Chapter 3

Natasha’s POV

I had no idea what he was talking about.

Before I could even open my mouth, his hand closed around my throat.

"I actually thought you were a good person, Natasha. I thought you were kind. But this? Going after her child?"

"However jealous you are of Helen — that baby did nothing to you."

He squeezed until I couldn't breathe. Then, slowly, he let go.

I bent over, coughing hard, my voice coming out in pieces. "I... I didn't... I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't poison anyone."

That only made him angrier. "Then who did? Helen just drank juice that came from you — ten minutes later she passed out. She's in surgery right now."

"You're standing here acting innocent. I never knew you were this good at lying."

I was still holding the stack of portraits. My eyes burned. There were a thousand things I wanted to say, and none of them would come out.

Riven saw the tears building and something wavered in his expression — he feared seeing me cry more than anything.

His voice softened slightly. "Stop crying. I'm not saying—"

His phone cut him off. The Beta.

"Alpha. We traced the toxin. The main compound is silver wolfsbane. It's extremely rare — the only stock in Phantom Pack belongs to Luna."

He hung up, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me with him.

He ripped the portraits out of my hand and flung them into the air — all of them, every one — pages spinning everywhere, my face scattered across the floor.

He looked at me through that paper storm with cold contempt.

"You're good at playing the victim, Natasha. You almost got me."

"If anything happens to Helen or that child, you won't like what comes next."

He pulled me to the car without waiting for me to walk. My knees hit the ground and tore open on the pavement, but he didn't stop.

The car drove fast. The last time I'd seen him this frantic was when I'd gotten badly injured pulling him away from rogue wolves.

We reached the hospital. Helen was pale against the white sheets, looking fragile.

"Riven, I'm scared. I'm not going to die, am I?"

"I'm sorry. I couldn't protect our baby."

"Don't blame Natasha. She just... acted without thinking."

Riven took her hand and pressed it to his cheek. He kissed her forehead, then turned to the doctor.

"How is she?"

The doctor exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "The toxin is derived from silver wolfsbane — extremely rare. An antidote would be nearly impossible to source... unless—"

"Unless what?"

The doctor glanced at me. "Natasha's blood can neutralize any poison. If we transfuse half of hers into Helen, both she and the child have a chance. Otherwise..." He left the rest unsaid.

My eyes went wide.

Dragon Clan descendants had blood that healed — that was true. But our existence was supposed to be a secret. Three years ago, when Riven was poisoned, I gave him my blood to save him. Only this doctor knew, and I'd made him promise to keep it quiet.

He'd broken that promise.

"Why her blood?" Riven asked.

The doctor avoided my eyes. "Natasha's blood carries an exceptional healing property, even among werewolves..."

When I saw him glance at Helen, I understood everything.

Riven turned to me. "Give them the antidote, Natasha. Don't make me take your blood by force."

"There is no antidote," I said, my voice rising. "Because I didn't poison her. I don't have anything to give you."

Something shifted in his eyes. For one second, I thought he might believe me.

Then Helen made a small, pained sound.

"Riven..."

He closed his eyes and made his choice.

"Prep for the transfusion."

I looked at him in utter despair, realization dawning on me at last.

River cared nothing about whether I was the culprit.

All he cared about was Helen’s poisoning, and my blood was her cure, even if it cost me my life.

I stopped fighting. I let them put the needle in my arm and take what they needed.

Just like three years ago.

All those quiet sacrifices felt like knives now. I was too numb to feel it fully. I just got colder and colder, and then the world went dark.