Twenty kilometers through dim forest paths, her heels blistered and her wolf exhausted.
Headlights eventually cut through the darkness behind her—an expensive black Audi A8 gliding to a halt.
Nathanie stepped out, furious.
“Are you trying to be dramatic?” he snapped. “I circled the spot you mentioned three times. You weren’t there.”
“I waited—I couldn’t—” she began.
He didn’t let her finish. He grabbed her wrist, pulled her into the car, and slammed the door shut hard enough that something metallic scattered across the floor.
Later, she realized one of the buttons from his coat had broken off during his outburst.
From that night onward, she stopped telling herself stories.
She knew where she stood.
Forcing her thoughts back to the present, she looked at him calmly.
“I’m part of the Healing Corps too,” she said gently. “I’ll manage. You should go. Don’t keep… whoever it is… waiting.”
Whatever faint flicker of hesitation he might have had disappeared at her easy tone.
He stepped forward, brushing a quick kiss against her forehead. “Alright. Rest. I’ll come by later.”
The gesture felt routine—automatic.
She nodded just as lightly.
Without another glance, he turned and strode down the corridor toward the manor exit.
Only after he vanished from sight did she lift her head fully. Her fingers moved instinctively to the corners of her eyes, wiping away the dampness before anyone could notice.
She tried to count how many times he had left her mid-conversation for Olivia.
She gave up halfway through.
And Olivia’s sweet, breathy voice earlier? Any trained healer could tell it carried no trace of illness. There had been no weakness in her tone.
Yet Nathanie always responded as though summoned by instinct.
Adriana adjusted her balance and made her way back toward the infirmary wing, her limp pronounced now that the adrenaline had faded.
A few pack members lounging near the entrance spotted her and grinned.
“Well, Luna-to-be,” one of them called teasingly, “you and the Alpha need to save that energy for the full moon. Don’t overdo it during daylight hours.”
Another chimed in, laughter in his voice. “Careful, Adriana. If our Alpha gets exhausted and can’t lead the next border patrol, the elders might hold you responsible.”
She managed a tight smile and raised both hands in mock surrender.