Chapter 5
The journals lay open on Adam's desk, their yellowed pages casting secrets into the light that had been buried for years. My hands trembled as I traced the elegant script of my mother's handwriting.
"Victoria Collins," Adam read aloud, his voice gentle but tense. "Today, Patrick confirmed what I've suspected—he's been administering Wolfsbane Root Extract to our daughter since birth."
My breath caught in my throat. "Wolfsbane?"
"It's a rare neurotoxin," Adam explained, his jaw tightening. "It suppresses a wolf's development and aura. It's forbidden in most territories."
I stared at the page, my mother's words blurring through my tears. "He poisoned me? But why?"
"Keep reading," Adam urged, his hand warm on my shoulder.
The next entry made my blood run cold:
"Patrick fears Hannah's Alpha aura—she's his daughter, not Robert's. If the pack discovers this, they'll challenge his claim to the Alpha position. Elena is the only one who knows the proper dosage to keep Hannah's wolf dormant without killing her."
I slammed the journal shut, my heart pounding against my ribs. "I'm not wolfless," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I'm... I'm an Alpha?"
Adam's eyes met mine, fierce and protective. "Yes. And Patrick Hudson is your father."
The realization hit me like a physical blow. Maxwell wasn't just my abuser—he was my half-brother. The room spun around me as years of shame and self-loathing crystallized into something else entirely: rage.
"He stole my wolf from me," I said, my voice trembling with fury. "They all knew. They all lied."
Adam pulled me against him, his arms strong and secure. "We're going to make this right, Hannah. I promise."
---
Three days later, Adam was locked in a virtual meeting with the Lycan Council, his voice a low murmur from his study. The weight of our discovery had left me restless, and I slipped out to the garden for air.
The estate's gardens were beautiful—roses climbed trellises along stone pathways, and ancient oaks provided dappled shade. I breathed deeply, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
A shadow fell across my path. I looked up to find Zendaya standing there, her eyes blazing with hatred.
"You," she snarled. "You're ruining everything."
Before I could react, she lunged forward, her nails raking across my cheek. Blood welled from the scratch, and I stumbled backward.
"How dare you!" she screamed, circling me like prey. "Do you have any idea what you've done? My family's reputation is in tatters because of you!"
"I didn't ask for any of this," I said, backing away as she advanced.
"You were nothing!" she spat. "A worthless Omega who should have stayed in her place!"
Zendaya's body began to contort, bones cracking as she prepared to shift. "I'll tear your throat out myself!"
Panic surged through me as her wolf form emerged—sleek and black, teeth bared in a snarl. I backed against the garden wall, nowhere to run.
"I'll enjoy this," she growled, stalking closer.
Something primal awakened inside me—a survival instinct that had nothing to do with my human consciousness. Heat flooded my veins, and a strange power surged through my body.
"Don't," I warned, my voice deeper than usual.
Zendaya lunged, jaws snapping toward my throat. At the last second, something broke free inside me—a dam crumbling under pressure.
"SUBMIT!" The word tore from my throat, resonating with a power I'd never felt before.
Golden light blazed from my eyes, and Zendaya's wolf froze mid-leap. Her body convulsed violently as she was forced back into human form, collapsing to her knees before me.
"What—how did you—" she gasped, trembling visibly.
I stood over her, feeling a strange new awareness flowing through me. "You tried to kill me."
Before I could do anything else, Adam was there, his powerful frame blocking me from view as he faced Zendaya.
"Get out," he commanded, his Alpha tone making the ground shake. "If you ever come near her again, I'll show you what real power looks like."
Zendaya scrambled to her feet, eyes wide with fear, and fled through the garden gate.
---
"She's getting stronger," Adam said later, pacing the length of his study. "The poison is weakening, but it's still dangerous. If your wolf breaks free completely without proper guidance..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but I understood the implication. My wolf could kill me if not released properly.
"We need Elena," I said firmly. "The journals said she was exiled to the Rogue lands. She's the only one who knows how to safely reverse the poison."
Adam nodded, his expression grim. "The Hudsons will be watching the roads. We'll need to go armed and prepared."
I watched as he began gathering weapons and supplies, packing them into weatherproof bags. The Rogue lands were dangerous—lawless territory where outcasts and criminals roamed freely.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked, looking up at me.
I thought about Maxwell's obsession, about the years of lies and manipulation. About my mother's murder and my stolen wolf.
"Yes," I said, my voice steady despite the fear churning in my stomach. "It's time I reclaimed what's mine."
As we packed the last of our supplies, a notification lit up Adam's phone. The sender's name made my blood run cold: Maxwell Hudson.
"I know where you're going," the message read. "And I'm coming with you."
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