The Werewolf's Immortal Curse

I screamed those last words and passed out from the pain.

I don't know how long I was out. When I came to, I was stuffed inside a massive glass tank.

I've lived forever, died a thousand times. No matter how I go out, I always come back within twenty-four hours.

I've woken up in icy water, slimy dirt, filthy sewers-you name it, I've been there.

As long as this world keeps spinning, even if I'm burned to ash, reduced to a speck of dust, I'll rise again.

This tank was filled with formaldehyde, my hollowed-out body soaking in it like some twisted bath, slowly piecing itself back together. But I couldn't move yet.

Alpha Lucian's cold voice cut through from somewhere nearby. He'd already popped the lid to check on me.

From the reflection in his eyes, I saw myself-ghastly, my nearly six-foot frame curled up into a pathetic ball, not even half my usual size.

Every usable organ in my body was gone, carved out and handed over to Vanessa.

Alpha Lucian sounded pleased, his voice practically singing with satisfaction.

"She can't come back from this, right? No way she's immortal now. She's just a pile of bones and a head-nothing useful left."

The healer who'd sliced me and Vanessa up nodded, agreeing I was done for.

"No chance of revival. She's useless for research now too. So, what do we do with what's left?"

Alpha Lucian didn't hesitate.

"To be safe, let's burn what's left of her. Scatter the ashes to the four corners of the earth. That way, she's gone for good, and Vanessa can inherit her fortune without a hitch."

This healer-whoever the hell he was-seemed to have connections everywhere. Not only could he pull off organ swaps like it was nothing, but he was also ready to dispose of my body like I was roadkill.

The two of them chatted away, planning my disposal like they were talking about tossing out a dead pet.

Once they'd sorted me out, they moved on to Vanessa's recovery.

Alpha Lucian's voice was bursting with excitement, his eyes sparkling in a way I'd never seen before.

"Those immortal organs are something else. I thought Vanessa would need weeks to bounce back, maybe go through hell first. But the next day, she was already full of life!"

"Not only that, her body's taking to the organs like they were made for her. Her wounds are healing crazy fast. She's practically glowing-I'm blown away!"

"We've already got plans. Three days from now, we're moving on to the next step."

The next step?

That's news to me.

I strained to hear more, but then Alpha Lucian's phone rang. It was Vanessa, her soft voice coming through, asking for strawberry cake. She sounded happy, her appetite back, like she was doing better than ever.

Alpha Lucian lit up, grinning like a kid as he teased her over the phone.

"You little foodie, barely back on your feet and already craving strawberry cake?"

Vanessa's voice came through, all sweet and playful.

"There's more I want, but I can't let myself dream too big without you here..."

Alpha Lucian's smile widened, and he tossed out some flirty line without missing a beat.

"Oh, I'm coming over right now. Go ahead and dream big, babe. Tell me what you're craving, huh?"