COLLIN BLACK’S POV


    “What do you mean she’s still alive?” Collin asked, frowning.


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    “We received news…” Genevieve’s voice was low, but insistent. “We received news that she’s with Cassian. Alive.”


    Collin’s brows drew together. “And why exactly do I need to care about Atasha right now?”


    “She should be dead by now!” Genevieve’s voice rose, frustration slipping through. “Why is she still alive?”


    “Our pack just went through something catastrophic,” Collin cut in sharply. “And your concern is Atasha? We all know she’s as good as dead. Cassian wouldn’t let her walk away, just like he didn’t let his other bride live. Stop wasting time thinking about dead meat and focus on the mess we’re in.”


    Genevieve’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t back down. “We cannot leave Atasha alive,” she said through her teeth.


    Collin’s eyes narrowed, the air between them turning tense. “We won’t,” he said finally. “But right now, I need you to get out there and help the wounded. We can’t afford another attack from those beasts. Think about the pack, Genevieve. Not that dead woman.”


    Genevieve’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she turned on her heel and left the study without another word.


    “What did she say?” Celeste asked the moment Genevieve stepped into her room.


    “Mother, you-” She stopped when she saw the dark look on Genevieve’s face,


    “Nothing” Genevieve replied tly. “But I’ve already sent our people to keep following them, Even if that physician Mendez managed to save her for now, he won’t be able to save herter. The poison will get worse the colder it gets. I’m certain Atasha will eventually sumb to it.” Or at least, that was what she was counting on.


    LIEUTENANT RIO’S POV


    “That’s thest one?” Lady Atasha asked as the final lieutenant stepped out of the tent.


    “Yes,” Rio replied, his eyes resting on her for a moment. Themplight inside the tent cast a warm glow over her face, making her look calm and steady,pletely different from how she had been after thest attack. Back then, she had been pale, trembling, and so drained she could barely stand after healing several of hisrades. He had assumed it was because of the


    nature of their wounds.


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    That night, the injuries had been brutal, deep, tearing damage that even werewolf genes couldn’t fully recover from. But now, the situation was different. This time, the damage came from poison. Not just any poison, but one traced back to Alpha Jason. It was designed to halt. their natural healing entirely. Slow–acting, but dangerous enough to wear them down day by day until they couldn’t fight back.


    Outside, the night was cold and still. They were supposed to depart in the morning, yet here Atasha was, still kneeling by the injured, pouring her strength into them without hesitation.


    Rio nced at her again before hearing Mendez speak from the other side of the tent. “Don’t worry about them. We were taught that those who could wield something like this, something most wouldn’t even imagine existing, are witches.”


    Rio watched as Atasha finally straightened her back, wiping her hands on the fabric of her skirt.


    “I’m used to the stares,” she said without looking up. “You shouldn’t mind them.”


    Mendez let out a short sigh. “They’lle around. Eventually, they’ll understand you’re not a witch.”


    Atasha’s gaze


    shifted toward him. “Then what am I?<b>” </b>


    The question stopped Mendez cold. His mouth opened slightly, but no answer came.


    “I’m clearly not a witch,” Atasha went on, her tone steady. “I can’t use magic, and whatever I can do has its limits. So… what am I?<b>” </b>


    “I apologize, mydy,” Mendez said atst. “But I do not know.”


    Atasha smiled faintly and nodded. Then she turned to look at Rio.


    “The other lieutenants might have been surprised,” Rio said before she could speak. “But they know you’re the Princess Consort. They’ll do everything in their power to protect you. All of them can be trusted, so you don’t need to worry. They’ll keep this secret.”


    Her smile returned, a little stronger this time, and she nodded again.


    “Will you start with the others now?” Rio asked, ncing toward the far side of the tent where three morey unmoving.


    This tent held the three Lieutenant who were fatally wounded from the ambush. Earlier, Alpha Jason’s men had checked them and concluded nothing more could be done. The poison in their systems was so heavy their bodies were rejecting every form of medicine. All that was left, they said, was to wait for death.


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    Atasha nodded. She rose to her feet and walked toward the nearest patient, a woman named Grace.


    Rio followed a few steps behind. “Grace has served for over a decade,” he said. “A seasoned warrior. She’s seen more battles than most in this pack.”


    Atasha crouched at Grace’s side and ced a hand over her chest. Almost immediately, the change was visible, too fast for even a werewolf’s eye to follow. Skin knitted together. Color returned. The shallow, ragged breaths steadied.


    Grace’s eyes fluttered open, confusion crossing her face as she took in her surroundings.


    However, Lady Atasha didn’t pause. She moved on to the second lieutenant, then the third. The tent was silent except for the faint sounds of breathing and the shift of cloth as she worked.


    By the time she finished, the color had drained from her own face. Her shoulders sagged slightly, but the three who had been written off as lost were alive—and healing.


    Rio saw the faint sway in Atasha’s stance. Her knees dipped slightly, her bnce shifting just enough to catch his attention. He took a step toward her-


    —but someone else was faster.


    Powerful arms slid around her from behind, steadying her before she could fall. Rio’s gaze snapped up <i>to </i>see Lord Cassian, his expression unreadable under the dim light. Without a word, Cassian reached for the hood of her cloak, pulling it forward until her face was hidden from view. Then he lifted her effortlessly into his arms.


    “The consort will be resting,” Cassian said, his voice low but firm. His eyes moved to Rio, Mendez, and the three recently healed lieutenants, holding each of them in ce with a look. “We’re leaving tomorrow. Prepare yourselves.”


    Rio straightened. Mendez gave a short nod yet one of them spoke.


    Then Cassian’s tone sharpened. “What was done to us here will be repaid a hundredfold. Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we move and we will return everything they gave us.”