Kyle rushed to Ashlee's house, opened the door, and Wrigley ran out, scared by something unknown to Kyle. The dog jumped into his arms, trembling.

"What's wrong?" Kyle brushed him back and glanced inside. He saw nothing and no one.

The strange sensation that had always stopped him from entering the house before something bad happened was now faint. He moved inside slowly, looking around.

The farther he stepped in, the louder the sobs grew. He could hear Ashlee crying but not screaming. He couldn't feel her energy like before. Something was seriously wrong.

He set Wrigley down and moved towards the faint sound of her sobbing. He stopped in front of her mother's room. His hands gripped the doorknob, and with a mix of curiosity and concern, he opened the door.

His eyes landed on something unexpected, his jaw clenched, and he lost control. While rushing towards Ashlee, he transformed into his massive wolf.

With a swift lash of his claw, he slashed her uncle's shoulder, making him scream in agony. He collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain, barely holding on to life.

"Ashlee!" Kyle shouted through the mind link. Ashlee lay on the floor, her eyes open, her sobs fading. She stared blankly at the ceiling.

Meanwhile, her mother's corpse lay lifeless beside her. Ashlee's arms were scratched, and the area around her abdomen bled heavily. Yet, she didn't even hiss, seeming as though she didn't care.

"Ashlee!! Get up!" Kyle shouted again. Ashlee heard him. She couldn't block his mind links. She didn't have the strength, and that strange energy she once had seemed to vanish.

Ashlee slowly tilted her head, her eyes settling on Kyle. She extended her hand towards him, beckoning him closer. Then, as her last tear fell, she fainted.

"Damn it!" Kyle muttered, but before he could reach her, Ashlee's uncle rose with the same knife he had used on her mother, lunging at Kyle. But he underestimated Kyle's strength; with a single swipe, Kyle could have torn him apart.

"You filthy beast!" her uncle screamed, aiming for Kyle's ribs, but only managed a scratch as Kyle dodged and retaliated. With one powerful swipe, his claw left a deep cut on the man's face, rendering him unconscious.

Kyle howled loudly, calling his pack and sending an emergency signal. Within moments, pack members gathered, all shocked to see three bodies in the room.

"Call the police and lock that bastard up. I'll take Ashlee home. She needs a healer quickly," Kyle ordered, his voice fierce.

Derion and Esyn hadn't come. Derion was tasked with watching the dark elf, and Esyn was pregnant. Kyle lifted Ashlee and headed back to his place.

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Esyn and a few others were waiting at the door, anxious and worried for their Alpha.

"What... What's going on?" Esyn's eyes widened at the sight of Kyle carrying an unconscious Ashlee, pale as death.

"No time to explain. We need to heal her fast. She's lost so much blood." Kyle's voice was urgent as he rushed to his room.

Heather and Diana watched the scene unfold. Inside, Heather felt a twisted satisfaction, wishing Ashlee would die rather than be healed. But everyone was stunned to see Kyle take Ashlee to his room.

"Ever been in his room?" Diana taunted Heather.

Kyle suffered from insomnia, rarely sleeping in his own room, and had never brought anyone there—not even Heather. Though he had flirted with many she-wolves, Heather had never been one of them.

"Esyn, heal her now!" he commanded, his tone no longer brotherly but authoritative, that of an Alpha speaking to his mate. His patience was nonexistent.

The more he had tried to avoid her before, the more desperately he wanted her now. His frustration and stress consumed him.

Esyn didn't argue, placing her hand over Ashlee's wounds. Even though she wasn't supposed to heal while pregnant, she pushed herself to help her brother's mate.

"Hurry up!" Kyle's voice was tense.

"I can't get through!" Esyn shouted back, narrowing her eyes at him.

"What's wrong?" Kyle asked, struggling to stay calm.

"Something's off. It feels like something is blocking me from her wounds or mind." She closed her eyes, trying harder to heal Ashlee.

"Alright, stop!" Kyle gently pulled Esyn back. "Are you okay?" he asked, rubbing her hand.

"Yes, but she isn't." Esyn glanced at Ashlee. This was troubling—how could she not heal a human?

"It's fine. I'll take her to a hospital," he muttered, his gaze on Ashlee. He was terrified of losing her, but moving her could risk her losing even more blood.

"No, I don't think you'll need to," Esyn replied, studying Ashlee's scratches. She sensed something was wrong.

"What do you mean?" Kyle asked, hope creeping in.

"Look here." Esyn pointed at her wounds.

"Yeah. She's injured?" Kyle's brow furrowed.

"No, you idiot!" Esyn hissed. "Her bleeding has stopped. Look closely—her scratches are forming thin skin layers, healing on their own. But how?"

"How is she healing this fast by herself?" Esyn whispered, baffled.

"What do we do now?" Kyle asked, a glimmer of relief in his voice.

"Let her be. She seems to be healing on her own." Esyn said thoughtfully, still puzzled. "But why?"

Everyone stepped out, and Esyn paused by the door, starting to close it. Kyle quickly turned.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Esyn sighed. "Her clothes are torn, and it wouldn't be right for you to stay while I clean her wounds and change her clothes." She rolled her eyes, beginning to close the door again.

Kyle stopped her. "Be careful. Don't overexert yourself," he warned, his voice low and commanding.

"Fine!" Esyn grumbled, clearly frustrated with everyone's warnings.

Meanwhile, Derion waited at the base, watching over the elf. Bound in chains, she chuckled, sensing his curiosity.

"What are you even waiting for?" she groaned, stretching her neck. Her pointed ears gleamed sharply.

Derion ignored her, keeping his distance.

"You want me to tell you what happened? I already know," she taunted, laughing and wincing as her ribs ached.

"You blocked my path. Big mistake," she smirked, locking eyes with him.

"We'll see about that," Derion replied just as one of his guards rushed in.

"Alpha's mate was hurt. Her mother... she's gone," he panted.

"Told ya," the elf chuckled, rolling her eyes.

"You knew this would happen?" Derion asked, his body stiffening.

"Of course. Why else would I target that pathetic girl? I despise humans," she sneered.

"How did you know?" Derion probed, trying to gather information, though he knew elven loyalty ran deep.

"You know I won't tell you. Why bother asking?" she mocked, her voice dripping with disdain.