Soren stood at the window watching me kneel in the rain below. Something in his expression shifted–softer, maybe?-before he headed downstairs. with two enforcers trailing behind
I saw his expensive shoes first, black leather gleaming despite the
e storm. When I lifted my squint against the overhead lights
head to meet his eyes, rain streaming down my face, I had to
His black shirt was damp, clinging to the hard lines of his chest and shoulders Sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms, that familiar cold arrogance written across his features like armor.
“Do you understand what you’ve done wrong?” His voice cut through the rain like ice.]
I let out a bitter laugh. “Tell me, Soren–what exactly am I guilty of? Coming home to my real family? Or making the mistake of falling for you?”
His hand shot out, wrapping around my throat with crushing force. The wolf in his eyes blazed gold with fury. “Since you’re too stubborn to admit crimes, you’ll stay on your knees until I say otherwise.”
He released me and walked away, his hack rigid as a wall of stone.
I closed my eyes, trembling, and whispered to his retreating figure: “I’m going to mate someone else, Soren Does that hurt you at all?–||
The rain was too loud. My voice too quiet. He didn’t hear me.
your
I knelt there for three days and three nights. Soren’s orders kept everyone away–pack members hurried past without making eye contact, too afraid to even offer water.]
On the third day, he finally appeared again. Just in time to watch me collapse face–first onto the marble floor []
He moved without thinking, rushing through the rain to scoop my burning body into his arms. I was barely conscious as he carried me toward the emergency wing, his expensive shirt getting soaked through
The waiting room outside the trauma bay became his prison. He paced like a caged animal, eyes never leaving the door, as if he could see through steel and concrete to where they were working on me.
- me.
That’s when Luna Duskrend appeared, tears streaming down her face as she grabbed his arm
“Soren! Thank God you’re here. Ophelia’s vitals are crashing–the fire damaged her Jungs worse than we thought. The doctors need a blood transfusion immediately, but the medical center’s supply of her type is completely depleted.” Her grip tightened. “Where’s Karla? She has to donate blood. If she dosn’t, Ophelia will die tonight.”
The warmth in Suren’s eyes died instantly
A doctor emerged from the trauma bay, but before he could speak, Soren cut him off. “Prep Kaela for blood donation. Now.”
The doctor looked startled. “Dr. Blackvein, the patient has a brain tumor–henign, but combined with severe malnutrition and anemia. You know as well as I do that donating blood in her condition could be fatal.”
For a split second,Soren’s mask cracked. He stood frozen, caught between two impossible choices]
Luna Duskrend watched his face carefully. “Soren, please. Ophelia can’t wait any longer. This is all Enela’s fault anyway, and you’re the best neurosurgeon in the territories. I know you can save them both. But Ophelia’s been fighting for three years already, and now with the fire damage..”
She broke off, covering her face as sobs shook her shoulders.]]
Sorin hesitated for exactly one second. Then “Prep her for blood donation. I’ll personally perform the tumor removal surgery afterward.”
I came to as they wheeled me out of the tranma bay. Through my haze of fever and medication, I heard every word |
Part of me had known this mine would come. But hearing him choose her without hesitation still felt like a knife between my ribs
At least he wouldn’t let me die–not yet. One more month until the three years were up. One more month until Ophelia woke up and I become Expendable.
Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes, soaking into the hospital pillow.
The needle sliding into my vein felt like liquid fire. My already weak hody began to shut down as they drained what little strength I had left. Halfway through the second bag, everything went black
“Doctor! The patient’s going into shock!”
“Get Dr. Blackvein to OR–3. We need to operate immediately–her brain is swelling.”
The last thing I heard before the darkness took me completely was the sound of running footsteps and Soren’s voice, sharp with something that might have been panic:]}
“Prep for emergency craniotomy. And someone get me her medical files–all of them.”
