Chapter 244

Vivian

Crouching behind a hedge, I turned off airplane mode on my phone, relieved to see a weak signal. I quickly typed a message to our group:

[EMERGENCY! We're under attack. Armed personnel with organization have sealed off the area. Philip Green is involved. Lucas is handling things inside. They're using signal jammers and have cut the power—they clearly know our advantages and disadvantages in darkness. Send reinforcement ASAP. Can't contact other Storm Ridge members, fear they may be compromised.]

I forwarded the same message to Grace, then continued moving.

As I carefully made my way to the staff entrance at the back of the building, I spotted several plainclothes men guarding the door.

I immediately ducked behind the corner, my mind working rapidly.

I needed evidence and time for Lucas.

Taking a calculated risk, I activated my phone's recording function and tucked the device into the inner lining of my dress.

After straightening my appearance, I took a deep breath and rushed toward the entrance, feigning panic.

"Please, let me in!" I cried, my voice trembling with manufactured fear. "I'm a guest here—my friend is still inside!"

One guard looked at me with recognition. "That's her. The wolf doctor."

"Drop the act," another said coldly. "You're exactly who we're looking for."

The lead guard stepped forward. "Identity confirmed?"

I abandoned my pretense, my voice becoming steady. "You obviously know who I am, but I don't understand why you're targeting us... Please step aside."

One guard whispered to another, but my enhanced hearing caught his words: "We've already got that criminal under control."

A voice crackled through their communications device: "Hold position. I'll handle her personally."

'Time is running out,' I thought, tension building in my muscles.

"Why would we let you through?" one guard sneered.

"Because my friend inside is in danger, and for some reason, everyone has united against us without provocation," I replied evenly.

The guard laughed mockingly. "Monsters like you don't deserve to live among normal people. You should have been dealt with long ago, Vivian Clark."

He stepped closer, his breath hot on my face. "What did you do to the one who came looking for you, huh?"

Anger flared within me as I realized these men might be connected to the attackers who had broken into my apartment. "You mean the one who drugged me and tried to rape me?" I asked, my voice ice-cold.

The guard laughed loudly. "That was just a warning. No one would fuck a freak like you for pleasure. Get it, you deformed bitch? He was just putting you in your place!"

"Monster doctor, how fitting!" another added. "That's right, because she's a—"

A low growl rumbled from my throat as my eyes blazed.

"We are thinking beings just like you," I said, my voice dangerously quiet, "but in your eyes, killing us isn't a crime. You can attack us, but if we fight back, we're demons. We deserve to be hunted, eliminated—is that your justice? Why?!"

The guards began to surround me, and I heard footsteps approaching from the distance.

'Damn it, I'm too conspicuous!' I realized, aware that my outburst was drawing attention. But I was done hiding my anger. I wasn't just a hunted werewolf doctor—I was an Alpha's Luna.

I retrieved my phone from inside my dress, then stripped off the entire gown and tossed it aside.

'If Lucas heard what you just said...' I thought, 'you'd already be corpses.'

In an instant, I shifted forms. My wolf was larger than the average female werewolf's, with my phone and dress clutched in my jaws.

I lunged at the guards, my claws tearing through the two nearest men. My aura expanded, the ground trembling as several guards were knocked down. Blood sprayed as I left at least three men fatally wounded on the ground.

I pushed through the staff entrance door, hearing shouts in the distance as I shifted back to human form.

I picked up my phone from where it had fallen and wrapped my discarded dress around me like a towel, tearing a strip of fabric to secure it at my waist.

With phone in hand, I raced down the corridor toward the electrical room. I was grateful most people had been evacuated.

Through our bond, I couldn't sense any pain from Lucas, which meant he was safe for now.

'Lucas, what's your status?' I sent through our mental link.

'Still under control,' he replied, his voice tense. 'You?'

'I'm inside the building.'

'Good. Get the power back on... things are complicated in here.'

The strain in Lucas's voice sent a chill of fear through me.

'Reinforcements are on the way. I contacted them. They should arrive soon,' I assured him.

'I'm afraid we can't wait that long, baby. I need to resolve this situation now... whatever it takes. Watch your back.'

My chest tightened at his words. I knew what "whatever it takes" meant coming from Lucas.

I checked my phone to see replies from Archer, Selene, Vortend, and Grace: [On our way. Stay in touch.]

And then I repeated it to Lucas.

'Good. Restore the power and get out immediately. Don't return to the main hall,' Lucas instructed, his tone unusually serious.

My heart raced. What is he planning to do?

---

As I approached the electrical room, I reached out to Lucas one final time.

'Be careful. I love you. I'm at the electrical room now.'

'Understood. Love you.'

I scanned the hallway cautiously before pressing my ear against the door. Hearing nothing suspicious, I whispered, "I love you too, my sexy stallion."

Detecting no sounds from inside, I pushed open the door and navigated through the equipment to reach the main circuit breaker. A sense of relief washed over me as I extended my hand toward the master switch.

Suddenly, I sensed a presence behind me. My entire body tensed.

'Damn it.'

"Your story ends here," a voice whispered in my ear.