A shadow loomed behind me. I gasped as a strong arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back. A hand covered my mouth before I could scream. My body froze as a low, unfamiliar voice whispered against my ear.
“Don’t move.”
Then, in one swift motion, a small grenade was tossed onto the floor.
A thick, gray smoke exploded around us, filling the air with the stench of wolfsbane. My knees buckled, and darkness crept into my vision. The last thing I saw before everything went black was the outline of a man pulling me into the shadows.
I woke up to the harsh glow of overhead lights. My body ached, but I wasn’t in my bed. The scent of antiseptic filled the air, and I forced my eyes open, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The walls were white, sterile, and cold. Machines beeped softly around me.
Panic set in. Where was I?
A voice broke through my thoughts. "You’re awake."
I turned sharply, my heart racing. A man stood at the foot of my bed. The moment our eyes met; recognition slammed into me.
"Zach?" My voice was hoarse.
Beta Zachary Ryder. My childhood friend. The one I thought I lost forever.
He nodded, a ghost of a smirk on his face. "You’re safe now."