Chapter 6: The Secret Hidden in the Medical Records

Ember POV:

I didn't sleep that night.

Derek's words kept replaying in my mind.

"Someone worked very hard to make sure you never healed."

It sounded impossible.

Ridiculous.

Terrifying.

Yet a small part of me couldn't stop wondering.

What if he was right?

The next morning, Dr. Harper called me to the research center.

Derek was already there.

Several holographic screens floated above a large conference table.

Medical records covered every display.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Neither of them answered immediately.

Harper exchanged a look with Derek.

Something was wrong.

"We found inconsistencies," Harper finally said.

"What kind of inconsistencies?"

"Your medical history."

My stomach dropped.

"What about it?"

Harper tapped one of the screens.

A report appeared.

My report.

I recognized Axel's signature instantly.

"This was filed six months after the fire," Harper explained.

"According to these notes, your wolf spirit suffered irreversible damage."

"That's what everyone always said."

"Yes."

"The problem is that it isn't true."

Silence.

The room suddenly felt too small.

"What?"

"Your scans don't match the diagnosis."

"Not even close."

I stared at her.

"Explain."

Harper enlarged another document.

"A damaged wolf spirit leaves permanent scarring."

"You have almost none."

"That doesn't make sense."

"Exactly."

"Then why couldn't I shift?"

"Because something was suppressing your wolf."

The words hit like a truck.

"Suppressing?"

"Artificially."

"Someone gave you suppressants."

"For years."

My knees nearly gave out.

"No."

"That's impossible."

"I would've known."

"Would you?" Harper asked softly.

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it again.

Because the answer was no.

I trusted Axel completely.

Every vitamin.

Every treatment.

Every injection.

Everything came from him.

Derek's expression darkened.

"Who handled your medical care after the fire?"

I already knew the answer.

"Axel."

The room fell silent.

For the first time, I couldn't defend him.

For the first time, I couldn't explain it away.

Because the facts were staring directly at me.

"There's more," Harper said.

My chest tightened.

"More?"

"A lot more."

She opened another file.

"These records show repeated prescriptions."

"The medication was labeled as nerve stabilizers."

"But that's not what it was."

"What was it?"

"Wolf suppressants."

The world tilted.

Wolf suppressants.

The same medication used on dangerous rogue wolves.

The same medication used to prevent shifting.

The same medication that could keep a wolf dormant.

For years.

I felt sick.

"No," I whispered.

"No..."

"Why would he do that?"

Nobody answered.

Because nobody knew.

Or maybe they did.

And they were afraid to say it.

"There is one possibility," Harper said carefully.

"What?"

"Someone wanted you dependent."

"Weak."

"Predictable."

"Easy to control."

A memory surfaced.

"You're fragile, Ember."

"Let Axel handle it."

"You wouldn't understand."

"Trust your brothers."

Years of memories suddenly looked different.

Twisted.

Wrong.

Manipulated.

"How long?" I asked.

"How long was I taking them?"

Harper's face tightened.

"Almost ten years."

The room spun.

Ten years.

Ten years stolen from me.

Ten years of believing I was broken.

Ten years of hating myself.

Ten years that never had to happen.

"Ember."

Derek's voice pulled me back.

I hadn't realized I was crying.

Tears streamed silently down my face.

"I'm okay."

"No, you're not."

"And that's okay too."

Something shattered inside me.

Not because of the betrayal.

Not because of the lies.

Because somebody finally allowed me to hurt.

I buried my face in my hands.

For the first time in years, I cried.

Really cried.

Not quietly.

Not secretly.

Not hiding in my room.

I cried for the little girl who lost her parents.

I cried for the teenager who thought she was broken.

I cried for every birthday forgotten.

Every insult.

Every rejection.

Every moment I believed I deserved it.

Derek didn't interrupt.

He simply sat beside me.

Present.

Steady.

Safe.

When the tears finally stopped, exhaustion replaced them.

"What happens now?" I asked.

Harper looked toward Derek.

"Now we heal your wolf properly."

"Can you do that?"

"Yes."

"It won't be easy."

"But yes."

Hope flickered inside me.

Real hope.

"And after that?"

Derek answered.

"After that, you live."

"That's it?"

"That's everything."

I stared at him.

"No revenge?"

"No war?"

"No punishment?"

A dangerous smile touched his lips.

"Those are separate conversations."

For the first time all day, I laughed.

A genuine laugh.

Harper shook her head.

"There she is."

"Who?"

"The woman you're supposed to be."

The words stayed with me.

The woman you're supposed to be.

Maybe I wasn't broken.

Maybe I never was.

Across the continent, Ryker Blackwood sat at Moon Island watching the ocean.

For the third day in a row, he couldn't sleep.

His wolf paced endlessly.

Restless.

Agitated.

Searching.

"Something's wrong," he muttered.

Nearby, Willow stiffened.

"What do you mean?"

"Ember."

"What about her?"

"I can't feel her through the pack bond anymore."

For the first time, genuine fear crossed Willow's face.

Because unlike Ryker...

She knew exactly why.