The 30-Day Severance, Revenge Before I Leave Chapter 06

The 30-Day Severance, Revenge Before I Leave Chapter 06

On the eighth night, after Martha vanished and Selina left North Ridge with fear in her eyes, the gates opened again.

I heard the cars before I saw the headlights.

Mia was asleep in my arms. I did not move from the rocking chair.

The nursery door opened without a knock.

Carl walked in first, rain on his shoulders. Dr. Vance followed with a steel case in both hands.

I looked at the case.

Then at Carl.

“No.”

His face tightened.

“You don’t know what I’m asking yet.”

“Yes, I do.”

Dr. Vance would not meet my eyes.

Carl came closer.

“Leo is dying,” he said. “The doctors can save him if Mia gives a small part of her source.”

“She is eight days old.”

“She will survive.”

“That is not the same thing.”

His mouth hardened.

“Elena, don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

I laughed once.

It sounded strange in that cold room.

“For whom?”

Carl looked away.

That was the first crack. Not guilt. Not enough for that.

But he knew.

He knew what kind of father walked into a nursery with a doctor and a needle.

Dr. Vance opened the case.

Inside was a silver syringe, long and thin, with a glass vial attached to it.

My wolf rose so fast I nearly lost control.

I held her down.

Not yet.

I stood and laid Mia on the changing table.

Carl watched me, surprised.

“If you do this,” I said, “you hold her.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Elena.”

“You want to save your son? Then look at your daughter while you pay the price.”

For a moment, I thought he would refuse.

Then pride made the choice for him.

Carl stepped forward and placed both hands on Mia’s tiny shoulders.

She woke at his touch.

Dr. Vance came closer with the needle.

His hands were shaking.

“Do it,” Carl said.

The needle pierced Mia’s chest.

Her cry tore through the room.

I will hear that sound until the day I die.

Carl flinched.

Only once.

Then he held her down harder.

“Look at her,” I said.

His jaw clenched.

“Look at her, Carl.”

He did.

Mia screamed beneath his hands, her little body twisting against him, her face red and wet with tears.

The vial filled slowly.

Not with what he wanted.

Only with what I had let him find.

When Dr. Vance withdrew the needle, Mia’s cry broke into thin, breathless whimpers.

Carl let go the second it was done.

He did not reach for her. He did not even look at her face.

His eyes went straight to the vial.

“Is it enough?”

Dr. Vance closed the case quickly.

“Yes, Alpha.”

Carl nodded as if the matter were settled.

Then he looked at me.

“Have the servants bring broth and blankets. She’ll recover.”

She.

Not Mia.

Not my daughter.

She.

I picked Mia up and held her against my chest.

Her blood stained my gown.

Carl seemed uncomfortable for the first time.

“You did the right thing,” he said.

“No,” I answered quietly. “You did what you wanted.”

He had no answer for that.

When they left, I waited until the cars were gone.

Then I opened the locket.

The silver inside glowed once.

Softly.

Mia’s breathing began to steady.

The color came back to her face little by little. Her fingers found mine and held on.

I sat on the floor with her until dawn.

When the first light touched the windows, the mark on my wrist changed.

22 days.

I kissed Mia’s hair.

“Almost,” I whispered.