Brett’s POV
I made ti in my busy schedule to visit Ravendale’s finest shifter hospital. My ntor, Dr. William Morrison, a legendary figure who dedicated his life to shifter dicine, had recently been diagnosed with a rare werewolf genetic disease,the closest human equivalent would be late-stage lung cancer.
But for us werewolves, this disease is even more lethal. It corrodes our wolf, weakens our healing abilities, and ultimately makes it impossible to sustain life in either human or wolf form. Dr. Morrison’s condition was progressing rapidly; doctors gave him less than a month.
As his most promising student, I ca to visit imdiately. His once powerful fra had withered away.
Leaving his room, my heart felt so heavy I could barely breathe. Aurora BioSciences, our Blood Moon Pack’s pharmaceutical research hub, was developing treatnt specifically for this werewolf condition, but we were still one crucial step away from success. If we could accelerate our research, perhaps we could still help my ntor.
This thought quickened my pace. As Alpha of Blood Moon Pack and head of the research team, I had to push this project forward. As I was ntally drafting new experintal protocols, a familiar figure caught my eye.
Lilith.
She sat in the blood drawing room. I stopped at the corridor corner, not wanting her to notice . The nurse was drawing vial after vial of blood from her arm. I counted silently, seven vials. This was no routine check.
I frowned. Why was she here?
"Why does she need so much blood drawn?" Jacob wondered curiously.
Although we’d rejected her as our mate, the mating bond still made it impossible to completely ignore her presence.
Lilith’s POV
At the hospital,Dr. Elias Thorn,the attending physician,decided I needed comprehensive testing to determine whether my genetic defect had progressed to its final stage.
Seven vials of blood were drawn. Afterward, dizziness overwheld , making it nearly impossible to stand.
Trembling,I sat in a chair outside the examination room and pulled out my water bottle.The combination of an empty stomach and extensive blood draw had weakened Thea, my wolf, significantly. I needed to replenish my energy, but I couldn’t even muster the strength to twist open the cap. Damn it, why couldn’t I manage even this simple task? I struggled futilely.
Then a strong hand took the bottle from .Those long fingers with distinct knuckles,I knew that hand.
Brett Lancaster.
When I looked up, my eyes t his ice-blue ones. He opened the bottle and handed it back to . I froze, only managing to stamr. "Alpha Brett?"
Why was he here? If not for Clara, I would never want any connection with him.The false accusation of leaking dical research secrets had destroyed everything, and Brett had rejected when I was at my most vulnerable.
But now, Clara needed him. The children’s shelter hadn’t given any good news in days. No werewolf family wanted to adopt a "scentless pup", a defective little wolf they couldn’t sll or hear.
I suddenly realized this might be my last chance. I couldn’t afford to worry about dignity anymore. Though Thea suffered from losing her mate, she was willing to submit for the sake of our pup.
"You look terrible," Brett held the water closer. "Drink sothing first."
I could tell he’d wanted to leave imdiately. When our eyes t, I saw disgust and pain flash across his face. Yet he still ca to help,perhaps it was Alpha instinct, their innate responsibility to protect the weak, even traitors.
I’d carefully applied makeup today to hide my sickly complexion. But that didn’t matter now,I had more pressing concerns.
"Alpha Brett, I’m not lying," I got straight to the point. "I really do have the genetic defect disease, the kind related to your werewolf dical research. I’m here today to check how much it’s progressed."
If I could prove my illness, would he reconsider his connection to Clara? Maybe he’d realize there had been a mistake in his previous lineage test?
"Could you please wait a mont? My test results will be ready soon," I pleaded, my heart racing. I dreaded him walking away now.
Clearly, Brett thought I was using illness as a ploy.His expression hardened, brows furrowing.
"Lilith, aren’t you tired of this act? You really will stop at nothing."
A wave of dizziness hit , both from physical weakness and emotional pain. Thea whimpered miserably inside .
Did I really have to beg like this? From this man who had abandoned , rejected , left to suffer alone?
Yes, for Clara, I would.
"Alpha Brett," I forced myself to et his eyes, "running into you at the hospital today was pure coincidence. I had no idea you’d be here. I’m not acting. Please, just wait a little longer to see my test results. I couldn’t possibly manipulate the hospital’s system. If you don’t trust , you can co with to get the blood work and genetic sequencing results yourself."
He stared at for a long mont, complex emotions flickering in his eyes. He’d noticed my weakness after the blood draw, and I could tell his dical researcher’s curiosity was piqued.
"Fine," he finally said, "it’s not like you could tamper with freshly printed results anyway. I’m curious to see what new trick you’ve co up with."
Half an hour later, we received all the test results. I handed them to him eagerly, my heart pounding.
"Look, I wasn’t lying."
As both a chief researcher and the CEO of Aurora BioSciences, he knew these trics inside and out.Cellular genetic markers,werewolf-specific RCF(Rapid Cell Failure) indicators, immune system collapse paraters,all showed dangerous red warnings.The MRI and specialized X-ray scans revealed the disease had spread to multiple organs.
His expression shifted from skepticism to shock. When he looked up, the ice in his eyes seed to thaw slightly.
"Lilith, this can’t be real," he furrowed his brow, "You’re so young, werewolf genetic defect disease is practically unheard of at your age..."
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