Chapter 10: The Truth Axel Was Never Meant to Find

Axel POV:

The hospital was quiet.

Too quiet.

I sat alone in my office reviewing patient records.

Normally, work helped me think.

Tonight, it only made things worse.

Ember's face wouldn't leave my mind.

The way she had looked standing in the foyer.

The suitcase.

The calm expression.

The way she said okay.

At the time, I thought she was being dramatic.

Now I wasn't so sure.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Enter."

One of the IT technicians stepped inside.

"Doctor Blackwood, we found something unusual."

"What?"

"Unauthorized access to old medical archives."

My stomach tightened.

"Which files?"

"Mostly records connected to Ember Blackwood."

Silence.

The technician shifted nervously.

"Do you want me to report it?"

"No."

"Leave it with me."

The moment the door closed, I opened the archive system.

A warning icon flashed on the screen.

Someone had copied Ember's complete medical history.

Every scan.

Every report.

Every prescription.

Including records nobody should have been able to access.

"Who the hell are you?" I muttered.

A terrible possibility entered my mind.

The Shadowlands.

Only an organization with that level of technology could breach our archives.

For some reason, that thought made me uneasy.

Very uneasy.

I began reviewing Ember's records.

Mostly to see what they had taken.

Then I noticed something strange.

A treatment report.

One I hadn't looked at in years.

I opened it.

And froze.

"What?"

The file showed positive wolf activity.

Significant positive activity.

My eyes narrowed.

"That's impossible."

I opened another report.

Then another.

Then another.

The more I searched, the worse it became.

Several files contradicted the official diagnosis.

Some reports suggested Ember's wolf had been recovering.

Others suggested permanent damage.

The data didn't match.

At all.

For the first time in years, genuine confusion settled inside me.

"Who changed these?"

I reviewed authorization logs.

My own ID appeared repeatedly.

Again.

And again.

And again.

I felt sick.

"No."

"No, that's not right."

I couldn't remember authorizing half those changes.

Then a memory surfaced.

"Can you sign these?"

"What are they?"

"Updated treatment requests."

"Fine."

Willow.

Hundreds of documents over the years.

Forms.

Requests.

Research approvals.

Things I signed without reading carefully.

Because I trusted her.

Because she was family.

Because I never imagined she'd lie.

My hands started shaking.

Another knock interrupted me.

"Doctor?"

"Not now."

"It's Willow."

My expression hardened.

"Send her in."

Willow entered carrying tea.

"You've been working late."

"Sit down."

Her smile faltered.

"Why?"

"Sit."

Slowly, she obeyed.

I turned my monitor toward her.

"Explain this."

The color drained from her face.

Only for a second.

But I saw it.

"I don't understand."

"Try harder."

"Axel—"

"Did you submit treatment requests under my authorization?"

Silence.

"Sometimes."

"How many times?"

"I don't remember."

"Wrong answer."

Fear flickered across her face.

"Why are you asking?"

"Because Ember's records don't make sense."

The room went silent.

Complete silence.

"What does Ember have to do with anything?"

"Everything."

"Answer me."

Willow stood abruptly.

"You're upset."

"We should talk tomorrow."

"Sit down."

The authority in my voice shocked even me.

Willow froze.

"Did you alter her records?"

"No."

"Did you interfere with her treatment?"

"No."

"Are you lying?"

"No!"

The answer came too quickly.

Too loudly.

Too desperately.

For the first time in years, I saw panic in Willow's eyes.

Real panic.

The kind guilty people carried.

"Get out."

"Axel—"

"GET OUT."

She flinched.

Then left.

The moment the door closed, I collapsed back into my chair.

My heart pounded.

Because for the first time...

I wasn't sure Willow was innocent.

Across the continent...

Ember POV:

"You're distracted."

"I'm working."

"You're staring at the same page."

"It's a very interesting page."

"Liar."

I looked up.

Derek stood beside my desk.

Smug as usual.

"Why are you here?"

"Dinner."

"Already?"

"You've been working for six hours."

I blinked.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

Somehow, time always moved faster around him.

We walked toward the dining hall together.

"Harper says your wolf activity increased again."

"She did."

"That's good."

"Very good."

I smiled.

Derek smiled back.

And suddenly the bond pulsed.

Warm.

Comforting.

Safe.

Neither of us looked away.

"Ember."

"Hmm?"

"I need to tell you something."

My heartbeat accelerated.

"Okay."

"I think—"

Before he could finish, Harper's voice echoed through the corridor.

"Emergency meeting!"

We both groaned.

"Perfect timing," Derek muttered.

Harper rushed toward us carrying a tablet.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"We intercepted communications from Silver Moon."

"And?"

"Someone there finally started asking questions."

Derek's expression darkened.

"Who?"

"Axel Blackwood."

For the first time since leaving home...

I felt afraid.

Because if Axel was searching for the truth...

Then sooner or later...

He was going to find it.