บททั้งหมดของ The Wolfless Doctor: บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

"Forty three casualties. Fifteen dead. Twenty eight critically wounded."Theodore's voice was heavy as he read the report to the assembled pack leaders. We had gathered in the coalition war room twelve hours after the Montana assault. Everyone looked exhausted and defeated.I sat between Owen and my mother, trying not to think about the fifteen wolves who had died because of my decision to go after those extra prisoners. Fifteen families who would never see their loved ones again."The facility sustained heavy damage but remains operational," Theodore continued, his expression grim. "The Elders evacuated to a secure location within the mountain. We did not achieve our primary objective of destroying Montana headquarters.""But we rescued sixty eight prisoners total," I spoke up, my voice sounding too loud in the silent room. "And we captured Archon Shade. That has to count for something."Alpha Hale stood up, his face hard with anger. "It counts for fifteen dead wolves, Miss Hart. Fif

Mary's POV"You want to attack Montana again in three weeks?"Theodore stared at me like I had grown a second head. The emergency council meeting I had called was not going well. Every pack leader looked skeptical at best and openly hostile at worst."Three weeks gives us time to treat wounded, recruit reinforcements, and plan a better assault," I explained, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Archon Shade says The Covenant is planning a counter offensive. We need to strike first before they organize.""Or we need to fortify our territories and prepare to defend them," Alpha Reed argued. "We cannot keep throwing wolves at Montana and hoping for different results. We tried that yesterday and lost fifteen people.""We lost fifteen people because our intelligence was incomplete and The Elders used magic we were not prepared for," I countered. "But now we know what we are facing. Now we can plan accordingly.""Do we know?" Alpha Weston Hale's father stood up, his expression cold.

"Again!"Aurora's command echoed across the training field. I tried to move through the shadow she had created but my body stayed solid. No matter how hard I focused, I could not master shadow walking the way her pack could."I do not think this is working," I panted, exhausted from trying for three hours straight. "Maybe Healer Alphas cannot learn shadow walking.""Or maybe you are trying too hard." Aurora dismissed the shadow and walked over to me. "You approach shadow walking like you approach healing. Like you can force it to happen through willpower alone. But shadow walking is not about force. It is about surrendering to darkness. Becoming part of it.""I do not understand.""When you heal someone, you push your power into them, right? You force golden light through their injuries and make them better.""That is how healing works, yes.""Shadow walking is the opposite. You have to pull yourself into darkness instead of pushing power out. You have to let go of your physical form

"She has been unconscious for sixteen hours."Owen's voice sounded far away, like I was hearing him from the bottom of a deep well. I tried to open my eyes but my body would not respond. I was trapped somewhere between sleeping and waking, aware but unable to move."The ritual took more from her than we expected," Serena's voice replied. "The First Born gave her knowledge that no mortal mind was meant to hold. Her brain is trying to process information that spans thousands of years. It will take time.""How much time?""As long as it takes. Rushing her recovery will only cause permanent damage."I wanted to tell them I was fine, that I could hear them, that I just needed a minute to figure out how to move again. But my mouth would not work. My body felt like it belonged to someone else.Inside my mind, images flashed. Ancient battles between creatures I had no names for. Magic being woven in ways that defied physics. The formation of The Covenant three thousand years ago. The deal wit

"Your form is improving but you are still telegraphing your moves."Damon circled me on the training mat, looking for openings in my defense. We had been sparring for an hour and I was exhausted. But I had asked him to train me harder, push me further, prepare me for the battle ahead."I am a healer, not a fighter," I panted, blocking his next strike. "I do not have decades of combat experience like you.""Which is exactly why you need this training. In ten days, you are going into Montana where The Elders will try to kill you. You need to be able to defend yourself when healing is not enough."He was right. During the last assault, I had relied on my team to protect me while I focused on healing and rescuing prisoners. But this time would be different. This time I would be in the heart of the battle, trying to reach The Elders before they completed their ritual.Damon struck again, faster this time. I barely dodged and he swept my legs out from under me. I hit the mat hard, the wind