In A Wheelchair, They Still Can Only Look Up to Me Chapter 02

In A Wheelchair, They Still Can Only Look Up to Me Chapter 02

The freezing patio blurred my senses, and I blacked out for nearly an entire day.

The puncture wound at my waist didn’t stop bleeding. Instead, it festered badly.

When I finally came to, I was burning with fever.

Muffled voices drifted in from the living room, their tones low and deliberate. It was the Pack physician, Orson.

“This is a new, potent fever reducer. Maelis’s immunity is at rock bottom right now. Even a slight fever needs to be treated immediately, no delays. And this here is Isolde’s anti-infection medicine. She had surgery too. She needs close monitoring.”

My parents nodded and Orson left.

Maelis was lounging on the couch, her brows pinched tight.

“Mom, this medicine smells so bitter. It’s gonna make me puke.”

My mother held a glass of water, her eyes filled with nothing but tenderness, coaxing her softly

“Be good, Maelis. Bitter medicine works best. Orson left this especially for you, take it, and the fever will go away.”

“But it’s so gross.” Maelis leaned into Evren’s shoulder. “I want the rose macarons from that old bakery in South Bay. Whenever I was sick before, Mom would always get me those to chase the medicine down.”

Dad was already on his feet, keys in hand.

“South Bay’s a bit of a drive, but I’ll check every block if I have to.”

Mom quickly threw on her coat and followed him out the door.

The front door clicked shut. In the living room, only Evren remained, peeling an orange for Maelis.

I leaned against the wall, the whole room spinning. The fever had stripped me of even the strength to stand. Gripping the frame, I forced myself out of the patio, one agonizing step at a time.

“Evren I have a fever too. Can I have one pill?”

Evren whipped around at the sound of my voice. He reached for the anti-infection bottle first. “This one’s yours. The fever medicine is for Maelis.”

“But I’m running a fever too.” I said. “You can take my temperature if you don’t believe me.”

“This medicine is rare. What if I give it to you and Maelis doesn’t have enough?” Evren stood, blocking me from Maelis. His wolf surfaced in his eyes, hostile, defensive, like I was an intruder.

“But I’m your sister too. I’m not even asking for one fever pill?” I said, with the last of my strength.

His words hit me like a thunderbolt, shattering my heart.”You’re adopted.”

“You didn’t come out when Mom and Dad were here, and the second they’re gone, you put on an act? A high fever? What else are you gonna make up?”

“I’m not faking.” I sagged against the door, cold sweat dripping from my forehead to the floor. “That’s a specialty antiinfection medication. Just one pill. Only one!”

“Maelis is still in the danger zone, and you’re pulling this fever act just to compete for the physician’s attention? Here!”

Evren tossed a fever pill at me, but then he picked up my anti-infection medication, walked to the kitchen sink, unscrewed the cap, and poured every last pill down the drain.

I went cold all over, frozen by the sheer cruelty of it.

“How could a puncture wound that small even get infected? You just can’t stand seeing Maelis doing well!”

I stared at the rinsed-out sink, and a bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Evren frowned and instinctively took a step back.

The front door swung open.

My parents hurried in, carrying a gift box of rose macarons.

The moment they stepped inside, they saw me slumped on the floor, and Maelis curled up in the corner of the couch, covering her ears and trembling.

“What are you doing?”

Mom didn’t even bother changing her shoes. She rushed straight at me and shoved me aside.

My wound slammed hard into the corner of the coffee table. Warm blood gushed out again, soaking through my clothes in an instant.

But Mom didn’t even glance down. Her face was twisted with fury as she lashed out at me.

“What are you doing out here? Maelis is under post-transplant isolation. You’re covered in bacteria, you shouldn’t be here! Are you trying to kill her?”

Dad walked over too, positioning himself protectively in front of Maelis.

“Isolde! Enough!”

“Fine…”

I braced myself against the coffee table and slowly pushed myself up. Deep inside, my wolf curled into a tight ball, the wound and the sting of being cast out by the Pack burning through me all at once.

I limped back to that leaky patio.

The moment the glass door slid shut, I peeled off my blood-soaked clothes.

I turned on the patio tap and let the cold water run over the festering, blackened wound again and again.

The pain numbed me, and that numbness brought clarity.

I looked at my phone screen.

Check-in countdown, 1 day.