SHADOW “Me? Having a PTSD?” He barked out, laughing as he pointed at himself. “I don’t get traumatized, Zarah?” “Really? Do tell, Califf?” Zarah crossed her arms over her chest as she began to get annoyed at his behavior because he thought everything was still a joke. “Human gets PTSD, even animals like dogs. Whether you agree with me, you are part human and an animal. You have an extra strand in your DNA, but it doesn’t mean you are special and not expendable. You get killed and get sick. And this is just the first stage. Do you understand me?” He finally shut up when he realized something. We shared thoughts, after all. He met my gaze, and I felt like my heart split in two. “How many times your life and your mate had been in danger? How many times have you seen death, dead bodies, and blood? Trauma isn’t only caused by war or death but also by watching your loved ones in serious illness, accidents, or the death of someone close to you or their near-death experience. And if you
CALIFF I was dreaming. In my dream, I was running through the woods, feeling the dirt under my feet and the cold breeze against my skin. I caught the scents of the forest, and decaying leaves wafted around. As the adrenaline rushed, I felt free, and I felt my heart pumping as I ran faster, ignoring the burning in my lungs. It was a peaceful night. I was aware I was alone in a way that made it more dangerous, but there was no eerily smell of threats in the air. One moment, I was in my bare feet. The next blink, I was in a four-legged wolf. A jam of adrenaline and pain surged through me. The trembling took over faster. My whole body was caught in a flashback of fear of traps in those deaths and the pungent smell of blood, and I’d never felt an existential, physical, or emotional weakness watching the people I cared about in such agony. “Hey.” A familiar trusty voice and a hand on my face that was warm and soft. I purred to its touch. “Baby?” I jolted up and met the familiar, most
SHADOW “That’s the side effect? And he had to go through that?” I felt his pain and anguish. He had been in the bathroom, vomiting for minutes, while I couldn’t do anything but wait outside. “He has to cleanse his body, his bloodstreams, and what he took wasn’t just a concoction.” “Figured.” “I cast a spell on it because elemental mercury can’t be removed just by puking and defecating. It needs Chelation therapy, medicine, dialysis, or surgery. It’s a plus point that he’s not human. He healed fast. He must have consumed a little amount otherwise.” Zarah shrugged. “He could be dead by now.” I looked up when tears welled my eyes. I knocked again when the bathroom seemed silent, but I could still feel his struggle and constant groaning. “Califf, can I come in?” “No.” He groaned again. “Just give me a few minutes. I’ll be out soon.” “Okay. Do you need anything?” “I’m okay, baby.” He was not close to okay, but somehow, I was relieved he was talking to me. “Call me if you need me.
SHADOW “Dr. Sallie just called. You’re right. It’s mercury poisoning,” I told Zarah. She only gave me an I-told-you-so look. “Aren’t you getting tired of being right, Zarah?” Aira offered me coffee. “Thanks.” She paused to tell me. “You should tell his parents and everyone in the pack.” Despite my panic, I put on my Luna face. “I can’t tell anyone and cause panic. I’ll wait until Califf gets better, but I will call his parents. They might want to see their son.” “I have to tell your father to take action. You could be the target or in danger. We don’t know. He has to do something to find these people hunting all of you.” Her words rose gooseflesh on my arms. “That would be great. I haven’t told you how—” “Just shut up, child. Call his parents.” I couldn’t help but smile and be grateful despite Califf still suffering. On the brighter side, he would be okay. I unlocked the screen of my phone. “Tell them to meet up in one place so I can portal them here, including Dr. Sallie,”
CALIFF I was soaking in my own sweat. I was burning up inside and shivering outside. I was convulsing. At first, I refused to give in. When another surge of pain seeped through every cell and bone in my body, it fucking hurt like hell. I surrendered. It felt ten times worse than in heat. Restless, my wolf was growling and howling as the spike of pain flooded my entire system— it was agonizing, traumatizing. I’d never felt so helpless that I couldn’t do something to ease his pain. I was trapped in a worse nightmare, the feeling of taking something so important to you by force— separating my body and my wolf, and it was the worst feeling in the world— it was earth-shattering— as if someone ripped my soul off of me and caged inside my own fear and nightmare for eternity. I couldn’t fathom what it felt like. No words could express it, and I wanted to bolt out, but my luck ran out a long time ago, and I was trapped in hell. I thought, maybe I was dead, and this was what the hell felt
SHADOW “You could use a nap, honey.” Eleanor sat next to me. “I could, but not until he’s back on his feet.” I stared up at the ceiling. I was exhausted. Even if I tried to look okay and hid it from them, a blind could see it. I hadn’t slept in three days and was losing my mind. I could barely breathe, let alone stand and eat, but I needed to be strong for Califf, the pack, and these guys with me. It had been three agonizing days for me and everyone, and it wasn’t the right time to give up when I saw progress. Now he was in the bathroom, and I was here, counting every second in my head. I let go of a long sigh of relief. “I’ll go knock and check if he needs something.” Zack hadn’t taken a step. Lyon was already gripping his arm to stop him. “I know this has been tough for us, but we should give him time. I’m sure he can link Shadow if he needs anything, and they can share thoughts. So, just relax, man. You’re making me anxious.” “Who wants tea?” Zarah broke the silence. “I’m g
CALIFF “I’m grateful for your patience.” My wife just shook to hold her laugh. “You’re shitting me, Alpha. I have all the patience in the world when it comes to you.” “Come here.” I opened my arms, and she came to me willingly. “I don’t want to crash you, and you’re still recovering. You will get another fluid tonight. Do you want anything else?” “I wanna kiss you.” She smiled. “Just kiss. We’re at Zarah’s house.” “Just kiss.” I cupped her face before she could protest and kissed her like my life depended on it. I always felt at home with her. And three days felt like an eternity before I could kiss and feel my mate. Our lips moved in sync. The moment she felt my tongue at the seam of her lips, she opened them for me, granting me access. Our tongues collided, probing deeply, swirling in her mouth. I missed her taste, the sweetest I’d ever tasted. I missed feeling her skin against mine, her touch, the warmth of her embrace, the tightness and hotness inside her. And I missed h
SHADOW “Take off your necklace. Take this one.” Zarah had another necklace in her hand. “Why, what’s wrong with this?” I removed the necklace she gave me. “This necklace is linked to me.” She put it around my neck. “It will send an alert to me if you are hurt. Don’t worry, I won’t know if you and Califf get kinky.” “Jeez.” I looked at the pendant. It was almost the same as the first one she gave me. “Thanks.” “You have five minutes with the priestess. Just tell her your purpose.” “Zarah—” The portal already appeared before I could protest because I still had in mind to lay to the priestess. “See you later.” She pushed me into the portal. I ended up in Margaret’s living room. “I know why you’re here, Shadow.” Margaret, the High Priestess, welcomed me to her minibar. “I assume Alpha Califf has recovered well.” “Yes. And thank you for meeting me. I’m here because I want to find out who is doing this. Elder Aciano has been missing for two days, and his wife is worried. He was s