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“You shouldn’t be here, Olivia,” I said carefully, noting how her eyes kept darting back to Lucas. Visiting hours are over, and only family
is allowed.”
She laughed, a brittle sound that raised the hair on the back of my neck. “Family? What does that even mean anymore?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Did you know they took James away? His grandparents have him now. William’s parents.”
I felt a pang of sympathy despite myself. James was Olivia’s son with William, my ex–fiancé. The little boy was innocent in all of this.
“I’m sorry about James, but you need to leave now,” I said, more firmly this time.
Olivia didn’t seem to hear me. She leaned closer to the bassinet, her eyes taking on a distant, glassy look. “They control everything, you know. The powerful ones. They decide who gets to keep their children and who doesn’t.”
I sent another desperate message to Dominic through our bond, feeling the urgency rise within me. “Something’s wrong. Olivia is here with Lucas.”
Olivia’s fingers hovered over the bassinet. “He’s so small. So perfect. Not like James when he was born. He cried all the time. Wouldn’t let me sleep.” Her voice grew softer, more disconnected. “Sometimes I’d just put pillows over my ears so I couldn’t hear him crying. William was never there to help.”
Alarm bells were ringing in my head. I pushed myself up further, ignoring the pain. “Olivia, please step away from my baby.”
Her head snapped up, her eyes suddenly focusing on me with frightening intensity. “I could help you, you know. I could take him away before they get their claws into him.” She moved closer to Lucas. “Before they turn him into one of them.”
“Don’t touch him!” I warned, my voice dropping to a growl that surprised even me.
“You don’t understand,” Olivia said, her movements becoming more agitated. “I’m trying to help you! I’m trying to save him from them!”
Before I could respond, she lunged toward me, shoving me back against the pillows with unexpected strength. The sudden movement sent pain shooting through my still–recovering body. I gasped, momentarily stunned by the assault.
Olivia turned back to the bassinet, her hands reaching for my son.
Something primal erupted within me. A wave of protective fury unlike anything I’d ever experienced surged through my veins. I felt the change begin–not the complete transformation that was still beyond my abilities, but the partial shift that had become possible since bonding with Dominic.
My vision sharpened, the room suddenly crystal clear despite the dim lighting. I felt my fingernails elongate into claws, and I knew without seeing that my eyes had changed to the golden hue of a wolf. A snarl ripped from my throat as I launched myself from the bed, ignoring the tearing pain in my abdomen.
I grabbed Olivia’s wrist just as her hands were about to lift Lucas from his bassinet. She turned, her eyes widening in shock and fear as she took in my transformed appearance.
“Get away from my cub,” I growled, my voice barely recognizable.
Olivia staggered backward, her face draining of color. “What–what are you?” she whispered.
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Chapter 222
“A mother,” I said simply, positioning myself between her and the bassinet.
Something in Olivia seemed to break then. Her shoulders slumped, and she fell to her knees. “Kill me,” she sobbed, looking up at me with desperate eyes. “Please, just end this pain. I can’t–1 can’t do this anymore.”
The door burst open before I could respond. Dominic charged in, his eyes blazing with protective fury, followed closely by hospital security and Dr. Winters. He took in the scene in an instant–me partially shifted, standing protectively over Lucas’s bassinet, and Olivia crumpled on the floor.
“Sedate her, Dominic ordered the security personnel, who immediately moved to restrain Olivia. One of them produced a syringe, likely containing a tranquilizer.
Dr. Winters rushed to my side, her expression professional but concerned. “Rebecca, you need to calm down and shift back,” she said quietly. “Your body is still healing. This strain could cause complications.”
I felt Dominic’s presence behind me, his hand gently touching my shoulder. “It’s okay, Rebecca,” he murmured. “Lucas is safe. I’m here now.”
Chapter Comments
טל
Visitor
1 days ago
Where is Emily? I’m surprised there were no guards protecting them..
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