rey

udgmental silence. His gaze was like a physical weight, assessing every detail: June's bleeding

anor shifted in a heartbeat, the vicious rage

oice trembling artfully. "This... this lunatic attacked me!

o save her own skin. "She just snapped

to them. Instead, his stern gray eyes settled

re subjective, easily tw

hem of my torn dress just enough to reveal my ankle. It was already swollen to twice its n

ho was still struggling in Bertha's grasp. I pointed directly at

owed was more damning

, as I recall, are to guard the prisoner, Ms. Kowalski," he sai

face we

lowed a wasp. "The Alpha may be... lenient... where you are concerned. But I am not. This cabin i

ed, a silent promise of future retribution, before spinning on

ed the guards with a nod and then turned back to

a healer,

r feigning weakness was over. He had seen the truth. Now it was time fo

tudied me for a long moment, and I saw a flicker of grudging respect in his old eyes. He was see

ill be sent. As for Bertha Kowalski... I will spe

could expect. "Tha

, then turned and left, leavin

ankle!" she cried,

me to the bed, th

t the wall, she turned bac

vate portable radi

nd, glowing faintly blue. June stumbled back,

not the same mistress you served a week ago. I need to fix my

ere it had appeared from nothing. Her hands tre

vision displayed a crisp, clear X-ray. "Hairli

othing. She watched, knuckles white, as I applied a cooling anti-inflammatory spray, admi

possible," she brea

inst the wall. "But you haven't run s

r you are... you're still the only person in this pack who eve

p watching

me, June made a small, strangle

feed. Display biometrics fo

dots, labeled 'FLOR' and 'LANA', moved about the room. Beside them, columns

smile playing on my lips. "R

m, synthesized vo

the fabric of their garments and have now made dermal contact. Incubation period is estimated at six to eight hours. Projected primary sy

ls on the screen b

ngale concluded, "