Six days after the ident, I''m packing my small bag of personal items to leave the hospital. The doctors are still shaking their heads, calling my recovery "unprecedented" and "medically inexplicable."


    ording to them, my injuries should have kept me bedridden for weeks, maybe even months. The internal bleeding should have required multiple surgeries. The broken ribs should still be causing excruciating pain.


    But instead, I''m up and walking around with just a slight limp and some tenderness in my chest when I breathe too deeply.


    "I''ve hever seen anything like it," the doctor says as she signs my discharge papers. She checks mytest scans, still looking puzzled. "Especially for a human. Your body is healing at almost the rate of a werewolf." She frowns and shakes her head. "It must have something to do with the Alpha President''s blood transfusion. He must have extremely potent healing capabilities in his blood."


    "Whatever the reason," she continues, "you''re well enough to go home. Just take it easy for the next few weeks."


    Brian meets me in the lobby with a wheelchair. I make a face at him.


    "Is that really necessary? I can walk."


    "Hospital rules," he says with a shrug, then leans down to kiss my cheek. "Besides, you still look like shit."


    I snort, settling into the chair. "Thanks a lot."


    "Did I say shit? I meant absolutely radiant, darling."


    Despite everything, a smile tugs at my lips. Trust Brian to lighten the mood. He and Liam have been a godsend these past days, but I suppose they always have been.


    And then there''s been Arthur.


    I still don''t know what to think. He stayed by my side in the hospital, barely leaving to shower or eat. He gave me his blood, possibly saving my life. He had to leave today for work matters that he simply couldn''t miss, but he never let me out of his sight for days.


    It was... sweet.


    When we pull up to the apartment, my heart leaps into my throat. I can''t wait to see Miles. I practically bolt from the car the moment Brian parks, ignoring the twinge of pain in my side. He follows more slowly, carrying my bag and shaking his head at my impatience.


    The elevator ride up to our floor feels eternal. When the doors finally open, I almost run down the hallway, fumbling with my keys. The door swings open, and I see Miles and Liam sitting in the living room. Miles is coloring on the floor, and Liam is-


    "Mommy!" Miles shrieks, scrambling to his feet and racing toward me.


    I drop to my knees, ignoring the sharp pain in my ribs, and open my arms wide. He crashes into me like a hurricane, and I inhale his familiar scent.


    "Little wolf," I murmur into his hair. "I missed you so much."


    "I made you pictures," he says, and the sound of his voice finally speaking to me after everything, and it''s sweeter than I remember-almost shatters my heart from making it so full. But then he pulls back and points. "Thedy said I should color even more."


    I furrow my brow, looking up, and that''s when I see her. The woman who''s just rounded the living room corner- the woman who Liam was talking to when we entered, and the reason behind his puzzled expression.


    "Iris, I-" Liam begins, but she cuts him off.


    "You must be Iris," she says, pulling a notepad out of her pocket. "I''m from Child Protective Services."


    My blood turns to ice in my veins. CPS? Here? Now?


    I stand slowly, keeping Miles close to my side. "What''s going on?"


    She consults her notepad. "We received aint that your child may be in an unsafe living environment. I''m here to conduct an assessment."


    "Aint?" My voice rises slightly, and I nce at Brian, who looks just as baffled as I do. It seems she arrived while he was picking me up from the hospital. "From whom?"


    "I''m not at liberty to say." Her gaze moves pointedly to Miles. "Perhaps we could speak privately?"


    I look down at Miles, who''s watching the stranger warily. "Miles, sweetheart, why don''t you go color while I talk to the nicedy?"


    Liam and Brian immediately jump into action. "Come on, buddy," Liam says. "Let''s put all your artwork on Mom''s bed so she can see it when sheys down for a rest.''


    Once they''re out of earshot, I turn back to the CPS agent. "What''s all this about?"


    The woman pushes her sses up on her nose. "Theint specifically mentioned that you left your child with a non-rtive when his biological father was avable and willing to care for him. In custody disputes, this kind of decision can be viewed as parental alienation."