Chapter 0004

The banquet came to an end two hours after Mother's announcement. A few pack members spoke to me. I was even brought food. It felt so good to actually be acknowledged for once.

When the banquet hall was empty with just my family, I walked up to Kim and pulled her into a hug. She was tense, but it didn’t matter. Before she would’ve pushed me away, the very fact that she was allowing me to hug her had to be a good sign!

After a few moments, Kim pulled away, putting some distance between us. She said nothing and only stared at me with annoyance as she rubbed wrinkles out of her dress.

"Sorry. I am so happy for you. Happy birthday, Kim. I..." I started, but my mother interrupted me.

"Kailani, I need to speak with you. Kim, you should go to your room and get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”

“Yes, mother,” Kim said. She looked at me for a moment but said nothing before turning to leave. A chill ran down my spine as I watched Kim walk away.

Something wasn't right.

I looked back at my mother and father. My mother's smile felt off. The smile didn’t reach her eyes.

My wolf growled low within me. She could feel something was wrong too. Maybe I went too far. Maybe this was too much, too soon.

When Kim was out of earshot, my mother dropped the smile. Her expression was now serious as she glared at me.

"Ten years ago, your sister lost her wolf because of you," my mother declared, her tone as icy as her eyes. "Today is the day you pay for what you did to your sister.”

I swallowed hard, scared to ask what she meant. I finally found my voice. “What do you mean?”

“Your wolf will be given to your sister,” my mother explained, “It’s only right as it is your fault she lost her wolf in the first place.”

My stomach dropped. They couldn't—they wouldn't—

My heart pounded in my chest with a frantic rhythm. I took a step back, scanning the room for an escape, but the doors were closed. Trapped.

"No," I whispered. "You can't do this."

My mother smiled at me—not a smile of happiness or care, but a grotesque twist of her lips. "Oh, but I can. And I will. You owe this to your sister. You have no right to argue!"

I shook my head, panic and bile rising in my throat. My wolf—she was going to rip my wolf away from me. The thought made my knees buckle. I would rather die.

"Please," I choked out. "Mother, don't do this. I'm begging you. We can just keep doing the treatments."

“What did I tell you about calling me that?” my mother roared in anger. The force of her slap cut my lip back open. She swung again. I reflexively blocked her hand and pushed her away. This caught her off guard and she fell into some chairs.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen,” I stammered.

My mother scoffed as she stood up. “Finally, you show who you really are. Seize her.”

“No, this is is a mistake,” I pleaded.

But my mother had already turned away and called the guards into the banquet hall. My breaths came in ragged, terrified gasps. There was no escape. My fate had been sealed, as cold and unyielding as the stone walls surrounding me.

The guards approached, hands outstretched. I stumbled back, bumping into the table behind me, sending glasses crashing to the floor.

“Now, Kailani, don’t make a scene. You’re ruining our fine china,” my mother scolded me.

"No!" I screamed. "Get away from me!"

'Windows. We can get through the windows,' my wolf told me.

I lept over one of the dining tables to get away from the guards. I ran for the windows, only to hear the bellows of my father.

"Sit down now!" he commanded. I could do nothing but stop in my tracks. I tried to fight against his command, but my body moved on its own. I turned around, walked to a chair, and sat down.

I looked at my father, and he looked at me with indifference. How could he do this to me?

As the guards seized my arms, a sharp pain stabbed the back of my neck. My limbs grew numb and heavy, the room spinning around me. I fought to remain conscious. My vision became cloudy as the darkness began to creep in. The last thing I heard before the darkness claimed me was my mother's triumphant laughter.

When I awoke, the harsh glow of fluorescent lights hurt my eyes. I blinked, disoriented, my head pounding. Something was wrong. I couldn't move my arms or legs. Panic flooded my senses as I realized I was paralyzed, strapped to a cold metal table.

The room came into focus, with all its sharp edges and sterility. And there, in the center, were two figures in surgical masks, their gloved hands wielding wickedly sharp instruments. My heart stuttered. No. This couldn't be happening.

I opened my mouth to scream, but no sound emerged. I was mute, voiceless, and powerless to stop them.

'I am sorry, Kailani. They drugged us. I could not take over to help us escape,' my wolf apologized.

One of the doctors gets closer to me. Her eyes peered at me from above her surgical mask, which she slowly pulled down to reveal a sympathetic smile. It was Dr. Mitchell, the pack doctor.

"Oh, sweet Kailani," she said softly, her voice wavering with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "You must understand, this is for your own good."

I searched deep within those familiar eyes, desperate for the kind-hearted woman who had tended to my scrapes and bruises since childhood. And yet, all I could see was the reflection of a monster – my mother’s puppet. My heart twisted painfully in my chest, the reality of betrayal sinking in.

I tried to speak but I couldn’t move my body at all. I opened a telepathic link to Dr. Mitchell and screamed at her, “How could you agree to this? How could you do this to me? Ripping my wolf from me – it’s worst than death. Just let me go. I won’t tell anyone.”

Her eyes shifted away from mine, a flicker of guilt crossing her features before being replaced by a forced smile. “I can’t do that. You’re very important. I know what you're thinking, Kailani. Why you? How could this happen to you?"

"But perhaps," she continued, her tone taking on an unsettling enthusiasm, "the question should be: why not you? This is a groundbreaking procedure, Kailani. You should be elated to be part of a medical milestone."

As her words sank in, I could no longer recognize the woman standing before me. Her once caring demeanor had morphed into something evil. She looked more like a mad scientist than the compassionate pack doctor I had grown to trust. And in that moment, I realized just how lost I truly was.

"You're wrong," I choked out, my voice barely a whisper. "This isn't progress. This is torture. You’re crazy."

Dr. Mitchell's expression hardened at my words, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of her old self – the kind-hearted pack doctor who would do anything to help her patients. But just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished, replaced by a cold expression.

Dr. Mitchell blocked me telepathically. She leaned forward, squinting, and gripped my jaw harshly. “Everyone in the medical field was called crazy at least once before their breakthrough. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

She released my jaw and cocked her head to the side. Her eyes gleamed as she smiled at me as she pulled her surgical mask back up. Her voice is devoid of emotion.

“But, don’t worry, Kailani, this will be over quickly.”