ChrisI woke up early the next morning, the unfamiliar hotel room coming into focus as I blinked away the remnants of sleep. For a moment, I reached out, expecting to feel Ava’s familiar warmth beside me, craving the sensation of her skin beneath my fingertips.But the bed was empty, and reality cra
I took a deep breath and launched into my presentation, clicking through the slides that I had carefully prepared the day before.“What Ophelia and I are proposing today is a new hybrid business model. One that utilizes the efforts of both human and werewolf scientists to create GMOs that can greatl
AvaLeonard and I knew we couldn’t tell the Elders about Patrick. There would be too much time wasted on bureaucracy before we could come to a decision about hiring him, and if Elise or any of the other Elders was the mole, then it would be too dangerous.So, I made the decision to keep Patrick hidd
“Leonard, what the hell are you doing here?” I asked, rising from where I crouched by a section of wall. “You should be resting.”He waved a hand at the window, where the sun was setting. I hadn’t even realized how much time had passed. “You’ve been in here for hours, and… I can’t just sit at home w
AvaAs soon as I got home, I immediately checked my phone in the hoped that I would find a message or a call from Chris. We had been playing phone tag all day, our schedules seemingly in perfect misalignment. To my relief, there was one text from him, sent hours ago:“Been busy all day. Probably bes
AvaThe days following Chris’s return were a nonstop flurry of activity. Patrick continued his surveillance of Elise, reporting back to us every morning. The pattern was always the same: late at night, Elise would slip out and head to the clinic, where she would stay for anywhere between fifteen min
“Leonard!” I rushed over, Chris close behind me.“I’m… fine,” Leonard wheezed, trying to wave us off. But the handkerchief in his hand was stained red. Deep red.“Alright, that’s it,” Chris said firmly, his words suddenly no longer slurred as though his body just forgot the alcohol in his system. “W
AvaAs we followed the doctor into his office, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Chris’s hand found mine, squeezing tightly, but I hardly felt it through my panic.The doctor’s face was grim as he gestured for us to sit in the worn leather chairs facing his desk.“I’m afraid