bChapter /bb166 /b

Skyes’s POV

Xavier’s sleek ck car glided through the evening streets, the city lights casting shadows actors our faces. Adrian cat in the passenger seat while I erled In the back with Lydia, watching her filert with the leather satchel containing her herba,

The went of those hesht was soothing, a gentle hagrance that helped calm my nerves.

“We’re here,” Xavier announced, pulling into the underground parking of an upscale hotel. Morgan Beta said they’re in the penthouse quite

The elevator doces oprited to reveal a man pacing the hallway. He looked to be in his forties, with silver threading through his dark hair and worry lines etched deep around his eyes. Despite the stress evident in his pastate, I could see why someone might call him handsome–strong jrw, broad shoulders, the kind of presence thatmanded respect.

“Alpha Xavier,” he said, his voice hoarse. Thank you foring. Im Daniel, Alpha Morgan’s Bera.”

He shook Xavier’s hand, but his gave kept darting back toward the suite door, an if he couldnt bear to be away from his Alpha for even these few moments. The nervous energy rolling off him made my wolf stir uneasily.

“These are the friends I mentioned,” Xavier said smoothly. “Alpha Adrian of Cesisbon bPack/b, bhis /bbBeta /bSkye, and their pack’s herbalist, Lydia.”

Daniel barely acknowledged the introductions, already turning back to the door. “Please,e quickly. She…it’s getting worse

We followed him into the suite, and immediately the scent of distress hit me. Fear, pain, confusion–all mixed together in a cocktail that made my stomach tern. Daniel led us to the bedroom, and what I saw there made my heart clench.

Alpha Morgany on the king–sized bed, her powerful frame looking surprisingly small against the bwhite /bsheets. Her face, which I’d seen so confident andmanding during the trials, was now twisted in agony, Sweat beaded on her forehead, trickling down her temples bto /bsoak into her bdark /bhair. Her eyebrows were drawn together in a permanent frown, and her lips moved soundlessly, forming words only she could hear.

But what struck me most was Daniel’s behavior. He immediately dropped to his knees beside the bbed/b, reaching out to grasp her hand without any hesitation. The gesture was intimate, protective, far beyond what duty required.

This isn’t just loyalty, my bwolf /bwhispered. bThis /bis love.

“Has the bCouncil /bsent their docton? Adrian asked, his professional Alpha voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere.

Daniel looked up, and I saw the exhaustion in bhis /bbeyes/b. Three diffegent doctors. They’ve ball /bbsaid /bbthe /bsame thing.” bHis /bbvoice /bcracked slightly. They bgave /bher sedatives to keep her calm, Before that, she wasb… /bShe was screaming. Crying. Sometimes she’d bugh /bbat /bnothing, this horrible broken sound. The sedatives are the only thing keeping her from hurting herself.”

“What else did they rmend?” I asked softly,

“They want to transfer her to a specialized facility. Run brain scans, bring in psychiatric specialists.” His grip on Morgan’s hand tightened.

Xavier stepped bforward/b, gesturing to Lydia. This bis /bwhy I brought them. bLydia /bhere is Oasisbon bPack’s /bherbalist. She’s offered to help.”

For the first time since we’d arrived, Daniel really looked at Lydia. His gaze traveled over her form, lingering on the mask that concealed her features, I saw

“I appreciate the offer,” bhe /bbsaid /bbslowly/bb, /bb“/bbut 1 need fo know bwho /bI’m trusting with my Alpha’s life. bWould /byou bremove /bbyour /bbmusk/b? I can’t allow someone who won’t even show their face to treat her.”

The room went still. Lydia’s shoulders tensed, and I could practically feel her shrinking into herself. The silence stretched ufortable and heavy-

Xavier, bbless /bhim, immediately moved to diffuse the situation. “Daniel, bplease /bbunderstand /byour concern, but I can personally vouch for Lydia. You know Alpha Morgan invested bin /bmy films–bshe’s /bbeen a supporter bof /bmine for years. And both bAdrian /bband /bbI /bhave advanced to the finals. We have nothing to gain by harming her. This is purely an act of friendship.”

Daniel’s expression wavered, torn between his protective instincts and desperation. His gaze d

dropped to Morgan’s pain–twisted face, and I saw the moment 1,

“1-. forgive me,” he said quietly. “I’m not thinking clearly. Please, if you can help her

1 could feel Lydia’s hurt despite her silence, Moving closer, I caught her hand again and whispered, “I believe in you. We all da

the straightened bslightly /bat my words, then reached into her satchel with renewed purpose. She pulled out two small boxes, their contents giving off a fau

ent even through the packaging.

“These are calming incenses, she said, pressing them into my hands. “Please light them and ce them at the lead of the bed. The smoke needs to be close to her.”

I nodded, taking the boxes carefully. The license sticks were hand–rolled, herbs I didn’t recognize bond together with delicate thread. I found matches on the bedside table and lit them, watching the smoke curl up inzy spitals. The scent was soothingvender mixed with something earthier, and a hint bof /boriental water lily.

Lydia moved to the opposite side of the bed from Daniel, settling herself in the edge with careful movements. She reached out and took Morgan’s ofker hand, bertoch gentle despite the gloves she wore.

“What are you doing?” bDaniel /basked, tension creeping back into his voice.

“Wolves from different packs can’t normally mind–blink/bb,/bb” /bLydia exined softly. “But I have… other blood. It gives me the ability to attempt connection across bpack /bbinds. The chance isn’t high, entering someone’s consciousness requiresplete trust, which is hard to achieve when they’re lost in illusion.”

She closed her eyes, her body going still as stone. The room fell silent except for Morgan’sbored breathing and the soft crackle of the incense

We all stood frozen, afraid to disturb bwhatever /bdelicate process was taking ce. I found myself holding my breath, Adrian’s hand finding mine in light. Even Xavier’s usual easy confidence had given way to teme anticipation.

One minute passed. Then btwo/b. Three

dim

Suddenly, Morgan’s body convulsed. Her bback /barched off the bed, muscles straining against invisible restraints. A guttural sound tore from her throat, move animal than human. Her free bhand /bwed at the sheets, shredding them with partially shifted ws.

“What did you do to her? Daniel snarled, lunging across the bed to grab bLydia’s /bshoulders. His hands shook her roughly, breaking whatever connection the been trying bto /bform “What did you DO?”

Lydia’s eyes flew open, disoriented and fearful behind her mask. Before she could form a response, struggling, Instead, she began to sob softly, her body trembling with quiet, heartbroken cries,

Through her tears, in a voice thick with sorrow and quil

she whispered

before any of bus /bcould intervene, Morgan stopped

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