The hospital room was quiet for the first time in days. I lay back, absorbing the fact that I’d been out for two weeks. When the door creaked open again, I nearly jumped out of bed.

“Oh, my dear, it’s so good to see those beautiful eyes open!” Doc Sylvia breezed into the room with a glow that was half excitement, half relief. For a second, I thought it was Kylie bursting in—her excitement and energy were that contagious. “Kylie will be overjoyed to hear you’re awake. I can’t wait to dig into a few questions with you, but first, we’ll be running some tests. I must say, you’re a fascinating case, Selene.”

Doc Sylvia’s excitement over my injuries and “fascinating resilience” left me feeling both curious and cautious.

Another figure stepped into view, his demeanor far more grounded. “Sylvia,” he murmured, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Let’s not overwhelm her.” He turned to me. “I’m Dr. Ganon, and you’ve met my mate, Dr. Sylvia. We’re Kylie’s parents.”

They had Kylie’s warmth and kindness, and I instantly felt more at ease.

“Nice to meet you both,” I said, trying to sit up a little, though every muscle screamed in protest. “Is Kylie here?”

“She’ll be here soon,” Sylvia assured me with a warm smile. “We just need to run a few preliminary tests on you.”

“Sure,” I agreed, not entirely sure what I was signing up for but willing to go along if it meant getting answers.

Doc Sylvia raised a few test tubes with the glee of a scientist on the verge of a breakthrough. “Your body is… unique. To endure the injuries you’ve survived, I suspect you’re more extraordinary than even you know.”

Extraordinary? The idea made me bristle with discomfort, but I knew the tests would help us all figure out what had happened to me.

“So… no wolf yet?” Sylvia asked, pen poised, clearly hoping I’d say yes.

I shook my head. “She’s still gone. Since the attack, it’s been quiet.”

Sylvia nodded, jotting something down. “There’s time. We’ll keep testing until we figure it out. Also, when she returns, I’d love to ask her some questions, if you don’t mind.”

I gave a small nod. “Do what you have to.”

With a comforting smile, Doc Ganon approached and set up his equipment to take more samples. “For now, we’ll run tests every hour or so. It may sound tedious, but the more we know, the sooner we can help you.”

As they worked, I glanced at Warrior Hogan standing by the door, silently observing the procedure. “So, Doc Ganon, when can I get out of here? I’ve been out long enough—I need to get back to school, to training…”

“Once your wolf reemerges, that’ll be a strong sign your body’s recovering. As soon as Sylvia and I clear you, you’ll be moved to a room closer to the training grounds.”

“Well, that’s good. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Good things come to those who wait, Little One.” A hint of humor flickered in his eyes, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

Hours blended into days, with more tests, more theories, and a few unusual conversations. Sylvia’s insights into Kylie’s childhood softened the monotony, and I’d even become accustomed to Ganon’s methodical approach, which made each sample and question feel like part of some larger mystery I was involved in solving. My only frustration was that my wolf remained silent, and without her, I felt half myself.

On the fourth day, while taking blood samples, Sylvia looked thoughtful. “Selene, are you aware of how incredible it is that you survived the level of attack you endured?”

I glanced at her, not quite sure what she meant. “Not really… survival’s just been something I do.”

“That’s an understatement,” Doc Ganon added. “Between the wolfsbane, silver, and physical assault, the poison in your system alone should have been fatal. It’s almost as if your body dispelled it faster than we expected. We’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

Sylvia leaned in. “Which brings us to another question—would you want your scars healed?”

My hand went to my arms instinctively. “I don’t know. They remind me that I survived, but they also make me… vulnerable.” I looked at her, trying to convey the strange duality I felt about them. “I don’t want to forget what I’ve been through, but I don’t want them to be a weakness either.”

“Spoken like a true warrior,” Doc Ganon said with a nod. “Think on it. Healing your scars may be an option, but I think the choice is one that only you can make.”

Sylvia’s gaze softened. “They’re not just scars, Selene. They’re stories. Only you get to decide which stories you carry and which you release.”

Later that day, when Warrior Hogan returned, I noticed a spark in his eye. I’d started to get used to his “gentle warrior” act, a strange blend of stoicism and rare softness he showed only when we were alone.

“Will you tell me about Stacey?” he asked bluntly, breaking the comfortable silence.

I sighed, tracing the bandage on my arm. “What’s there to tell? I’m just another roadblock in her way, one she can crush whenever she likes.”

“She may believe that, but I don’t.” His voice held a hard edge. “People like her are cowards, Selene. They target those they envy. Whatever she thinks she has over you is just fear dressed up as control.”

I met his eyes, surprised at the intensity in his gaze. “She’s going to get what she deserves one day.”

“She will,” he promised. “But first, focus on your own future. Stacey can’t touch you here.”

With each passing day, I grew stronger. I did gentle stretches in my hospital room, started short, slow laps around the bed, and ate the full, nutritious meals they brought. The steady rhythm of routine soothed me, as if each bite of food and each sample they took was a step toward a future that was truly my own.

And then one morning, it happened. A flicker at the edge of my consciousness, a familiar, wild presence sparking back to life. My heart pounded.

She was back. My wolf was back.

The surge of relief, of completeness, nearly bowled me over, and I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face.

I felt the weight of it in my chest, the pull of my wolf, her fierce and loyal presence rejoining me after the silence of so many days.

Doc Sylvia caught the change immediately. “Your wolf—she’s back, isn’t she?”

I nodded, my eyes welling up despite myself. For the first time, I felt whole again.