TESSAGabe’s form was so much taller and broader than mine that when he hugged me, it felt like he might crush me.“Hey, hey, careful! I’m going to crushed if you don’t let go,” I said with a soft chuckle.His eyes snapped open as he looked down at me. “Sorry. I-I can’t control it.”He pulled back, finally releasing me from his arms. His smile was warm. So warm that I felt my chest fill with the same comforting heat. The relief on his face at seeing me awake was unmistakable and knowing my life and my consciousness meant that much to someone moved me more than I could say.“You didn’t expect me to be awake already, did you?” “I really didn’t,” He admitted. “But thanks to Selene, you did. I was so scared, Tessa. After seeing you in Frederick’s arms that night in the woods… I was terrified something even worse might happen.” His voice trembled with the memory.“Frederick?” I asked softly.“I’ve never seen him like that, so frail and Broken. He was carrying you so tightly as if he didn
TESSA“Even yesterday when you found out about the attack before any of us did, you could have just ignored it. But you didn’t,” Bridget went on, her voice softer than I’d ever heard it. Softer than I even thought possible for her.“I only did what felt right. I couldn’t stand by and watch innocent guests get hurt.” I said, my voice steady. “But how?” She asked, her eyes searching mine. “Where do you even find the strength to stay kind when everyone around you treats you so poorly?”For a moment, neither of us spoke.We held each other’s gaze in the quiet. Her eyes fixed on mine as if she might find the answer hidden somewhere within me.Then I said,“So you think that just because you all treated me poorly, the whole world must have been cruel to me too? No. The truth is, I found my real family after I escaped this pack. And I learned something important; someone born in a burning house might believe the entire world is on fire, until they finally choose to step outside. This world
TESSA“When exactly will she open her eyes?”“I can’t say for certain, Miss. Physically, her condition is starting to stabilize. But when the healer looked deeper, they found her spirit is still-”“You’d better make sure she wakes up soon. You remember what Alpha Frederick will do to you if you fail, don't you?"“I-I remember. I’ll do everything I can.” The conversations ended with the woman’s trembling voice.Those voices, I’ve heard them before. At first, they drifted around me like distant whispers but now they’re closer, so close they might be standing right over me. I don’t know where I am. I’ve lost all sense of time. All I know is that I was caught somewhere between the darkness and the light as if waiting for a door to open.But I knew days had slipped by while I lingered in this strange, surreal realm. There was a sun here and a moon too. Even at that one night, the moon descended to and took the shape of the most ethereal woman I had ever seen.She was wrapped in a mist, he
GABRIELI chose to wait on the bench just outside the room just in case something happened and Frederick needed me, I’d be close enough to help.I sighed, letting my eyes drift shut, and pressed my fingers into the tense muscle of my arm. A low groan slipped out before I could stop it. Now that the chaos had settled, the weight of exhaustion hit me all at once. My body felt stiff, aching.I leaned my head back against the wall behind me. My eyes felt so heavy I was certain I could fall asleep right here on this hard bench if not for the faint sound of footsteps drawing closer.Reluctantly, I forced my eyes open. Odette was standing there, her eyes fixed on me.For a moment, neither of us moved. Our gazes locked, a silence lingering between us. Then, as if stung by the realization of how I must look, I straightened up. It felt wrong to let her see me like this.“Where is he?” Odette's eyes flicked to the closed door of Tessa’s room. “Atlas told me Frederick is here. Is he inside? I
GABRIELI shifted back into my human form. The moment we stood facing each other my eyes were drawn to Tessa hanging limp and unconscious in Frederick’s arms. Something had happened to her before we got here and it was bad. I wanted to ask, but the question lodged in my throat.Frederick’s fury was so intense that I could feel it only from the aura radiating from him. His face was stone, jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle ticking. He held Tessa as if letting go even for a breath would mean losing her forever.And underneath that, I saw it, he was afraid.“Hospital,” I said the only thing that made sense after taking her condition. “She needs a doctor.”Frederick’s eyes flicked down to Tessa’s face, softening for the briefest moment.Then he drew in a slow, trembling breath. “I’ll leave the mess for you to handle, Gabe.”"Sure." I gave a firm nod.I had no clue what had happened, but she looked dire. Did she get a chance to meet Zade before we arrived? Or had she pushed her
GABRIELThe moment my Alpha shifted into his wolf, I did the same. I tore after him, claws pounding the earth as I struggled to keep him in sight. But Goddess, it was hard, as if chasing a bolt of lightning. I’d never seen Frederick move with such ruthless speed. My own anxiety clawed at the back of my mind as a very terrible possibility played out behind my eyes.'We should’ve told him sooner.'My wolf growled his agreement.When we finally reached the spot Tessa had told me about, relief cut through my panic for a moment. More of our warriors were gathered than I’d dared hope. Atlas had pulled every available patrol from the other border posts and brought them here.Frederick’s wolf stood alert, ears perked, his gaze locked on something just beyond the border. I followed his line of sight, but before I could see what he’d sensed, he was gone l lunging straight there.The ground seemed to tremble beneath the pounding steps of the night-furred beast. I forced myself to shift back