CHAPTER 97: ACCEPT THE OATH

Eleanor’s POV

"How can we be sure this oath of yours actually works?" Roxy demanded, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

In a flash, Dr. Chloe’s hand darted out and plucked a single hair from Roxy’s head. Roxy yelped in protest.

"A simple demonstration," Dr. Chloe said calmly. "I am going to tell you a secret after I swear this oath. You will then try to tell the others." She chanted the same soft, unfamiliar words, the air humming with energy. "Do you accept the oath for this demonstration?"

"Fine, whatever. I accept," Roxy said, rolling her eyes.

Dr. Chloe leaned in and whispered something into Roxy’s ear. Roxy’s eyes flew wide open, her jaw going slack with clear surprise. Dr. Chloe stepped back. "You may tell the others now."

Roxy immediately turned to us, her expression still stunned. "She told me that she—" The words caught in her throat. A violent, wracking cough seized her, bending her double. Mira rushed to pat her back as Roxy gasped for air.

"The spell works both ways, the person that requested the oath, or the person that accepts the oath." Dr. Chloe explained mildly. "It physically prevents the sharing of sworn secrets. As far as the oath is sworn before the secret is told"

Roxy, still coughing, managed to wave a hand and choke out, "It’s... cough... legit. The spell is... wheeze... definitely legit."

Dr. Chloe’s gaze returned to me, patient and unwavering. "Well, Eleanor? Do you accept the oath?"

I looked at Mira. Her face was serious, but she gave me a single, decisive nod.

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding against my ribs. "I accept the oath."

A strange, warm tingle spread through my chest, settling deep inside me like a lock clicking into place.

"The oath is sealed," Dr. Chloe said. "You may speak freely."

I let out a shaky sigh, the weight of my secret feeling both heavier and lighter at the same time. "My wolf abilities... they were suppressed since I was born. I lived my entire life as a human until about a month ago."

Dr. Chloe’s eyes sharpened with understanding. "That means the family that raised you wasn’t your biological family."

I nodded, the motion feeling monumental. "I found out recently... I’m a blood relative of the Shadowmere family."

The reaction was instantaneous. Dr. Chloe’s eyes flew wide. "What?!" She actually took a step back, her composure cracking for the first time. "That... that explains the hair."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mira and Roxy tense, their bodies coiling, ready to spring into action if needed.

Dr. Chloe held up a calming hand. "Chill. Both of you. As a doctor, I am bound by ethics. I am not allowed to let personal feelings interfere with my work. And I cannot tell a soul," she added, tapping her chest where the oath had settled. "The sworn oath ensures that." She turned her focus back to me, her professional demeanor restored. "Have you been experiencing severe bloodlust?"

"Yes," I admitted, the word a relief to finally say aloud. "When my emotions get the better of me. And my wolf... she encourages it."

I took a step closer, desperation creeping into my voice. "That’s why I need the suppressants. To reduce these urges."

Dr. Chloe shook her head slowly, a new, grave understanding in her eyes. "I don’t believe that’s your only issue. Have you experienced any other... strange power outbursts? Abilities that feel separate from standard werewolf traits?"

Roxy snorted. "If you mean psychically strangling a lot of people without lifting a finger, or controlling rogues, then yeah. "

Dr. Chloe looked back at me, her expression one of absolute certainty. "Then it’s as I suspected. You are already displaying the classic behavioral pattern of a Shadowmere member."

Then, her expression closed off. "But I’m afraid I can’t help you." She moved to walk past us.

"What?" Mira said, stepping into her path. "Why not?"

"No offense," Dr. Chloe said, her voice flat and final, "but I’ve had... experience with members of the Shadowmere family. It was not the good kind."

My heart plummeted. "You’ve met them?" I asked.

"I have. And because of that, I want no part of anything related to that bloodline."

"But I’m not like them." I pleaded. "I already know how evil they are. I want nothing to do with them."

Dr. Chloe stopped and looked at me, her hazel eyes filled with a pity that felt worse than anger.

"You don’t have a choice, Eleanor. That’s what you fail to understand. One day, that bloodlust will be the main course of your life, not just a side dish. It doesn’t matter how ’goody-two-shoes’ you’ve been. The darkness is in your blood. That’s why your core is so confusing to me—it’s a war between the life you’ve lived and the monster you were born to be."

The words hit me with the force of a physical blow. My life was over. It was really, truly over. There was no suppressant. I was just a monster waiting to fully awaken.

"This is bullshit!" Roxy exploded, stepping forward. "You’re a doctor! You have no right to be this biased. You can’t just refuse a patient the treatment they need because of who their relatives are!"

Dr. Chloe let out a weary sigh. "Even if I were to set my personal feelings entirely aside—which is difficult, I admit—this isn’t something I can help with. No standard suppressant will work on her."

"Why the hell not?" Roxy demanded.

"Because Eleanor’s bloodline isn’t normal," Dr. Chloe explained, her gaze sharpening. "The Shadowmere line also possesses potent enchanter abilities, which you have seen with your own eyes. They are intertwined in her core. You can’t suppress it without triggering a catastrophic reaction."

Mira, who had been processing this quietly, suddenly lit up. "Wait. If Eleanor is also an enchantress... or half of it, then you can

help her. You can help her learn to control her powers."

Dr. Chloe turned her head slowly towards Mira, a deeply unimpressed look on her face. She then glanced back at Roxy. "Tell me," she said dryly. "Has your friend here always been this relentless?"

"Yes. And it’s usually annoying, but in this case, I don’t mind it at all."

Dr. Chloe sank into the couch, the fight seeming to drain out of her. She let out a long, weary sigh, muttering to herself, "I can’t believe Alfred would bring this kind of problem to my door..."

I took a tentative step forward and stood opposite her. "I... I apologize," I said softly.

She looked up, genuinely startled. "For what?"

"For whatever my family did to you," I said, my voice trembling only a little. "I can’t even imagine the monstrosities they’re capable of, but I understand why you feel the way you do. I just... I don’t want to end up like them. I don’t want to be evil."

Dr. Chloe studied my face for a long, silent moment. The hard edge in her eyes finally softened, replaced by a glimmer of reluctant respect. "I might be starting to see the reason why Sir Alfred brought you here," she murmured. She let out another breath, this one sounding more like acceptance.

"Fine. I will help you. Not because of your little speech," she added, holding up a finger. "But because of Alfred. Consider this me paying back an old favor."

A wave of pure relief washed over me, so strong it made my knees feel weak. "Thank you," I breathed.

"Don’t thank me yet," Dr. Chloe said. "Wait here."

She stood and moved to one of her crowded shelves while Mira murmured as she walked towards me, "I wonder if Sir Alfred already knew you were a Shadowmere."

Dr. Chloe returned a moment later, holding a small vial filled with a clear, shimmering liquid. She handed it to me. "Drink this."

"What is it?" I asked, hesitating.

"Consider it your first lesson. Drink it."

My trust in her was fragile, but my desperation was stronger. I took the vial, uncorked it, and threw the contents back in one gulp. It was tasteless, like cool water.

"Now," Dr. Chloe said, her eyes locked on mine. "Let’s see how far you can control your urges."

Before I could even process her words, it hit me. A tsunami of raw, primal bloodlust. It scorched through my veins, burning away every rational thought. My vision tinged with red. I cried out, my legs buckling as I fell to my knees. The world narrowed to the pounding of my own heart and the roaring in my ears.

Kill. Kill. KILL! Beatrice shrieked in my head, her voice a feral echo of the violence surging through me.

Oh, shit. This was the test. And I was already failing.