I dressed, fingers trembling against my sweater. *Tomorrow.* O

bruised purple. I tied my hair back, hiding the silver streaks t

g hall-Lillian's, high and bright. I froze,

cut through. "S

esc

uit platter, Xander flipping through reports.

said, not

anding. "What

ways so hostile. We

document towar

eeks ago. Section 3a glared up

came out steadi

illed. "Ex

. No more

ered. "But the doc

" I met Xander's gaze. "I'

creeching. "You d

ch m

der, maybe she's right. I do

not." His eyes locked on mi

hollow, my head pounding. Liam's warning hissed

," I whi

e table. "You can

. "You don't

wrist. "I do

edical wing. My pulse roared, legs buckling with ev

we entered. "Alpha?

Xander

traps snapping over my arms.

gged Mara. "Do

ed, glancin

dle," he

ure in silk. "I'm sorry

. "You're not sorr

ped my jaw.

e, refusing to scream. The machine whirred, siph

an sm

danced. My h

tered. "Her pres

ed his arms.

ped faster. My

..." I

above me. "Dram

kne

-

ick in my mouth. Xander's boots clicked tow

up," he t

the discarded blood bag. *M

rapping me. "I'm

sink, vomit rising. Blood dripped fro

aused in th

er," Xan

er carried. "Wh

she

oor s

-

cot, her hands shaki

ped her slee

nee

d *qui

fl

The transfusion was tomorrow. *Tomorrow.* But

one b

ady for to

rds. The truth cla

took more

m: Wh

we still

ots fli

me at dawn.

ars finally falling. *Try

-

rden that evening, my arm

alive,"

ok up. "Dis

nt invading my space

raw. "You don't k

shed my hair

" I whi

'll donate aga

rld st

o.

es

o my feet.

d, walki

nde

dn't

*dyin

s shoulders sti

hung, m

d into the

above. *Good.* Good that I'd fade. Good

oice whisper

ing dirt fro

r think m

'd fight to