<b>Chapter </b><b>99 </b>
Aria’s POV
Luckily, I shoved Malik into the closet just one second before the nurse pushed the door open.
“What are you doing? You look… sweaty,” she said aftering in, eyeing me suspiciously.
wiped the sweat off my forehead and red coldly at her. “I was working out. Is that a crime? And haven’t you ever heard of privacy? Who said you could just barge into my room?”
She didn’t look the least bit sorry. “You didn’t answer me, and I thought you might’ve passed out. It was for your safety.”
Bullshit.
They were watching me.
“So what do you want from me?” I asked, frowning.
“Get dressed. Come into the courtyard in five minutes. We have an announcement.”
With that, she turned and left.
I rolled my eyes. What is this, middle school? They thought they could discipline me like a student?
Once I was sure she was gone, I quickly opened the closet. “Hey, are you okay?”
Malik looked shaken. “Holy crap. They can’t find out I’m here. My research would be screwed if they find out about me.”
This guy was a total science maniac.
“Worry about your life first, then your research, genius,” I muttered. “You know Alpha Otto isn’t exactly kind to people who go against him.”
“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. But hey, didn’t she say there was going to be an announcement? Go. Find out what it is.”
I nodded and left my room, heading straight to the courtyard
To my surprise, there were already a bunch of people in hospital gowns standing around. It was the most people I’d seen in this ce.
“All right, line up people,” the nurse from earlier shouted. “I don’t have all day for you guys.”
+ hesitated as I walked up. What the hell was going on?
The others all wore the same white clothes and carried dull, nk expressions. I looked at them curiously, but none of them met my gaze. It was like they didn’t even want to talk to me.
“Listen up,” the nurse called out. “Your task for the week is to clear the weeds and rubble on the east side of the building. Alpha Otto wants to build a new facility there.”
She paused, then added sharply, “And you better move fast. I don’t want to see anyone cking off. Lazy ass don’t get dinner. Understand?!<b>” </b>
Wait. What?
I almost thought I heard it wrong.
12:42 Sun, 10 Aug
Was she seriously assigning us hardbor? But aren’t these people all patients?
Hooked around, hoping someone else would show even a shred of outrage like me. But no. Everyone’s face was eerily calm. Some had already started walking toward the east side of the building.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said loudly. “Don’t you have actual construction workers for this?”
The nurse smirked at me. “In this facility, all patients are required to work. Physicalbor helps with recovery.”
“This isn’t about recovery. This is you exploiting us,” I snapped. “Peoplee here to get treated. They didn’t sign up for this!”
I turned to face the others, raising my voice. “Am I wrong? You’re all being forced into this, right? Why aren’t you standing up for yourselves<b>?!</b>”
But instead of support, all I got were cold, mocking stares.
They looked at me like I was the clown. And I could hear them whispering:
“Pathetic.”
“Total newbie.”
“She’s so embarrassing.”
“You heard them,” the nurse sneered at me. “Now get in line. Or you won’t be eating tonight.”
I took a deep breath, fists clenched furiously.
This is unbelievable. Did they really think Grayson wouldn’t find out about this?
“Forget it,” I said coldly. “This is clearly one of Otto and I’s little games against me. I’m not ying along.”
I turned to walk away.
But a huge male nurse stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
“Get back in line,” he said in a low, threatening voice.
“Get away from me!” I growled.
He grabbed my shoulder and twisted hard. I cried out in pain, then swung my fist and punched him straight in the gut. He grunted.
“Damn, this one’s feisty,” he snarled.
He kicked me hard in the knee. A sharp crack echoed through my bones.
“Ah-!” I screamed as my leg buckled beneath me.
The nurse strolled over, looking down at me like I was trash.
“See what happens when you act like a bad girl?” she said. “Now Alpha Otto has to waste time treating you. This is all your fault.”
I red up at her, gasping for air. The pain from my broken leg was so sharp.
Shit. Shit. SHIT!
This was I and Otto’s doing. I was sure of it!
12:42 Sun<b>, </b>10 <b>Aug </b>
Third Person POV
Otto and I stood by the window, watching from above. From their angle, they could see everything that happened in the courtyard.
When they saw the girl’s leg snap under the nurse’s kick, Otto let out a sharp hiss. “Fuck. That was your call?” he asked.
I crossed her arms, her expression cold and ruthless. “Just a little reminder for her. She needs to learn who’s in charge here. Otherwise, with that little whore’s temper, she’s going to cause us a hell of a lot of trouble for us.”
“But this isn’t going toe back to bite me, right? You heard Grayson earlier. If he finds out his precious little girlfriend got her leg broken, I don’t think he’ll be very happy with me.”
I gave him a side nce. “What, getting cold feet now? Want to back out?”
Otto let out a darkugh and grabbed her ass. “Hell no. I lost my sanity the second you got down on your knees and sucked me dick. I’m your puppet now–even if it means Grayson ends up destroying my pack.”
I leaned back against him, letting his rough hands roam her body.
“There isn’t just risk. Don’t forget what you’re getting out of this,” she said. “Once I get back with Grayson, I’ll make sure White River Pack has unlimited medical funding.”
“That’s what I like to hear, Luna I,” he chuckled, sliding his hand under her bra and squeezing her breast hard. “You know, part of me doesn’t want to let you go now. What do you say you stay by my side, huh? Forget Grayson. I can give you everything you want.”
Her eyes snapped open. And she shoved him off.
“Give me what I want?” she repeated, her tone dripping with mockery. “You can’t even fund your own damn facility. What makes you think you can offer me anything? Pathetic.”
He looked awkward. “Damn it, woman. Do you have to be so fucking ambitious?”
“Only Grayson Hart can give me what I want,” she said coolly, fixing her hair. “So don’t get in my way.”
“I won’t,” he said with a twisted grin. “You have my word.”
“Good.” She walked over to the couch and sat down. “Now tell me everything about your first session.”
He scratched his head and followed her to the couch. “There’s not much to say. I used the device to reach her wolf. Everything’s going as nned. Four more sessions and we’ll get what we want… but I gotta say, her wolf’s pretty damn strong.”
I raised a brow. “Stronger than me?”
“Stronger than Delh, and Delh has her Alpha bloodline,” he said grimly. “Weird, right?”
“No way… she’s just some small–town mutt. How could she possibly have a wolf that strong?” I snapped. “What else do <i>you </i>see during the
session?”
{
“I caught part of her memories. Something about her mother trying to protect her from something. Damn, she might have more secrets than we thought.”
I’s jaw clenched.
Her face flickered between jealousy and rage.
Then she gritted, “Grayson can’t find out about her strong wolf. Do you hear me? NO ONE can know!”
Otto’s expression was just as dark. He smirked.
“Don’t worry. Even the girl doesn’t know about her strong wolf yet,” he said. “And after four more sessions, she won’t even have <b>a </b>wolf<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>4/4 </b>