Chapter 186
Evelyn’s POV
I looked at Gary’s expression and nodded firmly. “Yes p>
He threw his hands up. “Fine! But we’re doing this by the book. Full monitoring, emergency protocols in place, and I want three backup generators for the equipment. If you’re determined to risk your life, we’re going to be absolutely prepared for every possible complication p>
His protective anger made me smile. “Thank you, Gary p>
“Don’t thank me!” He stood up, already heading for the door. “I still think you’re being reckless and stupid, but I’ll be damned if I let anyone else handle your procedure p>
The meeting dissolved into chaos as my team began preparations. I watched them with gratitude and guilt. These brilliant people had followed me into cutting-edge research, trusted my vision. Now I was asking them to help me take an enormous risk.
Emma lingered behind as the others filed out.
“Alexis would be devastated if something happened to you,” she said quietly.
“And I’ll be devastated if I don’t try everything possible to help her,” I replied. “This is the right choice, Emma. I feel it p>
She squeezed my hand. “Then we’ll make sure it works p>
The next morning, I lay on the procedure table in our main lab. The room had been transformed overnight, with additional monitoring equipment lining the walls and a crash cart positioned nearby.
Gary hovered over me, triple-checking the IV line in my arm. “Last chance to back out, boss p>
I smiled up at him. “Not a chance p>
He sighed dramatically. “For the record, I think you’re insane p>
“Duly noted p>
Gary nodded to Emma, who approached with the vial containing our experimental compound. The liquid inside glowed faintly, a bluish-green color that seemed almost alive.
“The Stellaris Moonbane extract has been isolated and concentrated,” Emma explained professionally, though I could hear the tension in her voice. “We’ve customized it based on your blood work to target your specific blockage points p>
I took a deep breath. “Let’s do this p>
Gary administered the compound through my IV. For a moment, nothing happened. Then fire shot through my veins.
I gasped as pain radiated outward from my chest. It felt like every cell in my body was being torn apart and reassembled. My vision blurred, and I heard someone cry out. Probably me.
“Heart rate spiking!” Emma called, her voice sounding far away.
“Blood pressure dropping,” another voice reported.
I tried to focus, but the pain was overwhelming. My body arched as something inside me seemed to claw its way toward consciousness.
Through the haze of agony, I thought of Alexis. Her small face, pale against hospital sheets. The brave smile she always wore during treatments. My beautiful daughter, fighting a battle she shouldn’t have to fight.
For her, I could endure this.
The pain intensified, crushing my chest. Darkness crept in from the edges of my vision. I heard Gary shouting orders, felt cold hands on my arms holding me down.
Then everything went black.
I floated in darkness. No pain. No sensation at all. Just endless quiet nothingness.
“Evelyn p>
The voice came from everywhere and nowhere, soft and curious.
“Who’s there?” I called into the void.
A swirling mist appeared before me, gradually taking shape. Not quite solid, but definitely present.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Evelyn. I’m Lizzy p>
The fog seemed to pulse with the words. I tried to move toward it, but couldn’t.
“What are you? Where am I p>
“I’ve always been part of you,” the voice replied. “But something kept me sleeping. Now I’m awake p>
Before I could respond, the darkness began to fade. The voice faded with it. Lizzy faded with it.
“Wait!” I called. “Don’t go p>
“I’m not going anywhere.” came the faint reply.
I gasped awake, blinking against harsh lights. Concerned faces hovered above me.
“She’s back!” Gary’s relieved voice broke through the fog in my mind. “Evelyn, can you hear me p>
I tried to speak, found my throat dry. Emma offered water, which I gratefully sipped.
“Did it work?” I managed to ask.
Gary frowned, checking my vitals. “Your readings are stable now, but there’s no sign of transformation. No eye glow, no scent change p>
The team moved around me, checking monitors and taking blood samples. Their faces showed relief that I was alive but disappointment that the procedure seemed unsuccessful.
“I heard a voice,” I said suddenly, remembering. “In my mind. She said her name is Lizzy p>
Gary froze, then smacked my arm lightly. “And you’re just mentioning this now? That’s literally the most important information p>
“What did she say?” Emma pressed, excitement replacing her worry.
I tried to recall the exact words. “She said she’s always been part of me, but something kept her sleeping. Now she’s awake p>
Gary’s eyes widened. “A dormant wolf. The procedure actually worked p>
“Can you communicate with her now?” Emma asked eagerly.
I closed my eyes, trying to sense the presence I’d felt in the darkness. For a moment, nothing happened. Then p>
“Hello?” I thought tentatively.
“I’m here,” came the immediate reply. Lizzy’s voice was clearer now, almost as if she were speaking directly into my ear. “It’s hard to maintain contact. The connection is… fragile. I could fall back asleep at any time p>
“She says she’s here,” I reported, opening my eyes. “But the connection is fragile p>
Gary immediately began adjusting monitors. “Fascinating! Your brainwave patterns are showing unusual activity. This could be the wolf-host communication channel forming p>
I was about to respond when something hit me. A scent so powerful it made my head spin.
Pine needles. Rich soil. Crisp winter air.
My heart began racing, and heat flooded my body.
“Mate,” Lizzy’s voice suddenly surged in strength. “That’s our mate’s scent p>
“What’s happening?” Emma asked, noticing my expression.
“A scent,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “I can smell something… someone p>
The scent grew stronger, pulling at something deep within me.
I’d smelled it before, of course.
Many times.
But never like this. Never with this overwhelming intensity that made every nerve tingle.
“Follow it,” Lizzy urged. “We need to find him. Now p>
Without thinking, I pushed past my concerned team, sliding off the examination table. My legs wobbled slightly, but the scent drew me forward like a magnet.
“Evelyn, wait!” Gary called behind me. “You shouldn’t be moving yet p>
I barely heard him. The scent was all that mattered. It led me through the lab corridors, growing stronger with each step.
I found myself outside Alexis’s hospital room.
The door was partially open.
I peered inside.
Calvin sat beside Alexis’s bed, his broad back toward the door. Sunlight streamed through the window, highlighting his profile as he read from a colorful storybook. His deep voice rose and fell with the story, creating different voices for each character.
Alexis lay propped against her pillows, her eyes bright with interest despite her pale face. When Calvin reached a funny part, she giggled, the sound light and musical.
The scent was overwhelming now.
Pine. Earth. Winter.
Calvin.
“MATE! “Lizzy’s voice thundered through my mind, so loud I nearly staggered.