Chapter 23 · Wolf Form Revealed

The hospital smelled like antiseptic and fear.

Zaia sat in a private room—Sebastian had insisted, had thrown his weight around until the hospital administrators complied—and let the doctor stitch her shoulder. Leo and Milo were down the hall with Priya and Zaia's mother, who'd been called and was currently hyperventilating in the cafeteria.

Sebastian was in surgery.

The rogues had been hired. Raven had fled again—but pack enforcement had captured one alive, and he was talking. Celeste Vane, from her cell, had authorized the hit. Target: Zaia and the twins. Eliminate the heirs. Frame the rogue attack as random violence. Destroy Sebastian's credibility when he tried to protect them.

The plan had failed.

Zaia stared at the wall. Her wolf was quiet—exhausted, satisfied, still humming with the memory of claws and blood.

She'd shifted in front of her sons. In front of humans. In front of the world, essentially—there would be video, photos, pack networks buzzing before midnight.

She'd exposed herself. Exposed them.

The door opened. Marcus Hale entered, followed by a man Zaia didn't recognize—elderly, stern, the scent of old power.

"Mrs. Blackwood," the man said.

"Ashford," Zaia corrected. "And I'm not his wife."

"Elder Vance.