Matthew's Pov

　　I drive leisurely to Emma's wolf pack, with Charlotte sitting in the backseat, entertained by the passing scenery. The road winds through hills and forests, the distant sound of birds and the fresh scent of wild pines completing the serene journey. When we arrive at the entrance of the Stonehaven Pack, Emma is already waiting outside, with a beautiful smile on her face.

　　My heart fills with joy at seeing her, as if it had been a long time since I last saw her. Though it's only been, at most, three days. Charlotte is faster than me to get out of the car and quickly rushes into Emma's arms, who welcomes her little sister-in-law with excitement!

　　The scene makes me reflect for a few seconds. Emma will be a great mother if she so wishes. The way she cares for and loves Charlotte impresses me every day.

　　"Imagine the strong pups you two will have together!" Fenrir comments excitedly, and I laugh.

　　"Shh, not now, Fenrir!" I ask as I wrap Emma in a hug and kiss her lips quickly. The touch of her lips is soft and familiar, filling me with a sense of belonging and love.

　　"Ready to taste lots of different cakes?" Emma asks, laughing, and Charlotte answers before I do.

　　"Yes!" Charlotte shouts excitedly, making my ears hurt a little.

　　Emma and I laugh at Charlotte's enthusiasm, the lightness of this moment made me forget for a moment all the worries that might arise in the future. It doesn't matter if we'll have kids or not, it won't make a difference today.

　　"What will be your favorite flavor, Charlotte?" Emma asks as the three of us head back to the car.

　　Charlotte raises a thoughtful eyebrow, her expression adorably serious. But as I open the passenger door for Emma to get in, something strange happens.

　　My fiancée stops mid-step, a few steps away from me. I look at her worriedly and see her face lose almost all its color, turning pale like a ghost.

　　"Emma? Are you okay?" I ask worriedly, walking towards her.

　　Before she can answer me, Emma faints, her body collapsing to the ground. I barely catch her in time, preventing her head from hitting the ground. My heart stops for a few seconds in complete shock.

　　"Emma! Emma, wake up!" I plead with a trembling and frightened voice, as a wave of panic washes over me.

　　"Charlotte, go inside and call Faylen, ask her to get Stonehaven's doctor!" I ask my little sister, my voice full of desperation.

　　Charlotte obeys without hesitation, running off and shouting for Emma's beta. The words we exchanged earlier about the lightness of our day now seem distant and unreal. What's happening?

　　"Emma, can you hear me? Please, my love, answer me, please!" I beg, my voice filled with fear and anxiety. I lift Emma's body and cradle her in my arms, feeling her light and fragile weight against me.

　　I carry her to the main house, where Faylen soon meets me with her pack's doctor, Dr. Vance. An elderly man with graying hair and a serious expression.

　　"What happened to her, Alpha Matthew?" Faylen asks seriously, her eyes filled with terror and concern.

　　"I don't know. We were heading to the car, and she just fainted!" I respond, my voice was clearly desperate.

　　Faylen leads me to the pack's medical area, and I lay Emma's body on an empty bed. Dr. Vance approaches Emma and places two fingers on her wrist to check her pulse. His eyes narrow in concentration as he examines her.

　　"Well, she's alive. But her pulse is weak. I need to take her to the exam room and examine her more thoroughly."

　　My thoughts race, searching for any solution while Dr. Vance conducts the exams on Emma.

　　"What could have caused this, Fenrir? She was fine minutes ago. Without any sign of anything," my voice breaks at the end of the sentence, fear and helplessness overwhelming me.

　　Time freezes and speeds up as I wait for Dr. Vance to return with a diagnosis. I don't know how long it takes; I don't know how long I wait with Charlotte by my side, trying to distract me.

　　When Dr. Vance finally returns, my body is too tense and worried.

　　Dr. Vance looks at me and Faylen with a serious expression. His eyes are full of a gravity that scares me.

　　"From the tests I've done, everything points to a curse, Beta Faylen and Alpha Matthew. Something affected Alpha Emma's body suddenly and intensely. We need to investigate further to understand the origin and how we can cure her."

　　The ground seems to disappear beneath my feet. Fuck, a curse? What does this mean? What does it mean for Emma? For me? For us? My heart tightens even more with an anguish I have never felt before.

　　My eyes meet Faylen's, a determination in hers that mirrors mine. She also can't understand who would do this to Emma. Who would dare curse her this way?

　　"We will do whatever it takes to save Emma. I will not lose her, not now," I declare firmly, my hands reaching for Emma's, as I gather the strength to face the bastard who dared to harm her.