Revenge On The Wolf Whose Lover Tormented My Sister

I barreled into the healer's ward like a freight train, and there was Molly, all alone on that gurney in the trauma bay. Her breaths came shallow as whispers, blood pooling under her like a shallow crimson pond. My brain flatlined. "Where's the healer...?" I spun on Boris, tears burning hot tracks down my face. "Go find one, damn it! I need my pup breathing-I need her alive!" Boris tore through every hall in that place, even dropped to his knees outside the head healer's office, begging like a whipped pup. Nothing. Not a single healer would budge. "Jade, every healer in Galathia Town's tied up-Julian's got 'em all tending to Nancy's scratch." I bit down on my lip till I tasted copper. "What about the pack office healers, then?" Boris's face twisted in agony. "Nancy's got her claws in every resource at Payne Business-won't loosen her grip. Julian's orders: her word's law, whatever makes her smile. And get this-he said if you want Molly pulling through, head up to the penthouse suite... and grovel at Nancy's paws. Beg forgiveness on your knees." My heart seized up, like some bastard had wrapped it in barbed wire and yanked. Molly fluttered her eyes open in my arms, weak as a newborn. "Sis... don't... I know bending the knee to that she-wolf would gut you worse than dying... I'd rather fade out than watch you break for me... Sis, trust me-I'm no bad pup... I really thought Stuart was my forever, that's why I let him snap those pics... made you look like a fool. I'm sorry..." Seeing her like this, half-gone and still fretting over me, cracked my chest wide open. My fingers trembled as I cupped her cheek. "Hush now, Molly... ain't your fault. It's those twisted wolves who don't know right from wrong. You'll always be my shining star, pup-don't you forget it." It felt like a gale ripping through the raw hole in my soul. I squeezed my eyes shut. "Hang on for me, okay? I swear, you're coming out of this." Up in the VIP suite on the top floor, Nancy was playing the damsel, whining and nuzzling into Julian's chest about her boo-boos. She clocked me in the doorway, and that watery-eyed innocence flipped to a vicious gleam-like a predator scenting blood. "Jade? What're you doing here? Don't tell me... you're here to make nice?" I ground my teeth. "Yeah. You want me on my knees, head to the floor, eating crow? Fine. Long as you call off the healers and let one save my sister." Nancy cooed at the mangy hound in her lap, stroking its fur with a sly smile, and nodded slow. *Thud.* I dropped straight down, spine ramrod straight. The hall filled with gawkers, murmurs buzzing like angry hornets. "She really did it? Word on the street was Julian couldn't get enough of her." "That was then, pup. Hearts shift like the wind in these packs." "Hell, in alpha circles? Even a battle-scarred pair like them's just a pretty title at the end of the day..." Every whisper clawed at the memories, shredding the Julian who'd once looked at me like I hung the moon-loyal, fierce, mine. I nearly cracked a molar biting down. But I bowed low anyway, banging my forehead three times on the cold tile. "Sorry, Nancy. I shouldn't have loosed that arrow-shouldn't have nicked you." Ripping my own pride to ribbons, I lifted my head. "That square? Now send a healer for Molly?" Nancy waved her phone like a trophy, giggling like a schoolyard bully. "Aw, Jade, old age hitting that memory? When'd I say anything about saving your pup?" I surged to my feet. "You nodded. Right there." "Did I?" Her laugh dripped honey and venom. "Oops, changed my mind. My little mutt just shivered-probably caught a chill. All healers on deck for him now. Tough luck." Julian-the wolf who'd once sworn off lies like they were poison-chuckled soft, ruffling her hair. "You sly little vixen." That did it. The rage I'd bottled exploded like a full-moon frenzy. My eyes locked on that killer hound in her lap-the one that'd mauled folks before, even nipped at Molly once. I slipped the blade from my belt, snatched the beast by the scruff, and slit its throat clean. Tossed the gushing corpse back in her lap, wiped the splatter from my cheek casual as spit. "Problem solved-no more sniffles. Now, healers for my sister?"