Chapter 15: The Unwanted Shadow

Wesley stood frozen outside the institute gates, the cold night air doing nothing to calm the storm raging in his mind. If Silas spoke the truth... if Tanya herself set the Ashwood fire... His thoughts spiraled. The sickly-sweet "medication," the track marks on her arms she'd claimed were from "treatment," the convenient tremors - it all clicked into a horrifying new pattern. Had the foundation of his loyalty been built on lies? With trembling hands, he activated his phone. "Investigate Tanya Ashwood immediately," he commanded his beta, voice raw. "I want to know everything about those pills. Everything." Ending the call, he sank against the cold stone wall, gaze fixed on the illuminated windows where his mate - his former mate - resided. The bond between them, once strong as tempered steel, now felt like a phantom limb, aching with absence. She'll come, he thought desperately. The mate bond means something. She'll feel my distress. I