Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Violet's screams tore through the healer's room.

I gripped her hand tighter, feeling completely helpless as her body convulsed on the table. The poison was burning through her system like acid, destroying everything in its path.

"How much longer?" I asked the healer, my voice strained.

"The antidote is working, but it takes time," the healer said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Wolfsbane mixed with silver is one of the deadliest combinations. The fact that she's still fighting is a miracle."

Violet screamed again, her back arching off the table. Blood seeped from her nose and the corners of her eyes. Her wolf was dying inside her, unable to heal fast enough.

I pressed my lips to her forehead. "I'm here, baby. Keep fighting. Please keep fighting."

I'd already lost one mate to violence. I couldn't lose another.

My phone buzzed. Julius.

"Tell me you have something," I answered immediately.

"We're questioning the kitchen staff now," Julius reported. "Everyone who had access to the ceremonial wine."

"I want names, schedules, alibis. Anyone suspicious gets locked up immediately."

"Already on it, Alpha."

I hung up and stared at Violet's pale face. Someone in my pack had done this. Someone I trusted. The thought made me want to tear the entire territory apart.

Fifteen minutes passed. Violet's screams had turned to whimpers, which was somehow worse. It meant she was getting weaker.

"Her vitals are dropping," the healer said urgently. "The poison is attacking her heart now."

"Do something!" I roared.

"I'm trying! But her body is shutting down. The silver is…"

My phone rang again. Julius.

"We have a problem," Julius said immediately. "We've accounted for all the kitchen staff except one."

I stood up, my hand still holding Violet's. "Who?"

"Dora Miller. She joined the kitchen three weeks ago. Single, no family, keeps to herself. Nobody's seen her since right after the ceremony."

"Three weeks ago," I repeated slowly. Right around when ceremony preparations started.

"Her quarters are empty, Alpha. She's gone."

"Search her room," I ordered. "Every inch of it. I want to know who she is and where she went."

"Sending a team now."

I looked down at Violet. Her breathing was shallow, her skin almost gray. I wanted to stay with her, but I also needed answers.

"Find her, Julius. Find her now."

Another ten minutes. The longest ten minutes of my life.

"Alpha, her breathing is steadier," the healer said finally. "The antidote is working. She's stabilizing."

Relief crashed over me like a wave. "She's going to be okay?"

"She needs rest and monitoring, but yes. She's going to survive."

I closed my eyes and pressed Violet's hand to my lips. She was alive. She was going to be okay.

My phone buzzed with a text from Julius. A photo.

A young woman with brown hair standing next to Kian, his arm around her shoulders. They were both smiling.

Dora Miller.

Another text appeared: Found burner phone. Messages to Kian's territory. She's his spy.

My jaw clenched so hard my teeth hurt.

I stepped into the hallway and immediately called. "Where is she?"

"Border patrol is searching. If she's trying to run back to Kian's territory…"

"She is," I cut him off. "Lock down the border. Nobody gets through. I want her alive."

"Understood."

"I need to go," I said to the healer.

"She needs someone here when she wakes up," the healer protested. "She'll be disoriented and scared."

A knock on the door. Elena stepped in quietly.

"I heard she's stabilizing," Elena said softly. "Thank God."

I looked at her, then at Violet. I didn't want to leave, but I needed to handle this.

"Can you stay with her?" I asked Elena. "The healer needs rest, and I need to deal with something."

"Of course," Elena said immediately, moving to Violet's bedside. "I'll take care of her. I promise."

"If anything changes, call me immediately."

"I will."

I leaned down and kissed Violet's forehead one more time. "I'll be back soon."

I was almost at the door when Elena spoke again.

"Damian?" Her voice was quiet. "What happens next?"

I turned back to look at her, my expression cold and hard.

My phone buzzed. Julius: We have her. Dora's in custody. Caught at the border trying to cross into Kian's territory.

I stared at the message for a long moment. Then I looked up at Elena.

"War," I said simply.

Elena's eyes widened. "War?"

"Kian sent someone to poison my mate at our ceremony," I said, my voice deadly calm. "That's an act of war. And I'm going to finish it."

I didn't wait for her response. I walked out of the room, already pulling up my contact list. Every allied pack. Every favor I was owed. Every resource I had.

Kian had made the first move.

Now it was my turn.

In the holding cells below, Dora Miller sat shackled to the wall, a guard posted outside her door.

She smiled to herself despite the bruises on her face from her capture.

Everything was going exactly according to plan.