest scapegoat.
Slowly and painfully, Raine pushed herself upright. The world tilted. Her wounds protested violently, some reopening, blood trickling slightly, and the effort sent sharp tremors through her ribs, but she braced herself against the wall and forced her legs to obey.
She was a healer. She understood the human body. She knew exactly how fragile she currently was. And she knew she could not heal herself. Healing required an exchange. If she tried to heal herself, it would be like trying to quench thirst by swallowing your own blood.
She forced herself to step out of the cell. The corridor felt impossibly long. Each movement threatened to undo her, to make her collapse again, but she kept going.
Brianna had told her earlier that no warriors were guarding the dungeon so that Raine could sneak out easily. She dragged her tired body to the pack house. When she emerged into the pack house courtyard, daylight struck her, blinding her eyes.
Several pack members looked up; their gazes lingered. But they didn’t say anything. They didn’t question anything.
They simply assumed she had been released. One omega even lowered her eyes respectfully as Raine passed. For a moment, Raine almost laughed. Everybody in this pack believed in their own assumptions.
She continued walking, though every step carried pain, and yet she didn’t slow down. She didn’t hesitate.
Behind her, she did not see the young warrior who frowned in confusion, seeing Raine outside the dungeon. He turned abruptly and ran hastily.