Chapter 23
590words
The door creaked open. Victor entered with two guards, his thin smile making my skin crawl.
"Good morning, my dear," he said, setting down a metal case on the table. "I trust you slept well?"
I said nothing, watching as he arranged vials, needles, and instruments.
"Your silence is understandable," Victor continued, pulling on gloves. "But unnecessary. This will be much easier if you cooperate."
One guard gripped my shoulders. The other secured my arm to the chair, exposing my elbow.
"Your blood is quite remarkable," Victor said, preparing a large syringe. "Did you know your father discovered that silver wolves have unique cellular regeneration? Combined with an Alpha's strength..." He smiled. "The possibilities are endless."
As he approached with the needle, I closed my eyes, reaching deep into our bond. *Derek, now.*
The response was immediate—a surge of raw power flooding through me, hot and electric. My skin began to glow with a silvery light.
Victor's eyes widened. "What—"
I broke the restraints with a single motion, sending the guards flying backward. The silver light around me intensified, and I felt stronger than ever before.
"Impossible," Victor whispered, backing away. "The silver should suppress your abilities."
I smiled, feeling Derek's strength merging with mine. "You underestimated our bond."
The guards recovered, lunging toward me. I moved with newfound speed, dodging their attacks effortlessly. One guard swung a silver baton, but I caught it mid-air, the metal sizzling against my palm but causing no pain.
Victor scrambled for the door. "Contain her!" he shouted, fleeing down the hallway.
I dispatched the guards quickly, their bodies crumpling to the floor. Through our bond, I could feel Derek fighting his own battle, his triumph echoing my own.
*Where are you?* I called through our connection.
*East wing, lower level,* came his reply. *I'm coming to you.*
I raced through the corridors, following the pull of our bond. Guards appeared, but they were no match for the combined power flowing through me. With each step, I felt Derek getting closer, our connection growing stronger.
Turning a corner, I collided with a solid chest. Strong arms wrapped around me, and the familiar scent of pine and musk enveloped me.
"Derek," I breathed, looking up into his amber eyes.
He cupped my face in his hands, his gaze intense. "I felt everything they did to you," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "It drove me crazy."
I pressed my forehead against his. "We're one now," I whispered. "They can't separate us again."
For a moment, we simply held each other, our hearts beating in perfect sync. The silver glow around me had extended to encompass him as well, our energies completely merged.
"We need to find evidence," Derek said finally, reluctantly pulling away. "Something concrete to take back to the pack."
I nodded. "Victor's office. It must be nearby."
We moved through the building, following instinct more than logic. The few guards we encountered were quickly subdued. Finally, we reached an ornate door at the end of a hallway.
"This is it," Derek said, breaking the lock with a twist of his hand.
Victor's office was immaculate—shelves of books, a massive desk, and walls covered with scientific diagrams. Derek immediately began searching through the desk drawers while I examined the bookshelves.
