He trails off, a dark laugh rumbling in his chest, low, guttural, like rocks grinding together. “Well… I’ll make sure hell feels like a paradise compared to what’s coming for them.” His voice drops to a growl, so quiet I almost miss it. “They’ll beg for mercy. And I’ll watch them burn.”The air still hums with his threat when the door creaks open. Mom steps in, her white coat crisp, clipboard in hand. Her eyes flick between us, unreadable. “The samples are in the lab, the results should be back by tomorrow afternoon. Until then…” She pauses, her gaze lingering on Malcolm’s tight jaw. “Try not to do anything reckless.”"Have you heard any news from Dr. Liana about Lira?" I asked, my voice trembling with worry.“They're still running tests, dear. Just be patient a little longer,” Mom sighed deeply, then moved to the sofa, carefully wiping away the remnants left behind. “I can’t fathom who could be so cruel and deceitful... I have a strong suspicion it’s Rebecca again, pulling her dir
“Ugh… if no one else wants it, can I just have it?” Lira abruptly changed the subject, her voice a little too high. She practically fled to the other side of my bed and grabbed a plate from the suspicious food trolley before anyone could respond.“Are you sure, Lira?” I asked, a knot of concern tightening in my stomach. “Don’t bother with that. Allison, please go buy her something proper to eat.”“No! This is fine, really,” Lira insisted, cutting me off. She quickly shoved a slice of cucumber into her mouth, her movements jerky and unnatural. She wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.My mother shook her head, bemused by Lira’s sudden strangeness. “At least sit down to eat, dear.”“Yes, sit,” Malcolm echoed, his voice a low rumble. He then turned his attention to me, his gaze softening. “Angie, do you want more?”“No, I’m full. Your cooking was perfect, Mom. Thank you for making it for me.” I gave her a warm, grateful smile.“Oh, my darling, it’s our job to spoil you,” Mom replied, stroking my
ANGELINA’S POV The fit was violent and unexpected, a harsh, barking sound that seized my chest and stole my breath. The world swam, and the focus of the entire room pivoted from their argument to my struggle for air.Allison practically shoved others out of the way, his face pale. He crouched before me, one hand on my knee to steady me, the other gently tilting my chin up so I had to meet his gaze. “Breathe, Angie. Just breathe,” he commanded softly, his own fear barely contained. “You're okay. You're safe. Just tell me you're alright.”I held up a hand, my breathing still a little shallow. “I'm okay,” I managed, my voice raspy but firm. “Really.” I forced a weak but genuine smile, hoping to erase the panic from their faces. “Allison, let's just... receive the food and forget the nurse for a minute.”Malcolm's brow was furrowed deep with concern. “Angie, I really think—““I know,” I interjected softly, reaching for his hand. I gave it a gentle squeeze, my eyes pleading with his.
“Wait, so Rebecca’s been training with the Gryffindor pack and the Orion Stark Pack for a long time?” I asked quickly, my fingers tightening around the cold can in my hand as a surge of unease crept up my spine.Allison nodded grimly. “Yeah. I’ve been digging around, talking to a few sentinels who’ve been on night hunts nearby. The signs point to Rebecca sneaking back to slip something into Black Widow.”I clenched my jaw. “We can’t just let this slide.”“The problem,” Allison said, exhaling sharply, “is we don’t have solid proof she’s been training there. Without evidence, the Elders will keep backing Rebecca, and the active sentinels will be scapegoated for these accusations.”I pressed my palm against my chin, the weight of the situation settling heavily. “I’m more worried about the Luna Trials coming up. Angie’s still too weak, there’s no way she can face them in this state.”Allison’s eyes darkened with frustration. “I never thought Rebecca would stoop this low. Looks like we hav
“Elder Meadow,” I snarled through gritted teeth, my eyes boring into hers with unyielding fury, the air thick with the scent of impending storm.“You’ve gone too far over something so trivial, Malcolm,” Meadow spat back in rage, her voice a venomous hiss as she yanked at Beta Imogen’s arm, only for the motion to ignite Alpha Isaac’s wrath like dry tinder. In a flash, his massive hand clamped around Meadow’s throat, squeezing with the controlled ferocity of a predator.“I’m warning you, don’t you dare manhandle my people,” Alpha Isaac growled, his voice booming like thunder rolling across the pack lands, a clear harbinger of violence. “I respect your age, Elder, but that doesn’t give you a free pass to trample over us like we’re beneath your boot.”With a savage twist, Meadow swatted his hand away, her eyes blazing with defiance. “You’re no better, Isaac. Just because you Sentinels sit at the top of the heap doesn’t mean you get to act like the refuse piling up in the gutters.”“Refuse
The betas exchanged panicked looks, the air humming with the electric threat of violence, but Wilburn nodded hastily, gesturing toward the shadowed corridor with a trembling hand. Those grizzled old betas finally bolted from the scene, their footsteps pounding like thunder as they raced to summon Rebecca for me. All the while, I stood rooted there, my gaze locked on Elder Wilburn, seething with an anger that burned hotter than a wildfire that uncontainable, unyielding, ready to consume everything in its path.“I never imagined my late father would choose you as one of the representatives,” I spat bitterly, the words dripping with contempt. “You’ve already put your own future Luna in grave danger.”Moments later, Rebecca appeared at the threshold, her entrance as smooth and deliberate as a predator's prowl. She fixed me with a saccharine smile, all honeyed warmth and gentle tilt of the head, but I could see the flicker of cunning beneath it, the way her eyes scanned me like a chessb