جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 50

Draven POVThe drive to the neutral territory should have taken four hours or more. I made it in less.It was nightfall when I set out. The highway was almost empty at that time, so I pushed past the speed limit. Yet the distance still felt like too much road between me and something I wasn't even sure of.It was twenty minutes to midnight when the hospital's bold sign appeared in the distance. Surely, Travis would be done for the day. No way he would be disposed to an unannounced visit by this hour.But I already knew this before setting out, didn't I?I slowed the car, getting ready to pull into the hospital parking lot.My eyes remained fixed on the ordinary indifferent building that had no idea what it had become in my life in the space of barely one week.There was nothing waiting for me inside this hospital building. No meeting to walk into. No professional exchange or official matter that required my presence. There was no explanation that would withstand anyone's scrutiny..

Layla POVI waited for the headteacher to go on.She looked at me. "Aiden will be placed on one week suspension. And mandatory counseling, which must take place here, within the school, during normal hours.""Will the same apply to Duncan?" I asked.“My son was the one who got hurt,” the woman beside me snapped. Her eyes were sharp, her voice sharper. I briefly wondered what pack she belonged to. And whether there were no schools within it for her son to attend instead of sending him to a mixed school where he could bully other children.“Duncan's face is still swollen. Your son needs help, Doctor Wallace.”She said my name with such contempt, as though it offended her to address me with the respect the title demanded."And your son needs to learn not to provoke people," I shrugged."What, so kids can't joke anymore!?""Ladies." The head teacher raised a hand. "Doctor Wallace, this matter is already settled.""But the punishment is too lenient," the woman insisted. "One week suspens

George Hunt (Third-Person POV)George had the phone pressed to his ear when Draven Darkwood emerged from the hospital.Even before Layla answered, the sight of his former best friend confirmed he was at the right place and had come at exactly the right time.The two Alphas exchanged the customary nod of acknowledgment. It was usually all they exchanged these days.Seven years had passed since their friendship had died. And time had not softened either of them.He expected Draven to continue on his way. "Are you serious?" Layla laughed warmly through the phone. "You're here? In Neutral territory?""Yup," George replied. "I'm outside your workplace."Instead of walking past, Draven changed direction and strode toward him.George tried to keep his attention on the call. "So I'll see you in a moment, right? I'll wait at reception."He lowered the phone."Alpha Draven.""Alpha George."The greeting was polite enough. But the look on Draven's face was not.He wore that same guarded look he

George Hunt (Third-person POV)"I was in the area," he lied instead.He'd had an early morning meeting in Shadow Vale Pack. Returning to LongClaws would've taken him just as long as driving to the edge of the Realm.So he'd come to the edge of the Realm.To see her."So this is where you work?" he asked, looking around after releasing her from the embrace.She nodded."Don't look at me like that, Layla. Your license is suspended,” he teased. “You might as well be on vacation. This is not a bad time for that coffee you promised me.""You're wrong about the vacation part." She rolled her eyes. "My boss just made that very clear. But come on. There's a cafeteria around the back."He didn't move immediately. "I was hoping we'd hang out at Devon's Grill. I saw it on the way here. Real fancy place. Much quieter.""I'm at work, George," she reminded him, her voice ringing with laughter."Alright." He fell into step beside her. "And... your mate might not like it I guess. This is a small se

Draven POVMy phone rang just as I pulled over beside one of the pack's mining sites.It was my Beta. I looked away from the screen.I had been away from the Arctic Moon all night, and was supposedly tying up loose ends over the masking potion that smuggled across one of my borders.The smuggler was working for Travis Martin.Apparently, the Chief was fully authorized to possess the rare elixir. By virtue of both his medical license and the fact that he owns a hospital. According to him, all kinds of patients passed through Healer's Grace requiring specialized treatments, and the potion was simply one of many medical supplies they kept in stock.It wasn't that I didn't believe him. It was just that I didn't think he was telling me everything. Doctor Wallace had nothing to do with the reason I was still lingering in the Bronze Crescent. Near the edge of the Realm.Nothing at all.I still could not believe I'd actually followed her all the way home last night. As if that wasn't humil