Chapter 0325

Zachary

I listen to them talk.

Athena tries to stay calm.

Sebastian tells her Theodore has restarted Brianna's heart twice already.

Twice.

That’s not a good sign.

We can heal from many things.

But if the heart gives up completely… it’s rare anyone comes back from that.

Isabella should be helping.

She’s the pack’s head physician.

Not Theodore, not the others she trained.

I’ve seen her work. She’s precise. Never misses a step.

But she refused to come when I linked her.

Now she’s ignoring me completely.

I stand up.

Athena’s blue eyes flick toward me.

“Please. Tell me the moment you hear anything.” The words almost choke me.

Brianna is my best friend.

We’ve been through everything together.

I can’t lose her because some fucking idiot shot her by mistake.

Athena nods.

I stop outside the hospital.

Debating whether to speak to Alexander about his sister.

Or confront my mate directly.

She should be here. I need to make her help.

I cross the grounds.

Pausing outside the packhouse.

Steeling myself for the fight I know is coming.

I pull the door open.

Charlotte comes flying down the stairs toward me.

Terror is written all over her round little face.

She throws herself into my arms.

“Hey. What’s wrong?”

“Something bad is in the house, Daddy.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s dark upstairs.”

I look up the staircase.

Sunlight streams through the large windows.

“Don’t go up there, Daddy.” Her bright green eyes fill with tears as she glances toward the second floor.

“Who’s upstairs, Lottie?”

Her eyes meet mine, then drop.

She presses against my chest and whispers, “Isabella.”

“Anyone else?”

Charlotte shakes her head and shudders.

“Daddy, can we please leave?”

I back out of the house.

I can’t sense anything but the pain Isabella is radiating.

“Logan and Evrin are with Athena and Sebastian. Do you want to go there?”

I try to keep my voice calm.

But I’m not sure she believes me.

“Yes, please.” She nods frantically.

Part of me hopes she just woke from a nightmare.

But Isabella’s silence… her refusal to help Brianna…

It has me worried.

Sebastian answers the door.

He looks surprised to see us, but he smiles at Charlotte.

“Well, this is a nice surprise.” His comment makes her laugh.

For a moment, her fear vanishes.

“I’m sorry, Sebastian. Can you watch her for a bit?”

He studies my face.

“No problem. She’ll be safe here. The twins are about to wake up anyway. Athena’s making cakes.”

Charlotte runs inside without looking back.

“How bad is it?” Sebastian asks.

“Brianna’s critical. Alexander and Athena are with her.”

“He can’t lose anyone else.” Sebastian sighs.

“But that’s not what I meant.” He glances to make sure Charlotte is out of earshot.

“She said something about Isabella yesterday. She was half-asleep, so it didn’t make much sense.”

“She came running down the stairs… more terrified than when I rescued her from that bar. Isabella was the only one upstairs.”

“She can stay the night if needed.” Sebastian says. “Athena and I love having kids around again.”

I don’t have the heart to tell him there won’t be grandkids.

“I’ll let you know.”

I look around.

Normally, I’d handle this myself.

Isabella is my mate.

But Charlotte called her dark.

That pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Wolves don’t go dark. That’s a Lycan trait.

“Is my daughter okay?”

I turn to see Lucas coming toward me.

“Did you shoot Brianna?” I need to hear it from him.

“I’m sadistic sometimes. I enjoy killing Lycans. But I don’t kill pups. They’re still pure. If you hadn’t noticed, I could have taken any of you out by now. So I’ll ask again—how is my daughter?”

“Scared.”

“I know that, dumbass. What is she scared of?”

“My mate.”

His brows furrow. “She’s helping Brianna, right?”

Was that concern? Does he actually care about Brianna?

“No. Theodore is.”

As much as I hate him, maybe he can help.

He claims to see darkness in people.

I can’t lose my best friend and my mate in one day.

I tell him what happened with Charlotte.

Her fear. Her panic. Her desperate need to escape the house.

“You think Isabella’s lost it?” He asks carefully.

“I don’t know what to think. I know she’s not the woman I fell for. I know she’s shut down. I know she’s in pain she won’t talk about. I can barely get into her head. And when I do…”