"Hold still." Vanessa''s voice carries that stern edge I''ve come to associate with her healer mode as she slides a needle into my arm. "Your veins are collapsing. That''s not good."

"I''ve been drinking water." The defense sounds weak even to my ears. Especially since I almost collapsed this morning, after nine days of nonstop purification. Marcus dragged me straight to the hospital, berating me the entire time for not taking care of myself.

To be fair, I didn''t feel any worse than usual today. Not until the first round of taint cleansing.

"Not enough." She connects the IV line with practiced efficiency. "Your body''s burning through resources faster than you''re replacing them. These purifications are taking more out of you than you realize."

The fluid starts its slow drip into my veins. The bedroom feels too quiet, too still. Lucas and I are never here during the day anymore; we''re both too busy. Even Selene and Grimoire have gone silent, probably sensing my exhaustion.

"I had three full bottles today."

"And you purified four sites yesterday over five miles." Vanessa checks my pulse, her fingers cool against my wrist. "I don''t have the data to back this up, but I''m going to go on record and say it''s like running four marathons back-to-back without refueling. Your electrolytes are dangerously low."

"But—"

"No buts." She pulls up a chair beside the bed. "Judging from your symptoms, the potassium levels in your blood are concerning. And when''s the last time you ate a full meal outside of dinner?"

I have to think about that one. "Breakfast?"

"A piece of toast and a bit of jam isn''t breakfast." Vanessa''s voice softens. "The magic you''re channeling requires fuel. Real fuel. And these purifications... they''re not just cleaning the taint, right? You said they''re drawing on your own magic to transform it."

Grimacing, I settle further back into my pillows. I''ve been trying to take care of myself, but I never really factored in things like electrolytes. That explains the bone-deep exhaustion. "How long do I need to stay here?"

"Until this bag is empty." She pats the bag and a tiny glass jar hanging beside it. "And you''re going to eat the soup Kellan''s bringing. All of it. Elverly swears by it. Says it''s her mother''s recipe."

"I will. I promise."

"You''re lucky Lucas isn''t here to see you like this." Vanessa adjusts the drip rate. "He''d have kittens if he knew how far you pushed yourself today."

"That''s why we''re not telling him."

"Oh, we absolutely are telling him." She raises an eyebrow at my strangled protest. "Doctor-patient confidentiality doesn''t apply when it comes to the Alpha."

"I''m not—"

You''re not fine.

Grimoire sighs. She pulled too much magic for that last purification. But it wouldn''t have been an issue if she wasn''t already worn down.

"Both of you, please." The last thing I need is them tag-teaming me with guilt. "I get it. I''ll take care of myself."

Vanessa makes another note in her book, and something about her movement catches my attention. There''s a subtle difference in how she holds herself, a softness to her usual precise motions. My eyes narrow as I study her more carefully.

Her scrubs hang differently on her frame. The way she keeps one hand near her middle when she moves. The slight flush in her cheeks that I''d attributed to the warmth of the room.

"Ava?" Vanessa pauses mid-note. "What''s wrong?"

"Nothing." I shake my head, still watching her. "You just seem... different."

Her pen stills against the paper. "Different how?"

"I''m not sure." But I am sure. Something''s changed about her energy, like a second pulse beneath her own. "You move differently."

Vanessa''s eyes widen slightly before she schools her expression. "Focus on yourself right now. You''re the patient here."

She''s right, Selene says, but her head tilts as she studies Vanessa. Though now that you mention it...

Grimoire even perks up. Oh. Well, that''s interesting.

"What is it, Grimoire?"

"Nothing that concerns you right now." She tucks her notebook away with deliberate movements. "How''s the dizziness?"

But now I can''t unsee it—the subtle changes in her demeanor, the way her scent has shifted ever so slightly, even though I''m not as sensitive to smell as others. Something about her reminds me of the pregnant she-wolves in the pack, that same gentle glow about them.

Oh.

Oh.

My mouth drops open, but Vanessa points her pen at me in warning. "Don''t. Whatever you''re thinking, don''t say it. Focus on getting better."

I close my mouth obediently.