Breaking Free from the Alpha's Grip

The silver light emanating from Justice's hands gradually faded as my mother's breathing steadied. Her color returned, the terrifying blue tint receding from her lips. I slumped against the wall, relief washing over me in waves so powerful my knees nearly buckled.

"She'll be fine now," Justice said softly, his eyes meeting mine with a warmth that made my wolf stir strangely within me. "The silver sage poisoning has been neutralized."

I couldn't stop staring at his hands—hands that had saved my mother when my own mate had ignored my desperate pleas.

"Thank you," I whispered, the words inadequate for what he'd done.

Justice nodded, gathering his supplies with practiced efficiency. "I've given her a sedative to help her rest. The herbs I've administered will flush the toxins from her system completely within hours."

The front door slammed open with such force that it bounced against the wall. Massimo stood in the doorway, his ceremonial robes still billowing around him, the fresh mark on his neck glowing pink against his skin.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Justice. "Why is a Moonridge healer in my territory?"

The scent of lilacs and moonflowers still clung to him—Lilah's scent—making my stomach turn.

"Your mate," Justice replied evenly, "was dying while you were marking another woman."

Massimo's face darkened with fury. "This is a pack matter. You have no right to interfere."

"No right?" My voice cut through the room like ice. "You ignored my calls. You performed a marking ceremony while my mother fought for her life!"

Massimo's eyes flashed to me, then back to Justice. "You violated pack protocol by bringing an outsider here."

"I violated protocol?" I stepped forward, my hands trembling with rage. "You violated our mate bond when you chose her over me—over my dying mother!"

Pack members had begun to gather outside, drawn by the commotion. I could see them through the window, their faces pressed against the glass, witnessing our confrontation.

"Adelaide," Massimo lowered his voice, attempting to sound reasonable. "We can discuss this privately."

"There's nothing to discuss," I replied, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "You made your choice today. You chose Lilah over me—over your duty as a healer."

Justice cleared his throat, stepping between us. "Perhaps we should focus on Margaret's recovery. The silver sage poisoning was quite severe."

"Silence!" Massimo snapped. "You have no place here. Leave Silverpine territory immediately."

I moved to Justice's side, my shoulder brushing his in a show of solidarity that sent a strange current through me.

"He stays," I said firmly. "He saved my mother's life when you couldn't be bothered to answer my calls."

Massimo's eyes widened in shock. No one had ever challenged him so publicly before—especially not his own mate.

"You dare—" he began, but I cut him off.

"I dare because you failed," I said, my voice carrying through the open door to the gathered pack members. "You failed as a healer. You failed as a mate."

Whispers rippled through the crowd outside. I could see Beta Ryan Cross among them, his expression grave as he watched the confrontation unfold.

Hours later, as evening fell, I sat beside my mother's bed. Her eyes fluttered open, confusion giving way to recognition.

"Addie," she whispered, her voice weak but steady.

"Mom," I leaned forward, taking her hand. "How do you feel?"

"Better... but strange." She frowned slightly. "This feeling... it reminds me of before."

My heart skipped a beat. "Before?"

"Three years ago," she murmured. "When I nearly died from that treatment. The symptoms feel... similar."

Justice, who had refused to leave until he was certain my mother was stable, exchanged a look with me over her bed.

"Mrs. Pierce," he said gently, "may I ask what you remember about that treatment?"

She closed her eyes, thinking. "Not much. They said it was an omega healer's mistake—someone named Iris. But the symptoms were the same... this burning sensation, the difficulty breathing..."

"Mom," I said carefully, "Iris was just an apprentice. She wouldn't have had access to the rare herbs that caused this reaction."

Justice nodded, confirming my suspicion. "Silver sage is extremely dangerous and requires advanced knowledge to handle safely. An apprentice wouldn't have been authorized to use it."

A chill ran down my spine as I remembered what Justice had told me earlier—that the herb combinations used were far beyond an omega apprentice's expertise.

"Then who..." my mother whispered, her eyes suddenly wide with realization.

I looked at Justice, then back at my mother, the first seeds of suspicion taking root in my mind. Something wasn't right about the official story of what happened three years ago—and somehow, I knew that uncovering the truth would change everything.