I bolt out of the room, heart pounding so hard it feels like it’s stuck in my throat, and I race down the stairs. “Callum!” I scream, barely able to catch my breath.
‘I am so not built for this,‘ I think frantically, stumbling mid–step and practically hurtling down the
staircase.
“Callum!” I don’t stop running until I reach the Alpha’s office. If Callum’s anywhere, it would be with Theron, where he’s practically glued most times.
“Callum!” I shout again, flinging the door wide open. My eyes scan the room–he’s not there. I ignore the way Theron looks at me, whatever he’s thinking can wait.
Without giving him a chance to speak, I turn and storm out. “Callum!” I call again as I make my way toward the exit of the pack house–only to slam directly into something solid.
I glance up–and it’s him. Callum. The brick wall I just crashed into.
“Callum!” I scramble to my feet, breathless. “Joyce!” I gasp, trying to explain, trying to form the words that fear has wedged tightly in my throat.
He stares at me with lifeless eyes, like nothing matters anymore. “Don’t waste your breath. We agreed to stay away from each other.” His words hit me like ice–I have no idea what he’s talking about.
He starts to leave, but I reach out and grab his arm, more of a struggle than I expect.
“Wait! Listen, Joy-”
“Save it!” he snaps, his eyes flaring with anger. “I don’t want to hear a word about her, alright?” His voice is sharp, his expression broken and furious–like a lion cornered and ready to lash out.
“But she collapsed! She’s unconscious on the kitchen floor!” My voice trembles as I try to hold back my tears. Something shifts in his eyes–concern replaces the coldness.
“What?!” He doesn’t even spare me a second glance–he’s already racing up the stairs, urgency in every step. I follow him, close on his heels.
“Joy!” he yells, dropping to his knees beside her as soon as he sees her. “Joy!” He gently taps her face, trying to stir her. “There’s no pulse!” He looks up at me, stricken and overwhelmed.
Scooping her up in his arms like she’s made of glass, he lifts her from the floor and bolts toward the infirmary. His pace is so fast it’s as if he’s skipping space altogether–I even think he’s teleporting.
The nurses burst into the hallway, immediately taking her limp form from his arms. Her skin loses color rapidly with every heartbeat.
“Do something!” he pleads, eyes locked on her. He growls at anyone who dares to approach, his wolf barely held in check.
My mouth dries up, parched with panic and dread. The way he’s behaving could endanger her more than whatever she consumed.
“Callum!” I bark, stepping toward him. His eyes meet mine briefly, as if registering my presence for the first time. He snarls, teeth bared. “Listen,” I say, my fear almost choking me–he looks like he’s
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seconds away from tearing me apart. “Joy is fading fast! Please.” I blink away the tears threatening to spill, hating how weak they make me seem. “She means everything to me. Let the nurses take care of her. I’m begging you.”
My words seem to reach him at last. He gently places Joy into the arms of a nurse who approaches him like she’s facing a cornered beast.
“She’ll be okay,” the nurse assures him before they wheel her down the corridor.
We wait in the reception area for twenty agonizing minutes. Each second drags like an eternity.
I slide down the wall, head bowed, feeling utterly worthless. ‘That should’ve been me,‘ I think as I watch
I the nurses bustling from room to room. The infirmary feels busier than I remember–though maybe it only seems that way because I’ve never been on this side before. I’ve always been the patient.
If I had eaten the cake, I’d be the one lying on that stretcher. I swipe at the tears filling my eyes.
“This is all on me,” Callum mutters, pacing back and forth, tormented by guilt.
His reaction to her collapse earlier made one thing painfully clear–they’re bonded. Yet, they haven’t fully connected as mates yet. That much is obvious too.
“I screwed everything up!” he exclaims, clutching at his hair so tightly it looks like he might rip it out. “I should’ve been with her today. I should’ve gone on that date instead of canceling.”
A pang of jealousy stabs my chest as I listen to him berate himself, even though deep down, I know he’s not to blame. Hours pass as I watch him stay rooted in place, refusing to leave her side, while I sit silently, guilt gnawing through me.
The irony isn’t lost on me. My own mate never once showed up when I was lying on the brink of death in this very place. Yet here is Callum, tearing himself apart over Joy–who may not even return his feelings.
I force myself to swallow the bitterness rising in my throat. Joy is my best friend. Now isn’t the time to
be envious.
“It’s… it’s not your fault,” I murmur, hoping to offer some comfort. Callum only shakes his head and walks over to a chair, but after a moment, he stands again, too restless to sit.
“Callum? Seriously, this isn’t on you. Please stop blaming yourself.” He glances at me briefly, then shakes his head once more.
“You don’t understand,” he says, his eyes fixed on the door where they had taken her. “I was supposed to be with her today, but I chickened out. I kept my distance, and now this happened. What if… what if she did this because of me?” His face is filled with anguish, and the weight of guilt nearly breaks me.
“Callum, I promise you, none of this is your fault.” But he ignores me, pacing across the room. “If any one’s to blame, it’s me. I should’ve been the one to take the first bite. I don’t even know why I let her ha
ve it first.”
He turns toward me with a puzzled expression. “What are you talking about?” he asks. My throat tightens with nerves–this is the moment I’ve been dreading.
“She wanted to surprise me for my birthday… she baked a cake-” my voice catches as a sob escapes. It feels like I’m cursed, as if nothing good is ever allowed to happen to me.
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“Aurelia?” he steps closer, clearly wanting to understand what I’m trying to say.
“It’s just that,” I pause to wipe the tears from my cheeks and steady my voice, “we always had this little tradition… she would take the first bite.” I don’t need to explain further–he knows. He’s always been there for those moments. “I just… after she did, she colla-” I can’t even finish. My words dissolve into more tears, heavier than before. He doesn’t respond, just pulls away and retreats to the far end of the hallway, isolating himself in silence.
I watch him from a distance, deciding to give him space to process it all.
Then the doctor steps out, giving Callum a respectful nod. “Young Beta,” he greets. Callum returns the nod, appearing calm now, even though minutes ago he seemed on the verge of falling apart. I notice how tightly his fists are clenched as he braces for the update.
“We’ve managed to stabilize her–she’s going to be alright.” At that, his hands finally relax, and some of
the tension leaves his face.
“Thank you,” he says with a bow of appreciation. “But… what happened to her? Why did she end up here?” His voice is small, almost like a child asking for answers.
“We ran diagnostics. The results show she was poisoned.” I go rigid at the revelation. That can’t be
true.
“Are you certain?” His voice, now colder and sharper, cuts through the air. I glance at him from the corner of my eye. He looks like he’s ready to fight whoever is responsible.
“Yes. It was wolfbane.” My mouth falls open slightly. That substance could’ve killed me instantly–and taken my wolf with it.
“Can we go see her?” I ask, exhaling softly when he confirms with a nod.
“Yes, we’ve managed to stabilize her. Nothing serious,” he replies before walking off without another word.
“I think you should stay out here,” he says, and I stare at him, confused by the expression on my face- unsure of what it even means.
“Why? I want to see my best friend,” I respond, not understanding.
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