Chapter 78
“What if?”
Ryan’s thoughts betrayed him. Sophia had always been so kind, so forgiving, even when he treated her like dirt. There had been times when he’d hurt her so badly, yet she’d as cared more about
his well–being than her own.
She’d ask if he was alright, even after he’d stomped on her heart.
Maybe this time would be no different.
The idea tempted him. Sophia was richer than ever, her grades had skyrocketed, and she had transformed in ways he hadn’t expected. The only thing that held her back was the absence of her
wolf–a fact that would forever make her vulnerable in their world.
But still, her wealth and influence were undeniable.
Keeping his inner turmoil hidden, Ryan turned to Clara. “Go home. Don’t show up at school again. I’ll figure out the debt.”
Clara gave him a sly smile, clearly satisfied with his response, but Ryan’s words weren’t reassuring. She reluctantly left, though, knowing better than to push her luck.
Sophia’s POV:
By the time all this unfolded, I was already on a plane, leaving it all behind for Vancouver. The
rain–soaked streets of the city greeted me as I landed. There was no time to dwell on the chaos I’d left at school. I had a mission–something far more important than Ryan’s manipulation or Clara’s
schemes.
My destination was the University of British Columbia, where Zane, the researcher I’d been in contact with, had been waiting for me. Without wasting a moment, we headed straight into the lab
for an exhaustive examination.
Zane’s hands shook as he held the results of the test in his trembling fingers. His face was pale, and his voice barely above a whisper. “There’s no trace of the CR–06 component in your body,” he
nuttered
“But your wolf… she’s in a coma. The muscle atrophy and neural degeneration–both are consistent with CR–06 toxin exposure.”
felt a chill crawl up my spine. The results were exactly what I had expected, though that didn’t make hearing them any easier.
I took a deep breath, bracing myself. *Of course there was no CR–06 toxin in my system. I had come back from rebirth–my wolf Sera had returned with me, but the damage from the toxin still clung to
leaving her in a fragile state. Saving her was the only thing that mattered no
ane’s eyes were clouded with confusion as he murmured to himself, “How could this happen? CR–06 should never have leaked out…”
His words trailed off as he stared at the floor, lost in thought. He looked almost like a child who had lost his way, bewildered by something far beyond his comprehension.
But I couldn’t afford to trust anyone so easily, not after what had happened in my last life.
I stood perfectly still, locking my gaze on Zane’s troubled eyes. My pulse quickened as I quietly concentrated, tapping into the unique ability that had surfaced since my rebirth-*mind reading“.
Zane paced back and forth in the lab, his eyes wild with panic as he muttered to himself, “Which part of the process went wrong? There must be a traitor inside the lab… Maybe more people will be victims. What if someone has already died because of this?”
His voice trembled, his hands gripping the edge of the ta“le as if it could anchor him in the storm of his thoughts. “My research… It was supposed to benefit the wolves, not turn into this! I’ve become a
sinner…
I had never seen him like this–so close to the edge, consumed by guilt. His hands shook, his face pale, and his usually sharp eyes were clouded with despair. Seeing him like this startled me.
I reached out, gently placing my hand on his arm, trying to calm him. “Zane, stop. You didn’t intend for any of this to happen. It’s not your fault.”
His chest rose and fell rapidly, but after a few moments of silence, he slowly regained some composure. His eyes, though still filled with concern, softened slightly. “T’m sorry,” he whispered, as if the weight of the entire world rested on his shoulders.
“It’s just… this poison. I never imagined something like this could come from my work.”
“I understand, Zane,” I replied softly. “But listen, this poison–CR–06–it should be the only one in
xistence. I’m the only one who has taken it. Now, you need to keep it safe and make sure no one else falls victim to it.”
Zane nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. He was still processing the gravity of what had happened, but my words seemed to have steadied him. After a lone pause, he looked at me, a flicker
The Al
apter
of curiosity in his eyes. “How did you even come into contact with it? Who gave it to you?”
