Chapter 6

I moved my fingers, instinctively wanting to touch my right ankle.

But that area sent piercing pain and a heavy sense of restraint.

"My ankle—what happened to it?" My voice was terribly hoarse.

The hospital room fell instantly silent. Kellan took a deep breath, his voice rough as he spoke:

"Isobel, the bullet tore through your ankle bone. The wolfsbane has penetrated deep.

We used every method available and saved your foot, but..."

He paused, his voice full of heartache:

"But the wolfsbane caused irreversible damage. You might never be able to shift again."

My mind went completely blank, as if all the blood in my body had frozen.

I am the only daughter of Tundra Pack's Alpha, the most gifted hunter in the pack,

the only female warrior in North American werewolf circles who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Kellan.

Running, hunting, fighting—these instincts were carved into my bones, the pride of being Tundra Pack's heir.

But now, all of it had been completely destroyed.

Wave after wave of tearing pain struck my chest, making it almost impossible to breathe.

I clutched the bedsheet beneath me so hard my knuckles turned white, my nails digging deep into my palms.

I looked at Kellan like he was a complete stranger.

"Those rogues," my tone was flat, devoid of any ripple, "Lia hired them, didn't she?"

Kellan's eyes immediately shifted away. His Adam's apple bobbed as he rushed to explain:

"I've already investigated thoroughly. Those rogues have nothing to do with Lia.

Your ankle was truly just an accident, Isobel. Please don't overthink this..."

"An accident? At my last checkup, Shadowreach Pack's physician said my body was the healthiest and strongest in the entire pack.

Even if I were poisoned with wolfsbane, it shouldn't have caused consequences as severe as losing my ability to shift."

I stared hard into his eyes. "Kellan, what exactly are you hiding from me?"

The air in the hospital room completely froze. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word.

Just then, his phone vibrated. Lia's name flashed on the screen.

I clearly saw him breathe a sigh of relief, as if he'd found an excuse to escape.

He stood up, his tone conflicted: "Isobel, I need to handle something. I'll be right back."

I stared at the ceiling until the door opened again.

Lia walked in, a victor's smile on her face, holding a document. She walked to my bedside.

"Isobel, how are you feeling? Your right ankle is ruined, you can never shift again—that must feel terrible, doesn't it?"

I snapped my eyes open, my gaze full of murderous intent.

"Ah, don't look at me like that." She covered her mouth in mock surprise, tossing the document onto my bed.

"Kellan didn't tell you, did he? I hired those rogues.

I originally wanted them to kill you outright, but I didn't expect your guards to arrive so quickly."

She leaned down, bringing her mouth close to my ear, her voice dropping extremely low.

"And also—the reason you can't shift is entirely Kellan's doing.

He knew perfectly well there were ways to remove the wolfsbane, but he signed off on conservative treatment. Do you know why?"