Chapter 146

ZAREK

The pungent smell of blood jolted me awake, making my stomach turn.

I immediately started coughing uncontrollably, and blood spilt out of my mouth with each rasp.

Even when I tried to push myself up, my arms barely responded, quivering under the strain.

I felt weak—far weaker than usual.

Had I injured myself during the transformation?

I shook my head slightly, trying to recall. But the memories were hazy, blurred by pain.

The only clear memory was how I had hurt Tania—or, worse, maybe even killed her.

The thought hit me like a sledgehammer: my claws slicing through the air... her lifeless form.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the images, but they burned behind my eyelids, searing into my mind.

I forced myself to focus, to push past the rising wave of guilt.

I had to find out where I was and what had happened.

But as I shifted, pain flared in my wrists, snapping me back to the present.

I looked down and saw silver cuffs clamped tightly around them.

Why am I cuff