Chapter 98
Aria’s POV
I stopped struggling, staring at him in shock.
“Malik? What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m here for you,” he said seriously, locking eyes with me.
For me? That only made me more confused.
“Okay, so here’s the thing. After seeing you at the summit that night, I just couldn’t get your case out of my head. It was too bizarre, too fascinating, and way too valuable to ignore. So, I went to Alpha Otto and told him my theory.”
I raised a brow.
Malik went to Otto?
Well, that couldn’t have ended well.
“And? What did he say?” I asked.
“He completely shot it down!” Malik’s face twisted into a mix of frustration and hurt. “He yelled at me, said I was the dumbest dumbass in the entire medical academy, said I’d been brainwashed by some nonsense theories, and told me I should drop out and go wash dishes in a restaurant because that’s obviously a more suitable career for me.”
“Don’t take it personally. Your Alpha has the temper of a demon,” I said, trying to comfort him.
But he shook his head. “It’s not the insults that bother me. I can handle that. What got to me is–he gave me zero real reasoning. When I asked for evidence to back up his diagnosis, he just yelled at me to get the hell out and told me your case was none of my business.”
“Classic power trip,” I scoffed.
“I just can’t let it go, you know? The more I think about it, the more I believe Alpha Otto’s diagnosis is wrong. And since he won’t listen to me… I had no choice but to sneak in.”
I let out a short laugh. “So, you snuck into a restricted facility, behind your Alpha’s back, just to… prove him wrong? That’s sick.”
“Not to prove him wrong,” he corrected me solemnly. “To find the truth. But yes, if anyone finds out I’m here, I’ll probably get expelled from the academy–and possibly exiled. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
I studied him.
This guy might’ve shown up at exactly the right time.
He was stubborn. Fearless, And most importantly, he didn’t care about Otto’s authority. He just wanted the truth.
Plus, he actually knew what he was doing when it came to healing.
That’s exactly the kind of person I needed right now.
After a pause, I said, “Then how about we work together? I’ll tell you everything Otto plans for my treatments–drugs, methods, all of it. And you help me figure out if any of it actually makes sense. That way I stay alive, and you satisfy your curiosity.”
1/4
Chapter 6
His face it up “Vau menit Vayreddly trust
“Landy know you,” said honnely, “but right now, you might be the only person I can trust. Let me tell you what he’s planning.
So did. 1old him everything Otto said the physical therapy, the drugs, the helmer, the mirrecurrent stimulation.
“So? Isn’t It terrifying?“) concluded, frowning. “A helmet that send’s electricity through my brain? Sounds like a goddamn medieval fortune What if this is just Otto’s way of getting back at me?”
But Malik didn’t laugh. “Actually, those methods are commonly used in treating neurological toxins. But without seeing the actual current levels or the drug formulas, I can’t say for sure if he’s really trying to help you.
Then would it help if t… peeked at the machine’s numbers during treatment? Maybe grabbed a look at the drug labels?”
“Absolutely!” he said eagerly. “And I’ll keep digging through the books to prove my theory. I’m not giving up.”
We said goodbye, and I slipped out of the utility room. We went separate ways.
Otto and Isla were nowhere to be seen. A nurse told me my room had been prepared and that my first treatment would be the next day.
That night, I barely slept.
I kept having nightmares of being tortured.
The next morning after breakfast, a nurse led me into an operating room.
Otto was already there in a white coat, snapping on a pair of gloves.
“Oh, you’re here. Didn’t sleep well?” he said, glancing at me.
I didn’t respond, just slowly walked over and sat down in the treatment chair.
The iron restraints and all the wires and magnetic pads on the chair made my heart race.
Otto walked over and smirked at my pale face.
“Nervous? Scared I’ll fry you to a crisp?” he mocked.
“If you do, you and your entire pack will be skinned alive,” I shot back, trying to hide the tremor in my voice.
