جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

"What kind of drug could affect us that way?" I asked my mother.Tonight was supposed to be a celebration. It was my birthday, Lyall's birthday, and our entire friend group had plans to spend the night partying before our lives changed forever.Instead, my parents were warning me about a dangerous new drug spreading through werewolf packs across the region.That alone was enough to make my stomach tighten.Werewolves were naturally immune to almost everything. Alcohol barely gave us a buzz unless it had been specially enchanted by a witch, and most drugs didn't affect us at all. Not that many wolves were foolish enough to try. Pack life was built on strength and discipline. One mistake could destroy your reputation overnight. Even an Alpha could be reduced to an Omega if they showed weakness.That was why the recent incidents were so unsettling.Young wolves between eighteen and twenty-five had been going out for a normal night of fun, accepting drinks from strangers, and waking up th

"On a more serious note," Mel said, lifting his empty glass, "one of us has to go get the next round, don't we?"A collective groan went around the table.We all laughed at Mel's expression.His family was ridiculously wealthy. Not spoiled exactly, but definitely accustomed to convenience. If there was a way to avoid an inconvenience, Mel usually found it."Don't worry," I said. "I'll grab the next round."As I headed downstairs, I could already hear everyone teasing him behind me.Our friend group was surprisingly diverse. Several of us came from wealthy families, but Mel was the only one who actually acted like it. Lyall came from even more money as the Alpha's heir, but years of training had taught him that leadership meant serving the pack, not being served by it.The music grew louder as I approached the bar."Another round?" the bartender asked with a wink.I nodded.Within minutes, six freshly made drinks sat neatly arranged on a tray."Need help carrying those?" he asked nervo

Flashes.That was all I had.Flashes of light.Flashes of voices.Flashes of movement just beyond my reach.Every time I tried to grasp one of the memories, it slipped away like water through my fingers.My head pounded.It felt as though someone had taken a hammer to my skull and then left the pieces rattling around inside. Every heartbeat sent another wave of pain through me.I tried to open my eyes.Nothing happened.Panic flickered briefly before fading beneath the heavy fog clouding my thoughts.Where was I?What happened?The last thing I remembered clearly was sitting with my friends on the patio at the club.Then the nausea.The dizziness.Lyall catching me before I fell.After that...Nothing.The darkness around me shifted.Or maybe I was moving.I couldn't tell.I became aware of voices nearby.At first they sounded distant, muffled as though I were listening from underwater.Gradually they grew clearer."You weren't supposed to give her any. Only him."The sharpness in the

"I need to ask you some personal questions," the doctor said carefully. "Questions that I didn't think you would want the Alpha hearing. You're legally an adult now, so before we continue, I need to know if you would like your parents present."My stomach tightened.Whatever she wanted to discuss, I already had a feeling I wasn't going to like it.Part of me wanted my mother there.Another part of me didn't.Things between us hadn't been the same in a long time. Somewhere along the way, our relationship had become tangled up in politics, pack status, and my friendship with Lyall. I loved my parents, but lately it felt as though there was always something standing between us.And right now, I wasn't sure I could handle anyone else's emotions on top of my own.I shifted uncomfortably against the hospital bed."No," I said quietly. "I think I'd rather do this alone."The doctor nodded."That's perfectly fine."She pulled a chair closer and sat beside my bed.For a moment, neither of us s

"Lyall, you know this isn't your fault, right?" I asked, gesturing weakly toward my bruised body.His entire body stiffened.For just a moment, his gaze dropped to the fading marks scattered across my arms.The reaction was immediate.A visible flinch.My smile faltered.I knew I looked terrible.I had seen the bruises myself.But seeing Lyall react like that made something twist painfully inside my chest."Lyall..."He shook his head."I might not have caused it," he said quietly, "but we both know I was the target."The room fell silent.His jaw tightened."They've never targeted a female before. Not once. So why would they start now?"The guilt in his voice was impossible to miss.I sighed internally.Exactly what I expected.Leave it to Lyall to somehow make himself responsible for things completely outside of his control.I raised an eyebrow."So what you're saying is I'm not important enough for anyone to target?"His eyes snapped up.The horrified expression on his face was pri