Everyone out....

Noah

“What the fuck did you do?”

My sight has begun to blur around the edges, and I know exactly what that means. My lycan is close to taking control. I have never experienced this kind of fury. Never felt such a powerful desire to tear someone apart. Yet, with Eli suspended off the ground, my fingers wrapped around his throat, murder is the only thought filling my mind.

“Noah! He already told you he didn’t do it. Let him go!”

Lucas stands beside me, but I barely register him. His words are nothing more than an irritating buzz in the background.

What did you do to her, Eli? Tell me. I promise I won’t bite.

My teeth begin to lengthen, revealing themselves in a mocking grin. Eli has seconds to give me an answer. If he refuses, I will kill him. My lycan wants the same thing. He would gladly rip apart anyone who has caused his mate harm.

The doors burst open, and several doctors hurry inside. I recognise Violet, one of the nurses, followed by Dr. Owens. They rush towards Vera, who is still lying unconscious on the floor. I had already tried waking her. Nothing worked. And now I am standing here with my mentor in one hand while my mate lies helpless on the ground.

“Boy! Help us get her upstairs to the MRI machine. It will be faster!”

I recognise Dr. Owens, but his words barely reach me. Then he walks over and strikes me hard in the ribs.

“I’m talking to you, you beast! Help us, or I’ll break the other one!”

The pain snaps my attention back into place. I look towards Vera. Violet has been trying to lift her, but she has stopped moving. Her eyes are wide as she looks at me, and the scent of fear reaches my nose.

I release Eli. He drops heavily onto the floor. Lucas immediately moves forward and helps him back onto his feet. I don't spare either of them another glance. I bend down, scoop Vera into my arms, and follow Dr. Owens towards the stairs.

“This way is faster. Go! I’ll meet you there. Find Dr. Alcott.”

I climb the stairs as quickly as I can, despite the pain running through my body. I have recovered a great deal since waking up, but I am nowhere near fully healed. Every movement reminds me of that.

When I reach the floor Dr. Owens mentioned, a man comes rushing towards us. I assume he is Dr. Alcott. He immediately reaches for Vera, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face before placing his hand against her cheek.

“Oh Goddess. Vera.”

There is something strangely personal about the way he looks at her.

“Please, follow me.”

I reluctantly follow, but the sight of his hand against my mate's face refuses to leave my mind. Why does his touch seem so familiar?

We reach a room containing an MRI machine. I carefully place Vera down while Dr. Alcott begins preparing the equipment. His eyes remain on her for longer than I find acceptable. A growl rises from my throat.

His gaze meets mine. I don't look away. Neither do I move. I simply hold his stare until discomfort crosses his face. He clears his throat and gestures towards the other side of the glass.

“Come. You can watch from there.”

I follow him into the room where the computers are located. A few minutes later, Dr. Owens enters carrying a chart. The two doctors begin the examination. I watch every movement. Every number. Every image appearing on the screens.

Minutes pass. Nothing makes sense.

The doctors bring in more specialists to study the scans. One doctor even suggests that the MRI machine itself may be faulty. That is all they have. Nothing else.

Thirty minutes pass before Sofia Allen enters the room. She had been meeting with me earlier, right before I sensed that something was wrong with Vera. She walks towards the doctors.

“Turn it off, Doctor.”

Both men look at her.

“This isn't something any of you can fix. Put her in a room, make her comfortable, and monitor her vital signs.”

Neither doctor looks convinced, but neither argues. Sofia is their Alpha. Her word carries authority.

Vera is moved into a private room and connected to several machines. I have become far too familiar with these machines since waking up. The faint beeping of the monitor becomes the only thing I can concentrate on.

Seven people fill the room. Nurses move around the bed while doctors examine charts, record numbers and draw blood from Vera for further testing.

Yet through all of it, I cannot stop looking at her. My mate.

My heart fills with something close to pride when I realise just how much people care about her. Vera is clearly loved here. Respected. The way everyone works around her without complaint tells me more than words ever could about the place she holds within her pack.

Sofia returns a short while later, this time with her husband. The moment they enter, every doctor and nurse looks up. Sofia takes one glance around the room.

“Everyone out, please.”

Nobody questions her. One after another, they leave. Everyone except Dr. Owens and Dr. Alcott.

Sofia turns towards the latter with an irritated expression.

“You too, William.”

Dr. Alcott hesitates. For a moment, it looks like he might argue. Instead, he lowers his head and walks towards the door.

His hand reaches for the handle. Then he looks back at Vera. There is longing in his eyes.

That is enough.

I move into his line of sight. A low warning growl leaves me. Only he can hear it. He understands immediately. Whatever history exists between him and my mate, he will keep his distance.

Dr. Alcott leaves.

Sofia walks towards the bed and sits at Vera's feet. She places one hand on my arm, drawing my attention away from the door.

“Don't worry about him. He and Vera used to date.”

I stare at her.

“They used to what?”

Sofia rolls her eyes.

“He found his mate eventually. He has a lovely family now, so there is nothing for you to worry about.”

I continue staring at her. Used to date my mate? There is clearly more to this story.

I give Sofia a pointed look, silently demanding the rest. She sighs.

“Lycan, werewolf, men. You are all the same.”

Then she turns towards Dr. Owens.

“Doctor, would you please?”

Dr. Owens clears his throat. Apparently, he has had enough of watching me interrogate Sofia with my eyes.

“There is nothing obviously wrong with Vera.”

He glances at the charts.

“Her vital signs are stable. The MRI showed nothing unusual, apart from confirming that the machine needs replacing.”

I wait. He doesn't continue.

“So?” I ask.

Dr. Owens looks at me.

“She is essentially asleep.”

I stare at him. That cannot be all. Sofia looks equally dissatisfied.

“That's it?” she asks.

Dr. Owens gives a helpless shrug.

“I'm sorry, but that is everything I have. Whatever is happening to her doesn't appear to be biological or medical.”

Silence fills the room.

Sofia looks towards Vera. Then she looks at me. Then at the others. Her expression changes.

“What I am about to tell you cannot leave this room.”

She pauses. For the first time since she entered, hesitation shows in her eyes.

“She isn't sick.”

She looks directly at me.

“She hasn't been poisoned.”

Another pause. Then she delivers the words that make the room feel completely different.

“She has been cursed.”