Sofia stood by the door, her fingers trembling as she gripped the strap of her bag. She looked at Matthew, searching his face for a single spark of the friendship they used to have. She looked for the brotherly warmth he usually offered her when Damien was being difficult. But Matthew's face was like stone. He was the Beta, and his loyalty belonged to the Alpha. He had chosen his leader over her, and in her heart, Sofia knew she couldn't blame him. She had pushed him.
With her legs feeling like they were made of lead, Sofia turned toward the door. Every step away from the packhouse felt like a jagged blade pulling through her soul. She was leaving her mate in a coma.
Upstairs, the quiet of the Alpha's suite was broken by a sharp, ragged breath. The monitors, which had been steady and slow, suddenly spiked. The healers rushed to the bedside, their hands glowing with soft green light as they tried to calm the sudden surge of energy coming from the bed.
