Aegis's P.O.V.

"What the hell? She has no injuries."

I opened my eyes to the sound of muffled voices. Another Hospital. The sharp scent of antiseptic hit me first. The room was cold, too bright. White walls. White sheets. White everything. I blinked slowly, my chest rising and falling. Alive. Somehow, I was alive.

"How is this even possible?" A male voice. "She should be dead," said another, softer voice. A woman this time. I turned my head. Two doctors stood near the door arguing amongst themselves. They hadn’t noticed me yet. "No wounds. No burns. It doesn’t make sense," the woman whispered. "That's just not possible ," the man muttered.

I sat up, the sheets falling off my chest. My sudden movement made them freeze. Their heads snapped toward me. "She’s awake," the woman said, her voice trembling. " I can see that," the man bit out in frustration.

He stepped closer cautiously. "Miss...can you hear me?"

"Where am I?" My voice was hoarse. It didn’t even sound like me.

"You’re safe," he said quickly.

""Where am I?" I repeated.

"The Wolf Claw pack. We found you...barely alive. Our pack felt something was wrong and sent us to help, but by the time we arrived…" He trailed off, glancing at the woman. I stared at him.

"What happened?" He hesitated. "We were too late. Most of your pack didn’t make it."

"Was there any survivors?" My voice was emotionless. I felt hollow, as if everything inside me had been scraped out.

"Three," the woman said quietly. "Three survived, but...they’re badly injured." Three. Out of an entire pack. My stomach turned, but my face stayed blank. I can’t feel anything. Not yet.

"And the little girl?" I asked. They exchanged a glance. "What little girl?" the man asked carefully. "There was a little girl," I said, my voice harder now. "She was there. I know she was."

"We didn't find any..."

"Actually...," The woman’s face fell. She looked at the man, as if waiting for permission. He sighed, rubbing his face.

"The little girl..." He paused. "She didn’t make it."

I didn’t blink. "What happened to her?"

The woman swallowed. "Her skull was..." She took a deep breath. "Her skull was cracked open. There was a claw mark...a deep one. It almost split her in two." The words hit me like a knife to the chest. But I didn’t react. Not outwardly. My hands stayed still on the sheets. My face didn’t flinch.

"Where is she?" I asked. The woman blinked. "Excuse me?" "Where is she? I want to see her," I said. The man shook his head. "That’s not a good idea. She—"

"Take me to her," I cut him off. They hesitated, but something in my tone must have convinced them.

The woman nodded slowly. "Okay." I slid off the bed and followed them down a quiet hallway.

My mind was silent, too silent. When they opened the door, the smell hit me first. Blood. Death. She was there, lying on a metal table. So small. So still. My Cece.

Her face was pale, her hair matted with blood. The claw mark on her chest was deep and vicious. They were right it ran through the tiny length of her. I walked forward with my legs growing heavier with every step .

When I reached her, the dam broke. My knees buckled and I sank to the floor. My hands covered my face, but the sobs came anyway, raw and violent.

"No," I whispered. "No, no, no." I reached out, my fingers brushing her cold hand. "I’m sorry," I choked out. "I’m so sorry baby." The room was spinning.

My chest felt like it was caving in. I couldn’t breathe.

Another woman stepped forward, her footsteps echoing in the silence.

"Do you want the one who did to her to suffer?" I looked up, my tear-streaked face meeting the woman who had spoken. She was tall, strong, with sharp green eyes.

"Who are you?" I asked. She smiled faintly. "Someone who can help. And I ask again, Do you want revenge?"

"How?" My voice was bitter. The woman tilted her head. "Let me reintroduce myself," she said, her voice steady. "I am Alpha Brianna of the Wolf Claw Pack. The first female Alpha in the world." Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and I felt the fire in my chest burn brighter.

"So let me ask you again, Miss. Do you wish to make them pay?"

"Yes."

Lesson Four; Sometimes revenge is the answer and sometimes vengeance brings you peace...