Chapter 57
“Because,” I said, my voice hardening as the memory clawed its way to the surface, “my wolf, Sierra, died because of it.”
Sierra. The name lingered in the air between us like a ghost.
My wolf had been a part of me, the bond between us unbreakable–until that poison took her from me. She had been weak, so weak in the end.
We’d spend entire days lying on the floor, her body unable to move, her strength draining away with each passing hour. And then, she was gone.
“I found the vial,” I continued, my voice quivering with barely–contained fury. “It was labeled CR–06.
Your creation.”
Zain’s face twisted with disbelief, his lips parting to say something, but no words came out. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost defensive.
“CR–06 isn’t wolfsbane,” he muttered. “It’s a semi–finished product from our research. Yes, it’s toxic to wolves, but I never sold it to anyone. I kept it safe.”
Safe? The word sounded so hollow, so hypocritical.
I wanted to scream at him, to make him understand the depth of my loss, the hole that losing Sierra had torn in my heart.
But I held back, watching his face for any sign of remorse.
“My research,” Zain continued, his voice gaining strength, “is to solve genetic defects. I would never use it to harm anyone, especially not wolves.”
I froze. His sincerity, the raw honesty in his voice, made me falter.
Could it be that Zain didn’t know? Could it be that he wasn’t the monster I had imagined?
For a moment, I said nothing, letting the weight of his words sink in.
Zain was a genius, that much was clear. He was supposed to be remembered as a revolutionary scientist, someone whose discoveries would change the world.
But all of that had been stolen from him–stolen by greed, by people who saw nothing but profit in
The Al
his brilliance.
Ryan and Victor.
They were the ones who had killed Zain, not with their hands, but with their greed. They had cut short his life and twisted his research into something monstrous.
After Zain’s death, Victor had been too incompetent to finish the experiment.
So he took what Zain had left behind–the incomplete product–and sold it. And Ryan, ever the opportunist, had seized his chance.
“What’s this about?” Zain asked, breaking the silence. His voice was cautious now, wary of the shifting tension between us. “Why are you telling me all of this?”
I leaned forward, my voice soft but firm.
“Zain, I’m willing to fund your research. I can give you all the resources you need to finish what you started.” His eyes narrowed with suspicion, but I pressed on. “Your results will be yours, and your name will be the one written in history. All I ask is for a small favor in return.”
He raised an eyebrow. “A favor?”
nodded. “I want justice for my wolf. My Sierra died because of CR–06. I guess….”
Upon hearing what I said, Zain’s face instantly changed.
The day I returned, the first snow fell in gentle flurries, blanketing the city in a soft white coat.
As I stepped out of the airport, the cold air bit at my skin, but a warm feeling washed over me when I saw Ethan standing near the entrance.
He was talking to Lirian, who, to my surprise, was standing beside him.
The two of them, both effortlessly handsome, seemed to be enjoying an easy conversation, and I could tell by the way passersby glanced at them that their presence didn’t go unnoticed.
There was an air of quiet confidence around them, especially Ethan, who was leaning casually against the car.
Lirian spotted me first. His face lit up, and with a quick wave, he jogged over to where I was standing.
Welcome back,” he said, taking the heavy bags from my hands as if they weighed nothing. “Let me get these for you.”
“Thanks,” I replied, smiling at his thoughtfulness. As he loaded my luggage into the trunk, Ethan caught my eye, giving me a sly grin and a wink. His teasing expression said more than words ever
could.
Ethan pushed off from the car and came to stand beside me. “So,” he started, “how was Vancouver? You left in such a hurry, you didn’t give anyone time to ask questions.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “It was great. Got some things done, you know? And… I’ll be heading back there again in a few days.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow. ‘Again? Is Vancouver suddenly home to someone special?” There was a joking suspicion in his voice, but I just smiled.
Lirian’s brow furrowed when he heard the words ‘someone special‘ and his eyes locked on me.
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