It had been days since Harley had been confined to the healing bed. Despite Maranda casting numerous spells to aid his recovery, his wounds were healing slowly, although he remained stable. The atmosphere in the pack was heavy with worry and uncertainty.
After another long day of casting spells to heal him, Maranda called Marinetta to her side, her expression grave. "Marinetta, I need to talk to you about Harley's condition," she began.
Marinetta's heart pounded in her chest as she listened. "What is it? Why isn't he healing?"
Maranda took a deep breath. "The dagger that was used to stab Harley is not just any ordinary weapon. While casting healing spells, I discovered that it's an ancient dagger, crafted from a combination of wolfsbane, silver, and powerful spells. Such weapons were used in ancient times specifically to kill powerful werewolves."
Marinetta's eyes widened with horror. "What does that mean for Harley?"
Maranda shook her head slowly. "I can't say for certain what will happen. The combination of wolfsbane and silver is lethal to your kind, and the spells woven into the dagger are ancient and dark. My healing spells are keeping him stable, but they might not be enough to fully counteract the effects."
Tears welled up in Marinetta's eyes. "There must be something we can do. Some way to save him."
Maranda placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm not giving up, and neither should you. There might be other ways, other remedies, or rituals that we can try. But it will take time and resources. We need to find out more about this ancient dagger and the spells that were cast upon it."
Marinetta nodded, determination replacing her despair. "Tell me what I need to do. I'll find whatever it takes to save him."
Maranda gave her a small, encouraging smile. "We'll start by searching our archives and I will seek some of my fellow witches who might know about these ancient weapons. And if it is needed, we might need to seek help from other packs from far away, those who know old magic."
"Yes, I remember another way," Maranda said, looking as if she remembered something.
"Tell me," Marinetta said, looking confused.
"There is a Divine healing book at the caves you freed us from, but it's hard to retrieve and it can only be retrieved by a witch, and we have not used it for decades," Maranda said. Marinetta looked at her with a more dramatic expression.
"Can we use it on Harley?" she asked.
"We don't have a choice. I will go and try to retrieve it. I will be away for a while to take care of Harley."
"I will. Thanks so much. I appreciate your efforts."
As Marinetta left Maranda's side, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. The path ahead was uncertain and fraught with danger, but she would do whatever it took to save Harley and bring peace to their packs.
It was another morning, and Marinetta woke up beside Harley, watching his still form with a mixture of hope and despair. She began to clean his body, carefully wiping away the sweat and tending to his wounds, her mind filled with the weight of guilt.
As she worked, Zack entered the room silently, his expression full of concern. "Good morning, Marinetta. How is he?" he asked softly.
Marinetta sighed, her eyes filled with tears. "He's still the same. No change," she said, her voice full of sadness. "This is all my fault, Zack. If I hadn't been so consumed by revenge, this wouldn't have happened."
Zack walked closer to her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't blame yourself, Marietta. None of this is your fault. Monica's influence, the heat of the moment... it wasn't you. I know you would never do something that would harm him."
After comforting her, he asked, "Where's Maranda? I haven't seen her for days now."
"She left to find out how to heal him, but she's not back yet," Marinetta replied, her voice tinged with worry.
Zack waited for a while, standing by Harley, who seemed about to wake up. Feeling emotional, he decided to leave. Just as he was about to leave, Maranda walked in, holding an ancient, leather-bound book. "I've found the Divine Book of Healing," she announced. Marinetta's eyes opened wide in happiness. "But we have some issues here. I can't read the content. It says only a true alpha with divine power from the moon goddess can decipher it."
Marinetta stood up, a determined glint in her eyes. "I'll give it a try."
She took the book from Maranda and, to everyone's amazement, began to read the ancient text. "The book lists the materials needed for a ritual and some spells," she explained, her voice steady.
Throughout the day, the pack gathered the necessary items, and Maranda guided them through the intricate steps of the ritual. They gathered in the room and chanted the ancient spells, and as they did, a soft glow enveloped Harley's body. His wounds began to heal, the skin knitting together before their eyes. But still, he remained unconscious.
Disheartened, everyone began to leave the room, thinking they had failed. Suddenly, Harley's eyes fluttered open.
"He's awake!" Marinetta cried out, rushing to his side along with Zack and Maranda.
Harley's gaze was unfocused as he looked around the room. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice weak and confused.
"You are in your room," Zack said, smiling.
"And why is everybody here?" Harley said.
Everyone was silent. "Didn't you remember?" Marietta said.
"Remember what? And who are you?" Harley said, looking confused.
"She is Marinetta," Liam said.
"Marinetta? Who are you, and why are you here?"
The room fell silent, shock and horror evident on every face. Marinetta's heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation. Harley had woken up, but he had lost his memories. The journey to recovery was far from over, and now they faced a new and daunting challenge: helping Harley remember who he was, who they all were, and the love and bonds that tied them together.