SHADOW I didn’t ask how did Califf get Calder’s address. I was sure he had his number, too. We showered and changed to something nice before heading to his brother’s address. “Please, be nice?” I linked our hands as we entered the lobby of Calder’s nice apartment building. “Me? Of course.” His smile didn’t convince me. He seemed to have his own agenda. I knew I didn’t change his mind, giving Calder a chance to know each other, but I would figure out what was up on his sleeve. We got into the elevator and punched the number five button. “Your father gave you the address?” I studied him thoughtfully. Those eyes were haunting. “Yeah. He texted me with the number.” He seemed calm, very calm, and it was unnerving. My temper broke. “Whatever you’re planning tonight, don’t do it, Califf. I’m warning you.” “Or what, baby? You told me to be nice.” He pulled me closer, lifted my chin, and forced me to look at him before he pressed his lips against mine. “The only plan I have for tonight

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

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.

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

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