MIA'S POV
The moment I stepped into the room, a thick, suffocating scent of herbs and something far more sinister clung to the air. My father lay motionless, his skin pale, his breathing shallow. A sharp pang of fear sliced through my chest.
No. Not him too.
Lucas rushed to his side, his hands trembling slightly as he checked his pulse. His eyes flicked to mine, a silent confirmation passing between us.
Keith.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palm. He did this. That bastard did this.
A lump formed in my throat, but I forced it down, stepping forward. My fingers barely brushed against my father's hand, and I could feel the unnatural cold seeping from his skin.
I turned to the pack healer, my voice sharp. "What's been done so far?"
The elderly woman bowed her head. "We've tried everything, my Lady. No potion or remedy is working. His body is rejecting all treatment."
Of course, it was.
Keith wouldn't use something ordinary. He was too calculated for that. He had spent too much time lurking in the shadows, waiting for his moment to strike. And now, he was coming for all of us.
Lucas tensed beside me. "Mia, we don't have time. If we don't act now-"
I knew what he meant.
I swallowed hard, lifting my arm and pressing my teeth into my wrist, tearing open the skin. A sharp sting burned through me, but I ignored it.
I tilted my bleeding wrist over my father's lips, watching as crimson drops splattered onto his pale skin.
Come on. Please, let this work.
Seconds passed. Then minutes. I could feel my body growing heavier, my energy draining fast. The wound on my wrist closed quickly, but the exhaustion that came with it lingered.
"Breathe," I whispered, watching for any sign of change.
Nothing.
My stomach twisted painfully.
Was I too late?
Was my father too far gone to be saved?
Lucas placed a firm hand on my shoulder, grounding me. "You need to stop, Mia. You're weakening yourself."
I jerked away, shaking my head. "No, I can give him more."
He caught my wrist before I could cut myself again. "And what happens if you collapse? What if Keith comes for you next?"
A shiver ran down my spine.
Lucas wasn't wrong.
I couldn't afford to be weak. Not now. Not when Keith was still lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.
I let out a slow breath, my body trembling. "Fine." My voice was barely above a whisper.
Lucas guided me to a nearby chair. "Rest. We'll see if the blood takes effect."
I nodded numbly, leaning back, but my mind refused to be still. My father's condition had stabilized slightly, but he was still unconscious, and my body felt drained from giving him my blood. I barely had the energy to sit up when Daisy burst into the room, her face a mask of concern.
"You look like hell," she muttered, sitting beside me.
I let out a weak chuckle. "Gee, thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear."
Her lips pressed into a thin line before she reached for my wrist, checking the now-healed wound. "You gave him your blood, didn't you?"
I didn't answer.
She sighed, shaking her head. "Mia, you can't keep doing this. You're strong, but you're not invincible. If Keith-"
I cut her off. "He did this."
Daisy's brows knitted together. "You don't know that for sure."
I scoffed. "Of course, I do. Who else would? He's been circling like a vulture, waiting for a chance to strike. He tried to take me before, and when that failed, he went after my father."
Daisy's jaw tightened. "Then we need proof. If Keith is behind this, we can't just assume. We need to find out how the poison got into his system, who administered it, and who else might be working with him."
The thought sent a chill through me.
Spies.
The pack could be infested with them, and we wouldn't even know until it was too late.
I rubbed my temple, my exhaustion creeping in again. "You're right. We need to investigate this carefully. If Keith has people on the inside, we might all be walking into a trap."
Daisy leaned forward. "Then we start now. No more waiting."
Lucas entered the room before I could respond, his expression grim. His gaze flickered to me first, scanning my face as if checking for any more signs of weakness, then settled on Daisy.
"I called an emergency meeting," he said. "We're strengthening the security around the pack, no one gets in or out without clearance."
I straightened slightly. "And the suspects?"
His eyes darkened. "We'll find them."Lucas wasted no time. He stormed out of the room, his expression like carved stone, his presence radiating raw authority.
Daisy and I followed as he called for an emergency meeting, his voice echoing through the halls of the packhouse. Within minutes, warriors, guards, and high-ranking officials gathered in the grand hall, their faces a mix of confusion and tension.
Lucas stood at the front, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a predator assessing its prey. "Effective immediately, all security measures are being reinforced," he announced, his voice edged with steel. "No one leaves or enters the pack without my direct approval. Anyone caught sneaking around will be dealt with accordingly."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, some warriors shifting uneasily. My stomach tightened. This wasn't just about protecting the pack-Lucas was ready to hunt.
Daisy crossed her arms, standing beside me. "He's not playing around," she muttered under her breath.
I exhaled slowly. "He shouldn't be. Someone poisoned my father. There are spies in this pack, and if we don't find them soon, they'll strike again."
Lucas's sharp gaze flickered toward me. "Mia." His voice softened just slightly, but his stance remained rigid. "Do you sense anything? Any feeling, any sign of who it could be?"
I clenched my fists, my mind racing. My wolf stirred, uneasy, but I had no clear vision, no immediate feeling of who the traitor could be. But they were here. I could feel them watching, hiding in plain sight.
"I don't know yet," I admitted, frustration lacing my tone. "But I will find out."