warning: it's medical chapter where there's a scene that contains blood and a injury on screen, so this chapter is not for the faint of heart. you have been warned.

Cedar never felt so proud in his whole life, with a beautiful mate by his side. Talvi looked over at him, her eyes shining with love and gratitude. "I couldn't have done it without you, Cedar," she whispered. He smiled back at her, his expression filled with equal parts affection and determination. "And I wouldn't have wanted to try."

Something didn't feel right with him. He looks at Talvi, his expression worried. "Are you...?" He starts to ask, but she cuts him off with a sharp shake of her head. She shakily pointed her hand at his left side, the site of his injury. A broken stick was ejected into his flesh, and it was slowly turning black. The pain was excruciating. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep from crying out. Talvi knew what she had to do. She carefully, but swiftly, pulled out the broken stick. Cedar's body jerked in agony, but he bit down on his tongue, determined not to let out a sound. Blood gushed from the wound, soaking her hands. She held his gaze, never looking away, even as she wiped his blood clear.

"He's hurt," Phoenix whimpered, his tail between his legs and his eyes filled with tears. The alpha's expression softened, and he placed a comforting paw on the young wolf's shoulder. "You have done well," he praised, trying to reassure the pup. Phoenix looked up at him, hope flickering in his eyes. "We'll get you fixed up, and you'll be back to your old self in no time." The other wolves in the pack nodded in agreement, their voices echoing through the clearing. "You're part of the pack now, Phoenix, Cedar, and Talvi. We'll always have your back."

"T-Thank you," Cedar managed to stammer through gritted teeth. He forced a smile at Phoenix, trying to reassure the young wolf. "You did great," he croaked, his voice hoarse from the pain. Phoenix sniffed, his eyes bright with unshed tears. The alpha male nodded to one of the older wolves, who quickly bounded off into the forest. Minutes later, he returned with a familiar figure trailing behind him. It was the pack healer, a wise and experienced wolf who had been tending to their injuries for as long as anyone could remember.

"He won't make it; the wound is already starting to have an infection." The healer's voice was calm, but the gravity of his words was not lost on anyone. Cedar's heart sank. He knew what this meant. The pack exchanged worried glances, their eyes flickering between him and the healer. The alpha male cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure. "What must be done?" he asked quietly. The healer kneeled down beside Cedar, examining the wound closely. He took a deep breath, preparing to deliver the news. "I can try to clean the wound and remove any infected tissue, but there's a risk of sepsis setting in. Even if he survives that, there's a chance he'll lose his leg." The pack gasped in unison. This was worse than they had feared.

"No, leave it as it is." Cedar managed to choke out through gritted teeth. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. "I'd rather die free than live as a cripple." His voice was barely above a whisper, but everyone in the pack heard him clearly. There was a collective gasp, and several of the wolves whimpered softly. Even Phoenix looked torn, his eyes darting back and forth between Cedar and the healer.

"We should do as he says if that's what he wants," Phoenix said, his voice still shaky. "He's part of the pack now, and we'll stand by him no matter what." The other wolves nodded in agreement, their voices echoing through the clearing. The alpha male placed a comforting paw on Cedar's shoulder, his expression solemn. "You have our word," he said, his voice steady. "We'll take care of you, no matter what." The healer sighed heavily, understanding the gravity of the situation. He looked at Cedar with sympathy in his eyes. "Very well," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll do as you wish."