“Cut the threats, little girl. Your life is in my hands now,” he growled. “Now sit tight. Let’s get this over with.”
He grabbed the helmet–wired and covered in electrodes–and placed it on my head. I had to grip the armrests to stop myself from bolting
out of the room.
“Alright. Relax now.”
He turned around to adjust the machines. While his back was turned, I snuck a look at the screen.
I had no idea what any of the numbers meant, but I tried to memorize as much as I could.
“Don’t resist… Let everything go.”
I could hear faint crackling deep in my brain. It didn’t hurt.
Soon, I drifted off.
2/4
12.42 Sun, 10 Aug
Chapter 98
And started to dream.
I saw my wolf. She was bound in heavy chains, crying out to me helplessly.
I ran to her. She licked my hand, looking so sad it broke my heart. I tried to tear the chains off her, but they wouldn’t budge.
Then I saw my mother.
The day she left me and my father. She held me tight by the door, kissing my cheeks over and over.
God, I forgot how beautiful she was.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Aria…” she wept, apologizing over and over again. “But this is for the best. You’ll grow up safe… away from
everything… I–I did the right thing…”
I could’ve sworn I forgot that memory.
But what was she apologizing for? What did she want to protect me from?
I tried to ask, but her figure began to fade.
A heavy sadness crushed my chest. A tear slipped from my eye.
“…Bad dream?”
I jolted awake.
The sun outside the window was already sliding west. Five to six hours had passed without me knowing.
Otto was sitting in a chair nearby, watching me with narrowed eyes.
“You kept crying and calling out for your mom,” he sneered. “So let me guess–shitty childhood?”
I wiped my eyes furiously.
Damn it, I didn’t want him to see me like this.
“How did the treatment go?” I snapped.
He shrugged. “Smoothly. Told you to trust me. Why don’t you get up and see if you feel more energized than before?”
I slid off the chair. And to my surprise, he was right. That constant fatigue I’d been feeling was gone. I actually felt stronger.
“But my wolf… she still won’t respond to me.” I frowned.
“Please, healing takes time. I’m not a damn magician,” he rolled his eyes. “You’re done for now. See you next session, same time.”
He clearly didn’t want to waste another second on me. And honestly, I felt the same. I left quickly.
Life here was going to be so bring here. Maybe I should find something to keep myself busy in between sessions.
I was thinking that when I got back to my room. Then suddenly, I was yanked inside the moment I opened the door.
“Ah-!” I screamed before 1 could stop myself.
“Shh!” Malik clamped his hand over my mouth. “We agreed–no screaming!”
3/4
12:42 Sun, 10 Aug
Chapter 99
“Then stop showing up like a horror movie jump scare! And how did you even get in? I locked my door!” I hissed.
“The security room has master keys to every room. This place has zero privacy.” He shut the door behind him and leaned in. “So, how was your first session? Tell me everything.”
I sighed and spilled everything that happened, including the numbers I memorized from the screen.
He frowned, rubbing his chin. “It does sound like treatment for neurotoxins… but damn it, Alpha Otto must be using the latest–gen machines. Ours at the academy are outdated. I can’t tell what those numbers mean yet…”
“You do know what you’re doing, right?” I eyed him suspiciously.
He looked offended. “I–I just need a little time, okay?!”
“I did feel more energized after the treatment,” I admitted. “But the thing is… my wolf…”
My wolf looked so sad.
She seemed trapped. She couldn’t reach me.
I wanted to tell Malik all of that.
But suddenly, there was a sharp knock on the door.
“Miss Collins? Are you in there, Miss Collins?” It was the nurse, calling out loudly. “Please open the door.”
Malik and I stared at each other in panic.
She can’t know I’m here, he mouthed in panic.
Then what do we do?! I mouthed back urgently.
“Miss Collins? I’m opening the door now, alright?” she called.
Damn it! Does no one have privacy in this place?!
The next moment, the door burst open.
4/4
