Chapter 184
“Wolfsbane? Did you say babies?” Leo’s voice startled both of us. I turned to see him bent at the waist, hands on his knees, breathing hard as if he’d just sprinted through the hospital.
A frustrated growl rumbled in my chest as I raked my fingers through my hair, pulling at the roots. I had no time for repetition or explanations. Ignoring Leo, I fixed my gaze on David. “You knew about this? Aria confided in you?”
David nodded, his eyes filled with regret. “I confirmed it the day she collapsed. Aria is good at hiding things. I wanted to tell you, but she made me promise not to. She said she wanted to tell you herself, after you two had talked properly.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black and white photograph. I took it with reverent care, as if it might disintegrate between my fingers like ash in the wind
“So they’re yours?” Lea asked, eyes narrowing as he studied my face.
“Yes,” I answered softly, unable to tear my eyes from the grainy ultrasound in my trembling hands. Each pixelated shadow represented an impossible miracle -my children.
“That simplifies everything then, Leo remarked with disturbing casualness, clapping my shoulder like we were discussing weekend plans rather than life and death. His flippant tone scraped against my already raw nerves. “You’ll need to come clean with Aria about what happened with Emma that night.”
“How the hell am I supposed to tell her anything?” I roared, jabbing my finger toward the emergency room doors where doctors were fighting to “She’s lying in there poisoned and barely breathing! She might never wake up to hear whatever truth you think is so damn important right now!”
3342 her life.
My voice thundered through the waiting room, causing nurses to pause mid–stride and patients to shrink back in their chairs. The wolf inside me clawed. frantically beneath my skin, desperate to break free, to hunt down whoever had tried to destroy what was mine. My vision blurred with crimson rage as my hands curled into fists so tight I could feel my nails drawing blood from my palms.
A heartbreaking whimper from behind me cut through my fury like ice water. The sound was small but devastating–the quiet breaking of a child’s heart.
All three of us turned to find Lucas awake, tears streaming unchecked down his pale cheeks. He had folded himself into the smallest possible space, knees clutched tightly to his chest, arms wrapped around them as if trying to hold himself together. The naked fear and grief in those eyes gutted me completely. I dropped to one knee before him, my anger instantly transformed to self–loathing. “Hey, I’m so sorry, little man,” I whispered, gentling my voice. “The shouting wasn’t about you. I’m just worried about your mom.”
“Is she gone?” Luces choked out between hiccupping sobs, his lower lip quivering uncontrollably. “Did Mommy leave us forever?”
My throat constricted painfully as I gathered him into my arms. “No, buddy, she’s still fighting,” I murmured against his hair. “The doctors are helping her get better. If something bad had happened, they would have told us right away. We found her in time. You helped save her by being so brave.”
I stood with Lucas cradled against my chest, his thin arms wrapped around my neck with surprising strength. His tears soaked through my shirt as his small body shuddered with each ragged breath.
“Get started on the investigation, David,” I said, my voice low but commanding. “I’ll keep watch here.”
“I could look after Lucas for a while- Leo offered hesitantly.
“Absolutely not,” I snarled, my arms instinctively tightening around the boy’s fragile form. My wolf rose to the surface, territorial and fierce. Until I knew exactly who had orchestrated this attack, Lucas would remain under my personal protection. Even the slightest risk was unacceptable. “He stays with me.”
I felt Lucas shiver against me, his breathing still ragged with fear. One tiny hand fisted in my shirt, anchoring himself to me.
I fixed David with a stare that made him straighten to attention. “I want everything–surveillance footage, witness statements, forensic analysis of that cider bottle. Find me who did this and why, I commanded, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “And when you do, bring them to me. Alive.”
1 Am His Wolfless Luna
