Jacky
I gasped, the shock making me dizzy as I felt the blade twist, sinking deeper into my stomach. My vision blurred, but through the haze, I could see Jessy’s face-a twisted smile that was equal parts satisfaction and cruelty. My fingers pressed against the wound, desperate to stop the blood from seeping out, but it was useless. The pain locked me in place, pinning me down as she stood over me like some victorious monster.
“Surprised?” Jessy sneered, crossing her arms as she tilted her head to look at me. “I guess you’re not as smart as you thought.”
I tried to speak, but the pain made my throat close up. All I could manage was a low, shaky gasp. “Why…?”
Her laugh echoed through the empty clearing, cold and mocking. “Oh, poor Jacky. So oblivious. Every year, I join up, pretend to be a fresh recruit, and wipe out the biggest threats,” she said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “And you… you were just the latest one on my list. Strong, driven, drawing attention. You had to go.”
My heart thudded, a betrayal cutting even deeper than the knife wound. Jessy had been here longer, playing us all, using every recruit as a pawn to keep herself at the top. And I’d trusted her. I forced myself to glare at her, hating the smugness in her face, the way she looked down on me like she’d already won.
Jessy crouched, her face inches from mine, close enough that I could feel her breath on my face. “And just so you know, that blade?” She gestured to the knife still embedded in my gut, her grin widening. “It’s coated with a poison. Not just any poison, either-it’s designed to kill your wolf first. Little by little, your strength, your power… all of it will just slip away. And when that’s gone, you’ll die too.”
A wave of terror crashed over me as I felt a strange numbness creeping through my body, spreading from the wound like ice in my veins. My connection to my wolf… I could feel it slipping, piece by piece. I tried to move, but every motion sent fresh pain shooting through me, locking me in place. She was killing my wolf, and I was helpless to stop her.
Jessy’s eyes sparkled with twisted delight as she watched me struggle. “Oh, you can fight it all you want, but it’s going to get you eventually. Soon, you’ll feel it-the poison’s going to make you relive your worst fears. So have fun with that, soldier.”
The sound of laughter made me turn my head, just barely. Malia stood a few paces back, watching with that same smug satisfaction on her face. I should have known she was in on it. She’d been Jessy’s shadow, pretending to hate and ridicule her. Lingering around her, pretending to be friendly with the rest of us. I felt sick, more from their betrayal than from the poison sinking deeper into my veins.
Jessy straightened up, brushing off her hands as if I were just dirt she needed to get rid of. “Come on, girls,” she said, turning to Malia and the others. “Let’s leave her to die. Just one less competitor in the way.”
They started to walk off, their laughter ringing in my ears. I reached for the knife strapped to my boot, my last chance at a weapon, but my hands trembled too much to grip it. The numbness was spreading faster now, and my strength was slipping away. Every breath felt like a battle, my vision starting to darken at the edges as I struggled to stay conscious.
Their voices faded, but Jessy’s parting words echoed in my mind: “Enjoy the nightmares, Jacky.”
I staggered to my feet, clutching my side where Jessy’s knife had left a hot, searing ache. My hands fumbled for the blade at my boot, this time gathering all the strength I had left. Pulling it out, I was ready to take one last stand, to prove I wasn’t just some easy target. But before I could even grip it right, Malia’s hands were around my wrist, twisting the blade free and sending it clattering to the ground.
The next thing I knew, I was on my back, the impact rattling my skull. Malia loomed over me, straddling my waist, her cold eyes glinting with a look I’d seen too many times-pure, unfiltered disdain. She didn’t look angry or threatened. She looked amused, like I was some pathetic joke.
Leaning in close, she sneered, her breath hot against my face. “You’re not as dangerous as Alpha Roman said. You’re not even worth the effort,” she hissed, her voice dripping with scorn. “Just like your sister.”
Her words cut deeper than any blade ever could.
Roman’s Quarters
—
The door slammed open, and I turned, catching Malia’s eager, smug smile as she stepped in, clearly expecting praise or maybe even some twisted reward. Instead, I just stared at her, letting silence settle heavy between us, watching her face twist with confusion.
She had no idea the mistake she’d just made.
“You misunderstood my orders,” I said, my voice even, my gaze locked on her. ” I thought you weren’t stupid Malia, but you just keep disappointing me!” My fist was clenched, I wanted to smash a bottle in her head. She stopped, frowning, the smug look on her face beginning to fade.
“I don’t… I don’t understand. I thought you wanted her-”
“Broken, not killed,” I interrupted, my tone laced with barely controlled anger. She took a step back, the confusion on her face turning to fear as she looked at me, her eyes widening.
“Alpha Roman, I… I was just following-”
I crossed the space between us in two strides, my hand shooting out, clawed fingers wrapping around her throat. Her eyes bulged as I squeezed just hard enough to cut off her words, her hands scrabbling at my arm. I watched her panic, her face turning red as she tried to force out a word, an apology, anything to appease me.
Her terror didn’t phase me. It felt like nothing more than a brief annoyance.
“You think you understand my orders, Malia? You think you know why I want her alive?” My voice was a low, dangerous whisper, each word hitting like a hammer. She tried to shake her head, her lips moving as she choked out a garbled plea. “You don’t get to question me. Not about her. Not about anything.”
The fear in her eyes was almost pathetic. I could feel her pulse hammering beneath my fingers, her gasps growing weaker as she struggled, her strength already fading. But I wasn’t done yet. I leaned in close, letting her see every inch of the disgust in my eyes.
“You exist to serve my will. Nothing more.” I shoved her away, letting her crumple to the floor, gasping for air, her hands pressed to her throat as she coughed and sputtered.
She barely managed to lift her head, her face pale, eyes darting around as if she could find an escape. “I… I’m sorry,” she stammered, bowing her head, her voice trembling with shame and fear. “Please… I didn’t mean…”
I waved her off, already tired of her presence. “Get out.”
She scrambled to her feet, practically tripping over herself as she backed toward the door, too terrified to look me in the eye. I watched her go, my jaw clenched, waiting until the door clicked shut behind her before I let out a frustrated sigh.
Jacky. She was the only one my thoughts kept circling back to, the only one who seemed to occupy every square inch of my mind. And now, thanks to Jessy and her little stunt, Jacky’s life was hanging by a thread. I couldn’t afford to let her die. Not yet.
I turned, striding toward the door, calling for the physician. Within minutes, he arrived, his expression serious, waiting for my instructions.
“Prepare every antidote and remedy for poison that you have,” I commanded, my tone brooking no argument. He nodded, already making a mental list, his focus trained on me. “She’ll live,” I muttered, more to myself than to him, the words low and cold. “She has to.”
He left to gather what he needed, leaving me alone in the silence, my mind still churning, focused on one thing and one thing only: bringing her back.