Page 49

Aegis's P.O.V

Talia has been talking for twenty-three minutes straight.

"And then I told him—if you're gonna wear cologne that strong, at least don’t smell like desperation! Right? Right?"

I blinked, staring out the car window as trees blurred past. "Mmhmm." She gasped. "You’re not even listening!"

"I am," I said. Barely.

Talia smacked my arm. “Don’t zone out on me, Aegis. This is our last shopping trip together before you become too important to breathe the same air as us common folk.”

I chuckled softly. “I’m not that important.”

"You’re the King’s Aid,” she said, stretching the words dramatically. “You basically get to yell at guards, look pretty, and solve political murders. It’s hot.” I laughed louder. “That’s not the job description.”

“It should be.” She paused. “Do you want me to stop talking?”

“No,” I said. I meant it. Her yapping helped me avoid my thoughts.

Silence sat with us for a beat. Then she looked out the windshield and whispered, “I’m going to miss you.”

My chest tightened. I looked at her, at the purple streak in her hair she dyed on a dare, the oversized hoodie she’d stolen from Brianna, the chipped nail polish.

“I’ll miss you too,” I said quietly. Then I chuckled in realization, "My very first friend."

Her eyes softened. “You don’t like saying goodbye,” she said.

“I hate it,” I replied. Talia smiled. “Then don’t. Just say ‘see you soon.’”

"I nodded. “See you soon.” She grinned. “See? Already sounds less like heartbreak.”

---

The pack garage came into view. We drove in and parked between the Noah’s truck and the Emery's van. I unbuckled and grabbed the shopping bags. Talia opened her door, still humming some pop song under her breath. Then we heard shouting.

“Help! Please....somebody help us!” We turned and a pack woman stumbled in through the wide garage doors. Her mate followed closely behind, carrying a boy in his arms.

The child was limp, mouth open and eyes rolled back. I dropped everything.

Talia called my name, but I was already moving.

“Give him to me!” I said, running up to them. The mother looked terrified. The father’s arms were shaking.

I touched the boy’s skin. Cold. Damp. His lips were pale blue.

No. No. No.

“He was fine this morning,” the woman sobbed. “He went to play ball and just started coughing and then he couldn’t breathe...”

I pressed my ear to the boy’s chest. His heart was beating. Barely.

"Talia, Go get Kara Now."

This was just like the kids in Elias’s pack. His skin begins to turn asky and I know we don't have enough time. My stomach turned.

I looked at the father. “We can't wait.Give him to me.” He handed the boy over, and I clutched him close to my chest. I didn’t wait. I ran.

---

The pack hospital wasn’t far. My feet pounded against the ground. My arms ached. But I didn’t stop. Inside, the healers turned when I kicked open the door. “Code red!” I yelled. “Get the table ready. Now!” The nurses scrambled

. I laid him down, grabbed a mask, hooked up the oxygen. “We need a stimulant. And get me adrenaline.” One of the healers hesitated. “Alpha you’re not cleared to...”

“I don’t care,” I snapped. “I know what I’m doing. MOVE.” They obeyed.

My hands worked fast. Clear airways. Push meds. Monitor vitals.

The boy jolted once. Then twice. Come on, come on.

“Stay with me,” I whispered. “Don’t go.” A long beep echoed.

Then… a pulse. He gasped. Everyone in the room froze. He opened his eyes. He was weak and disoriented. Relief punched me in the chest.

"He’s back,” someone whispered.

I stepped away, wiping sweat from my face. My hands were trembling. He was alive. But barely.

---

Twenty minutes later, we sat in the meeting room. Noah. Emery. Zach. Even Brianna came in halfway, still in her apron and smelling of the cake she just burnt.

I stood in front of them. “That boy would’ve died,” I said. “The symptoms match. It's the exactly the same way those kids died in Elias’s pack.”

Zach’s jaw tightened. “How did this happen? We’ve doubled security."

“Someone was able to get through,” Noah muttered.

“Or someone’s already here,” Emery said solemnly. Everyone looked at him.

I hate that thought. “No,” I said. “It’s not one of ours.”

Emery raised a brow. “You can’t be sure.”

“I KNOW our people."

Brianna rubbed her arms. “If it IS someone from inside…”

The silence that followed was thick and sharp. None of us wanted to even entertain the idea that we have a traitor.

It's not possible. The occurrence that a group of wolves actually had their animalistic side submit to someone and chose thier own Alpha has only been heard of once before. If their human sides even try to betray their chosen leader, their wolf side will ensure thier deaths. It's just not possible.

The door creaked open again and Kara stepped in, barefoot and calm.

Everyone turned. Her eyes were a strange shade tonight. Almost glowing silver. Brianna stood. “Kara.. did you check the boy?” Kara nodded slowly. “Yes.” She walked forward and leaned against the table.

"So,"

“It’s the same witch,” she said. Everyone tensed. “Its the same markings. Same scent. Same magical residue.”

Noah leaned back. “You’re sure?”

"I’m a hybrid,” Kara said simply. “My nose doesn’t lie.”

I watched her carefully. Her skin had faint burn marks along the wrist. She was probably using magic again.her witch half didn’t like staying quiet.

I've only ever had an interaction with her right before I got taken by the hunters. Brianna saved her from a similar hunter ambush sober years ago. Kara barely spoke a word for the first six months and even after that she barely speaks. Now, she didn’t waste words.

"What are they doing?” Noah asked.

Kara hesitated. “I don’t know fully,” she said. “But I asked my witch side.”

That chilled me. “And?”

“The Witch isn't drinking the blood. If they were, they'll be easy to find," Kara whispered. “They're draining blood to awaken something.”

Brianna frowned. “What?”

“They're awakening demons,” Kara said. “From the underworld."

Noah cursed under his breath. “Why?” Brianna asked.

Kara shook her head. “I don’t know. But it’s not good.”

The room went still. Everyone was thinking the same thing. War was coming.

Noah finally broke the silence. “Well. Guess this means you don’t have a choice, Alpha Aegis.”

I turned to him. He smirked. “Back to being the King’s Aid.”

I crossed my arms and stuck out my toungue,“Jokes on you, I was already planning to.” They stared. “Wait....what?” Emery asked.

Brianna smirked proudly.

I shrugged. “I’m going back. But I’m not going alone.” They all blinked. “You’re all coming with me.”

Instant chaos. “Nope.”

“No way.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Not a chance in hell.”

"We leave tomorrow at dawn," I smirked victoriously.