LOGINYELENA I tilted my head back to look at him. "What? Why do you look like that? The treatment went perfectly. She’s going to be fine, Tristan."He didn't look relieved yet. His brow was furrowed, his jaw tight. He pulled me even closer, his arm a heavy, warm weight around my shoulders. "I know but you look so tired. You look stressed. I’m not letting you do anything like this again. The other doctors can handle the follow-ups."I leaned into him, closing my eyes for a brief second. "They already told me the same thing. They’re handling the rest but nothing is wrong with me, really. I just need a little rest."He leaned down and pressed a long, lingering kiss to my forehead. "Yes, and you’re going to get a lot of it. I don't like seeing you pushed to your limit like this. Thank you, Yelena. Thank you for everything you’ve done for my family. I... I can never lose you again."The intensity in his voice made my heart do a strange little flip.I felt a blush creep up my neck.I wasn't sur
YELENA The sun had already dipped below the horizon by the time we finished the final procedure for Marie. It had been an exhausting, grueling day, even with the breaks we took to catch our breath; the weight of the task never left my shoulders. We stayed by her side through every second, watching her vitals and ensuring the transition was stable. Being a werewolf doctor meant balancing medical science with the volatile nature of our blood, and Marie’s case was as delicate as they came.The process of cleansing the cursed blood was rhythmic and intense. We had to isolate the darkened, sluggish cells that carried the taint, using a silver-edged centrifuge to pull the impurities to the surface. I had to monitor the temperature constantly; if the blood grew too cold, the wolf’s natural essence would die, but if it grew too hot, the curse would flare and consume the healthy cells. Once the blood was clarified, turning from a muddy, bruised purple back to a vibrant, glowing crimson.
TRISTAN An hour later, we arrived, and I got out to see Wilson's car driving in too.The hospital smelled of antiseptic and hope, a sharp contrast to the cells. I didn't wait for the elevator; I took the stairs two at a time and headed straight for Marie’s private ward.When I pushed the door open, the tension in my shoulders finally began to melt. Yelena was already there, standing by the bed. She looked up as I entered, her face etched with a mixture of anxiety and focus.I didn't say a word. I walked straight to her, wrapping my arms around her from behind. For a brief second, I just breathed her in... the scent of rain and herbs that always followed her. It grounded me.Then, I stepped over to the bed and leaned down to hug my sister.Marie felt fragile, but her skin was warmer than it had been the day before. She reached up, running a hand through my hair, her fingers lingering against my neck. I pressed my cheek against hers."My sister is back," I muttered.I pulled back
TRISTAN The scent of the cells always made my skin crawl. It was a mix of damp stone, old silver, and the stagnant, sour smell of trapped wolves.I walked toward the heavy steel door, my shoes against the concrete. Beside me, Doctor Wilson was a mess. I could hear his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. Every time a snarl echoed from behind the bars, he jumped. I ignored him. My focus was on the body moving inside the cell.Tyler.He was waiting. As the two wardens reached the door, Tyler stood straight. He didn’t look like a man; he looked like a predator cornered, his eyes fixed on the gap in the steel. One of the wardens fumbled with the giant padlock, the metal clanking loudly in the silence.The moment the door swung open, Tyler didn’t hesitate. He lunged.He was a blur of gray and rage, his fangs bared, aiming straight for my throat. I didn’t blink. I didn’t have to. Before he could bridge the gap, one of the wardens stepped forward, slamming an electr
TRISTAN "No fighting, Tristan," she said, her voice turning serious. She knew exactly where I was going and who I was going to see. She knew the beast that lived inside me might roar for blood. "Please.""I'll try," I promised, though we both knew it was a thin vow.I walked out of the house into the cool morning air. Two of my guards were standing by the black SUV, their heads snapping down in a bow as I approached. I considered driving myself. I wanted solitude, but I changed my mind. I needed to arrive with the weight of my power. I tossed the keys to the driver. He caught them mid-air without blinking."Let’s go," I commanded.The ride was suffocatingly quiet. Usually, when Yelena was in the car, the space felt alive.She’d talk about the hospital, or the weather, or something she’d read, and the world felt manageable. Without her, the interior of the car felt like a tomb. My mind kept drifting to the prison, to the man sitting in a cage who held the key to my sister’s sur
TRISTIAN I stood before the mirror, my fingers trembling slightly as I tried to unbutton my shirt. I had to get a grip. I couldn't go where I was going looking like a man unraveled. I needed to be calm as cold and immovable as stone.I turned away from the glass and stepped into the bathroom, the spray of the shower hitting my skin like a thousand needles, grounding me. When I stepped out, the steam followed me back into the bedroom, where my wardrobe stood open. I didn't just need clothes; I needed armor. I reached past the casual wear and pulled out a pair of charcoal trousers that cost more than most people made in a month, pairing them with a crisp, white shirt. This was about more than fashion. This was about presence. I needed to look like the Alpha I was born to be, the kind of man whose silhouette alone commanded silence before a single word left his lips.I pulled on a heavy wool coat, the weight of it settling on my shoulders like the mantle of leadership. I walked
MARIEI saw her.Her. And that man she dragged everywhere like some trophy she used to make my brother lose his mind. Yelena was always acting innocent while carrying her own problem around like a handbag. I hated her for that, but at the same time… I didn’t want her to leave that man either. They
MARIEAll my efforts were useless. Every single thing I did for my brother ended up in the trash. I thought bringing Livia back would fix him, bring him out of that cold shell he had locked himself in. I wanted the brother I grew up with… the one who used to laugh, joke, annoy me, protect me. Not
JACKSONI didn’t know if she had met that fool or not. The stupid tracker I thought I’d use to monitor her wasn’t working for days. I couldn’t watch her, I couldn’t follow her, I couldn’t even sense her movements the way I wanted. All I had were the moments I saw her at work. And she kept avoiding
YELENANight had fallen, thick and heavy, like a velvet curtain pressing down on the city. I had promised Lena... finally, she could run. Finally, she could stretch, feel the wind in her fur, and taste the freedom she wanted.I had a night shift ahead at the hospital, but first, I had to honor that







