“The bear and the shadow lynx. Why they suddenly went crazy. Did you look into it?”
For a second, I saw something flicker in his eyes. Then it was gone.
“It was an accident,” he said without hesitation. “Animals lose control sometimes. There’s nothing strange about it.”
I stared at him. “Nothing strange?”
He adjusted my blanket like everything was normal. “You’re overthinking again. Just focus on getting better, okay? Don’t stress yourself with things like that.”
The last bit of light inside me went out.
I watched him quietly, my chest aching in a way the injuries couldn’t explain.
Six years ago…
I remembered it so clearly. I’d gone out alone during a storm to check on a pack’s outer territory. I ended up running into a group of rogue wolves. They surrounded me, their eyes wrong, their intentions worse.
One of them grabbed me, dragged me toward the trees while the others laughed.
I was terrified. I couldn’t even fight back properly.
And then Drake came.
I still remember the look in his eyes. Pure rage.
“Touch her again,” he said coldly, his alpha voice shaking the ground, “and I’ll make sure you beg to die.”
They didn’t listen.
So he broke them.
“Leave them breathing,” he ordered his warriors, voice deadly calm. “But make sure they regret it.”
The screams lasted for hours. Blood everywhere. No mercy.
After that, every single one of them ended up dead or worse.
That was the man who protected me.
But now…
I almost died. I was torn apart right in front of him.
And he didn’t even question it. Didn’t even think for a second that something was wrong. Didn’t even look at Chiara like she could be involved.
My chest felt empty. Completely empty.
“I understand,” I said softly, turning my face away.
He went still for a moment. “Chloe…?”
Before he could say anything else, noise came from outside. Nurses rushing, voices panicked.
“Alpha!” someone called. “The Luna's condition—”
He stood up immediately. “I’ll be right back,” he said quickly. “I’ll get you something to eat too. Just wait for me, alright?”
I didn’t answer.
…
Drake never came back after he left.
I waited for a while. I don’t even know how long. My body hurt, my head felt heavy, and at some point I just… gave up and fell asleep.
Even in my sleep, it didn’t feel peaceful. My chest stayed tight, like something bad was still holding onto me.
I woke up because of pain. Sharp, stinging pain in my arm.