Chapter 91

Florence POV: The Pattern in the FogI open my eyes to bright daylight streaming through the window. I sit up fast, my heart racing, my eyes wide with panic."Lucio . . ." I whisper into the empty room.I look down at myself. I’m still wearing the running shoes, jeans, and long-sleeve shirt I put on last night. It's morning. I'm alone in my room. I jump out of bed, expecting to feel sick or dizzy, but I feel surprisingly present, my senses sharp and clear.Memories of last night flood back with startling clarity. Lucio standing in the hallway with that ring on his forefinger. The sudden zap that went through my body the moment he grabbed my wrist.Lucio is the one hexing Jason. There is no longer a doubt in my mind.I don't have other proof yet, but my gut is screaming the truth. I tiptoe to the door and open it slowly to peep through the crack. The hallway is empty. Lucio is gone.I utter a shaky breath. I hurry down the staircase.Shawn is coming down the lower corridor, carrying

Chapter 92

Florence POV: Whispering in the ShadowThe truck hasn't even come to a complete stop before I throw the door open and leap out onto the pavement."Come on, man! Wait!" Shawn yells after me, slamming his own door.I'm already running across the hospital parking lot, my heart pounding in my ears. Shawn catches up to me at the main entrance."Wait, Florence! Stop for a second!" I dash up the front steps before stopping on the landing to look at him. He takes a breath, his eyes serious. "Look, we have to be prepared for the worst case here.""You think he's dead," I say, my voice dropping."I'm not saying—""He's not dead." I turn and push through the double doors into the hospital.The ICU waiting area is loud and chaotic. It is crowded with nurses, doctors, and anxious families. Todd materializes from the crowd, looking exhausted."Have you seen Lucio?" I ask immediately, my eyes scanning the place."He's inside with the Alpha right now," Todd replies.I freeze. What Shawn said outsid

Chapter 93

Jason POV: Broken Bonds and Shadows"Your Alpha healing capability is truly extraordinary," the surgeon says.I give him a small nod, and a tired smile. I've never seen this doctor before. I give him my hand for him to shake."I'm Dr. Robin Cook," he introduces himself, gripping my hand warmly. "I'm glad to see you making such a miraculous recovery.""Thank you, Dr. Robin Cook," I reply, my voice still slightly raspy."Please, call me Robin," the doctor says. "You must have some exceptionally powerful allies within the Royal House."I look at my parents. My father, Alpha Trevor, and my mother, Luna Bessie, are sitting near the bed, both look tired but holding up. "The Royal House dispatched Dr. Cook to us at the last possible moment," my dad says. "We'll be taking a trip to express our gratitude once you regain your full strength."Dr. Cook sighs. He gives my hand a reassuring pat. "I'm truly sorry about your father-in-law's situation. I understand you were driving out to the dungeon

Chapter 94

Jason POV: Shadows of the Past"I know." Isobel looks taken aback, her lips press together and a doubtful pucker in chin. I stare at her, my eyes narrowing as I wonder what kind of game she's playing and what she expects to gain from giving me this information."What did you think?" I ask coldly. "I'm not stupid, Isobel. I almost died out on that highway last night. And it was no accident. Someone rammed my car off the road."She glances nervously over her shoulder, checking the empty hallway. She looks at me. "Do you have any idea who it is?""Do you?" I ask her. She looks back up the corridor once more, her agitation rising. "We shouldn't be standing out in the open like this. We need to leave this place immediately.""I can't just leave," I say, leaning slightly against the wall as a throb of pain shoots through my side. "My wounds—""I'll take you to a secure location," Isobel interrupts, her tone urgent.I stare at her. Coming from Isobel, a "secure location" sounds suspicious

Chapter 95

Florence POV: The Shattered BindingIt is evening. In just a few minutes, the faint glow of the sun will disappear down the horizon. The world will be plunged in darkness.Lucio and I are sitting side by side near the edge of my family's farm, staring out at the rows of corn before us. Some of the stalks were harvested recently—likely while I was locked away in the dungeon."Lucio, what are we doing out here?" I ask. He is idly twisting a green blade of corn leaf between his long fingers. The expression on his face is dark. I can't tell if he's mad at me or not. "I don't want you to be scared of me, Florence," he says.I hold my breath and let it out slowly. He had furtively coerced me toward his car back at the hospital, forcing me to leave with him. Tony, Shawn, and Susie had driven the truck back home. He spoke to me in the same cold tone he used when he warned me not to say a word to Isobel."You don't make it easy not to be scared," I say, pulling my arms close to my chest. "Y

Chapter 96

Florence POV: The Edge of TruthThe dark cornfields soon give way to dense thickets of trees. Minutes later, the tree line recedes, and a highway appears to my left.My wolf comes to a grinding stop, paws skidding through the dirt as a thick cloud of dust rises into the night air around me. Across the two-lane road sits a small weathered house. It glows faintly white under a star-filled, moonless sky. It is exactly as my wolf remembered it.Yes. This is the place. And with the sight of it, the memories of what happened here come rushing back.A faint light glows behind one of the front windows. Someone is inside. Who lives here now? Do they know the real story, too?I walk slowly across the empty highway. Somewhere deep in the woods behind me, distant yips of coyotes cut through the quiet. I pause and look over my shoulder.Lucio didn't follow me. I stopped to scent the wind twice on my run, but I couldn't pick up his trail anywhere. According to Lucio, the Redmoon Pack will fall toni