Tell me you didn't kill my parents

Jason went white. Before he could say a word, Bram shot to his feet.

"Out. Now. I need to check her bones," Bram barked, waving everyone off.

"Did you see his face, Bram?" she murmured. He froze. "What are you doing?"

"Being your damn doctor," he muttered, his hands moving to her upper thigh. Her eyes flickered with light, and Bram caught it.

"Alright, legs seem fine. Arm," he ordered, then shifted to the other one. When his hands brushed her face, her fingers gripped his arm. "Bram, why did they do this to me?"

"You’re not going back to work," he said firmly.

"You don’t get to decide that!" she yelled.

"I’m not losing you again," he snapped back, his eyes flashing a dark yellow.

Dahlia stiffened. Todd and Jason stepped in.

"What’s with the yelling?" Todd asked, glancing around. Bram stormed out, clearly pissed.

"Girl, you really set him off," Todd said, shaking his head.

She brushed him off. "Jason, I asked you a question."

"Yeah, we did, Dahlia," Jason admitted.

"So, you’re wolves?" she said, sitting up, the room spinning slightly.

"Yeah," Todd said. "Rogue wolves. We’re trying the human life thing."

"You..." she turned to Jason, "you pulled me out of the car?"

"I did," Jason said. "Look, Dahlia, it’s a long story, and now’s not the time. Get some rest. I’ll explain everything later."

"Let’s go," Todd said. "She needs to rest."

"Hold it," she said, stopping them in their tracks. They stared at her, unsure. "Where’s my damn hugs?"

Todd chuckled nervously, stepping forward to wrap his arms around her. Jason followed suit, though his hug was more hesitant.

Once they left, Dahlia closed her eyes, exhausted. Then she felt a hand on her face. She cracked one eye open. Bram. He leaned in, kissing her softly.

"I’m sorry," he muttered, his forehead resting against hers. "I can’t stay pissed at you."

She reached up, cupping his face. "I’ll compromise. Work from home?"

He pulled back slightly, raising an eyebrow. "You’d actually do that?"

"You scared me," she said quietly.

"Already said I’m sorry," he replied, pressing a kiss to her hand.

He’s really serious about this, Dahlia thought. Just then, Hunter walked in.

"Hey, how you holding up?" Hunter asked, holding up a phone with Lupin on FaceTime.

"Hi," Dahlia said, forcing a smile. "I’m fine, really."

"I missed you, Dahlia," Lupin’s voice came through the speaker. "Come back already."

"Lupin, it’s not that simple," she sighed.

"Put Bram on," Lupin said. Hunter handed the phone to Bram, who stepped out to talk, leaving Hunter with Dahlia.

"I know you’re mad at us," Hunter said, sitting down. "We knew you didn’t care about the money, and we didn’t think it’d spiral this far. I found you, and I was going to tell you everything at the cabin, what I really am. But then… everything went to hell.”

Bram stepped back into the room. “Alright, we’re heading home. And you’re staying awake half the night, concussion rules. Espresso’s on the menu,” he said, already heading for the door.

Hunter drove them to the apartment. Bram pushed the door open to find Todd and Jason in the kitchen, pans clattering and the smell of something good filling the air.

Dahlia perked up. “Is that steak? I’m starving.”

“Yep, made it just for you,” Jason said, but his voice cracked. He blinked rapidly, then bolted for the bathroom.

Dahlia frowned. “Jason, what’s his deal today? Why’s he so emotional?”

Jason hesitated, then shrugged. “It’s… complicated. Let’s just eat.”

After dinner, they sat across from her. Dahlia reached for Bram’s hand, her grip tight.

“Jason, Todd, you’re freaking me out. How did you know my parents?”

Jason exhaled, leaning forward. “I was a rogue wolf, looking for a pack. Found your family. Your mom, your dad, you… hell, you lit up the whole place. Impossible not to fall for you.”

He glanced at Bram. “They loved you, but there was envy there. I saw it. One morning, I was trying to earn my place in the pack, by doing chores, when Todd showed up. Scared, out of his depth. The guy who brought him gave him a task. Simple, he said. Didn’t realize it’d turn into a disaster.”

"He was telling me about it, and I said I had his back. The car was getting closer..."

Dahlia went pale, shaking her head. "No, no... Todd, tell me you didn’t kill my parents. Todd?"

He couldn’t meet her gaze.

"I pulled you out of the car, ran with you. Someone hit me in the head in the middle of the woods. When I came to, you were gone. We’ve been looking for you ever since, trying to fix what went wrong. Then I found out the brakes were cut. You were supposed to die with them."

Bram shot to his feet. Dahlia bolted into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Muffled screams into a pillow echoed through the apartment.

Bram followed, gently touching her arm. She jerked away.

"You knew?"

"Kind of. I was just a kid then. Later, I looked into it myself. I wanted you to remember, Dahlia."

Todd and Jason were gone.

She stormed into the kitchen, grabbed plates, hurling them at the wall one after another, her eyes blazing yellow.

Then she froze, clutching her chest. "I can’t breathe," she whispered, collapsing. Bram caught her just before she hit the floor, surrounded by shattered dishes.

He carried her to the bed, brushing damp strands of hair from her forehead. "You're so close," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "Please try to remember, Dahlia." His fingers trembled against her temple. "The pack, we've been waiting for you to come back to us."