*Tjeck* When I arrive at the apartment, Kattie and KC are in the living room. KC has his arm protectively around Kattie. "Are you okay?" I ask her, resisting the urge to take KC's place. It feels like protecting her should be my job. "Amber came to you," Kattie says, a note of relief in her voice. "Did he hurt her?" The worry creeps in, and she adds, "I shouldn't have run out on her like that." "She’s fine. He managed to say some very unfortunate things to her, and she ended up hitting him, but no, he didn’t lay a finger on her." I settle onto one of the beer crates in front of her. "You can’t save everyone." "Clay should have stayed," KC says. "He was the last one to leave them." "Clay chose the she-wolf he loves." I give Kattie's arm a gentle squeeze. "Where is he now?" "He went after Adis when we heard one of the motorbikes take off." Kattie sighs. "He didn’t want me to go." "Good. That means he's finally living up to his responsibilities. I'm keeping Amber with me for now…
*Amber* It takes an hour for Logan to return, and when he does, he's empty-handed. He hasn't been able to locate KC, and he apologizes sincerely for his failure. "Then you'll have to help instead," Kattie says, leaning forward with determination. "I don’t know how much KC has shared with you, but he and I have stopped selling drugs.""Yeah, I know," Logan replies. "If I had the same safety net, I would have followed your example.""Thank you, but the problem is that both Adis and Clay think we’re being foolish. It's time for something drastic." A smile spreads across her face, as if she has a plan. "I want you to go to Adis and tell him that Amber and I plan to speak to all the members, turning them against him, Clay, and the drugs.""What?!" Both Logan and I stare at her in disbelief. "Are you seriously going to do that?" Logan asks, incredulous. "That would tear The Shadows apart.""Exactly," Kattie says, her expression smug. "Which means Adis will be forced to act before we can
*Amber* I am tired when Tjeck drops me off at the apartment in the late afternoon. The weight of the day lingers in my bones, a dull ache that refuses to fade. I hadn’t truly breached Thorn’s defenses, apart from that one meager hit that felt more like a lucky fluke than an achievement. But both Thorn and Tjeck seem optimistic, and for the first time, I’m beginning to understand the thrill of the challenge. Unfortunately, Thorn doesn’t have time to train me over the next few days, so I’ll have to work with Tjeck instead. It will have to do. Thorn has given me a taste for this new world, and now it feels less like I’m battling a person and more like I’m testing the limits of a fortress, probing for weaknesses in a wall that stands between me and something primal. When I step into the apartment, the silence greets me like an old friend. I slump onto the couch, feeling the soft fabric mold around me, and start flipping through the newspaper left on the coffee table. It’s a couple of
*Amber* When Tjeck returns, he isn't alone. Beside him walks a guy who seems to be around my age, even taller than Tjeck and broader across the chest. His dark, wavy hair frames a chiseled face adorned with heavy stubble, and a tattoo of The Stars curls around his neck… a mark of his allegiance to his pack. "Amber, this is Thorn," Tjeck introduces him, a hint of pride in his voice. "He’s Kress's beta and my friend. And he’s the absolute best at training others in hand-to-hand combat." I've heard people talk about Thorn before, often likening him to a younger version of Kress, as if he were the younger brother Kress had taken under his wing. But he is nothing like what I expected. "You don’t look like Kress at all," I blurt out as Thorn steps into the ring and extends his hand. My palm nearly disappears in his powerful grip. "Thank you," he replies, his handshake firm and his hazel eyes warm, carrying a familiarity that tugs at my memory. "I’ll take that as a compliment. At least
*Amber* My body has transformed significantly since I woke up half a year ago. I’ve filled out, and now I can actually fit into Kattie's clothes. My new shapes and muscles are evident; my arms no longer resemble spaghetti dangling from my sleeves, and my pants sit snugly against my legs. My ribs are no longer visible, and my collarbone doesn’t protrude as much. Though my scars remain, they have faded, blending more harmoniously with my skin. It’s a relief; my healthier physique makes everything look less macabre. I’ve experimented with my hair, dyeing it several times to mask the blonde roots that are starting to grow back. I’ve thought about returning to my natural color, but it feels like too much trouble compared to simply dyeing it. My training is progressing nicely now. I’m still at the shooting range, but I’ve begun hitting even the moving targets. I’ve also started preliminary training in hand-to-hand combat, which means pounding a punching bag until my knuckles bleed… and,
*Tjeck* I have just flopped down behind my desk, the weight of the day settling in, when Adis bursts through the door. He collapses into the chair across from me, letting out a heavy sigh. "Now Kattie refuses to have anything to do with the drugs as well," he laments, frustration etched across his face. I raise an eyebrow, trying to keep my tone casual. "Have you considered that they might have a valid point with their refusal?" I suggest lightly. I know Amber has been against it from the very beginning, and KC quickly followed suit. Now, it seems Kattie has joined their small rebellion, much to Adis's dismay. "We're making way too much money off them, and I am their Alpha, they should obey me," Adis insists, his voice rising. "You know how it is." "Adis!" I lean forward, locking my gaze with his. "This month alone, there have been four confirmed deaths among tourists due to drugs. Who knows how many more have died after they returned home?" "It isn't my fault they take too much