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Privacy? What for? Tell me what?
Mum shakes her head and reaches for her new friend’s arm like she’s silently seeking support. I have no idea what’s going on, but the two Omegas in front of me have clearly become fast friends.
“I haven’t had a twitch since yesterday afternoon,” Mum says proudly, gripping Yua’s arm now. “Can you believe that, honey? That new medicine is working. It’s no cure, but it’s definitely effective.”
“New medicine?” I ask, glancing at Yua before looking back at my mum. “Where did you get new medicine? I didn’t realize you’d gone to see the doctor again.”
“I didn’t,” Mum says softly, and the gratitude in her voice is so genuine it sounds almost like awe. “The prince sent his personal doctor to come see me, and they got me on a new regiment of pills. I even spoke to Thane Woods. They’ve signed me up to go to a Cervus clinic for an experimental treatment that could possibly cure me.”
My jaw drops open. “Thane Woods?TheThane Woods? Like, from Riley North’s pack?”
The man is a superstar. He’s one of my favorite author’s Alphas, sure, but for once, my excitement isn’t about Riley, it’s about him. Thane and his family are doctors who have found a cure for Cervus. Well, that’s the best-case scenario. There’s no guarantee their treatment will cure an Omega, but the worst case is that it significantly slows the progression of the disease.
From what I’ve read, they’re working tirelessly to get their medicine approved and into mass production, but it’s not that easy. It’s not as simple as taking an aspirin to make a mild headache go away, so while they’ve been working hard to make it widely available, it’s just…not.
Meanwhile, every Omega in the world who has been diagnosed with Cervus is trying to get in touch with the Woodses. I have written them dozens of letters and emails begging for an appointment, but all to no avail.
As soon as my mother was diagnosed, I made it my personal mission to get her in with them one way or another, but I soon learned it was a fool’s errand. First, they’re based in the States, and without being able to afford to get her there, the plan was basically dead in the water. They’re in the process of setting up clinics all over, but it’s early days yet for this particular course of treatment.
I’ve heard it can take years for clinics with treatments like theirs to pop up and be accessible to anyone, and my mum doesn’t have that kind of time. Second, Cervus isn’t only a disease for the poor. Rich and powerful Alphas and Omegas the world over have used their considerable influence to get their loved ones in with the Woodses. I didn’t stand a chance.
I should’ve known Kaspian would have the means to make something like this happen, but I’m stunned that he reached out on our behalf. It’s above and beyond what we agreed to, and there’s absolutely no way I’ll be able to repay him.
Yua laughs when I keep gaping, unable to process the magnitude of what the prince has done for us. “Kaspian has a big heart. I know that better than most. Don’t look so surprised, sweetheart. He knows Thane. They all do. They’re not besties or anything quite so colloquial, but they’ve met at fundraisers and on official business. It’s no more than a phone call for an Alpha like Kaz.”
“I…”Have no idea what to say.
Tears prick at my eyes.
Mum yawns, and she tries to suppress it, but the excitement has obviously become too much for her. Yua’s gaze darts to her at the same time mine does, and then she rises gracefully and smiles at my mum. “Thank you for a wonderful morning, Emily. I will most certainly come visit again but for now, I should get back to the palace. Will you walk with me, Maddie?”
Shit. I came here to spend some time with my parents, but my mum nods encouragingly as she gets up. “Have fun. I think I’m going to go have a little lie down. The pills may be working, but new medication is always a bit of a shock to the system.”
“Of course,” I agree, ignoring the ache in my heart about having to leave her again so soon. “I’ll come by again tomorrow?”
“If you’ve got time,” she says lightly before turning to her new friend and opening her arms. “It was so wonderful to meet you, Yua. Anytime you want another lesson or a cup of tea, you know where to find me.”
“I certainly do,” she says warmly as she embraces my mum. “You’re going to tire of me soon. Now that I know where to find the best company on the palace grounds, you can bet your favorite hat that I’ll be here to overstay my welcome again as soon as I can get away.”
They hold each other close for another moment before they let go, then Yua takes my arm and holds me tight as we walk down the stairs and start across the lawn. Silence stretches between us for a couple of minutes, but it’s a comfortable one.
“Has Tai told you much about me?” she asks out of the blue, laughing when she glances at me and sees that my eyes have popped wide open. “I’m going to assume he has, then. Don’t worry, darling. Nothing you can say will offend me.”
“I doubt that very much,” I mutter. “I have a special talent for ending up with my foot in my mouth. It’s no wonder they won’t choose me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. When it comes to love, it doesn’t matter where you are class wise. Love doesn’t care about status, or power, or money. Take me, for example. If they’ve told you about me, then you know I was a waitress at a street-side café when I met Tai’s father. I wasn’t born into all this.”
She waves her free hand around to indicate the palace and the seemingly never-ending grounds.
“God knows, at least you grew up near here. You’ve heard of the Royal Pack and you had an inkling of who they are before you came. It was different for me. I met an earl on the other side of the world and when I first came here with him, it was like someone had dropped me in an alternate reality.”
“Sure, I grew up near here, hearing about them, but Japan has the Imperial Family. You know as well as I do that simply being in a country that has a monarchy doesn’t mean much.”
She chuckles and dips her chin in a nod. “That’s true, I suppose, but that’s also my point. Love doesn’t care about your past proximity to royalty. Love only cares about love.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to choose me. It just…it is what it is. I am what I am, and they’re the Royal freaking Pack.”
Yua frowns. “The queen is stubborn, but maybe she’s grown less so over the years. Are you okay? You’re terribly flushed all of a sudden.”
