Another vision. This one black emptiness. Only voices. One I knew, but much younger than I’d ever heard it.

“You don’t understand, Dad.”

“Yes, I do. You’re the one who doesn’t. The Pack isn’t for us.”

“It’s for werewolves, isn’t it? And we’re werewolves. That’s how it’s supposed to be—living like that, with others, others like us. I feel it—”

“It’s an instinct. You have to fight it. Rise above it. It’s not a club with a special handshake, Karl. They won’t let us in. They’d kill us.”

“How do you know that if you’ve never tried?”

“I know. We have to stay out of their way. We have to—”

Run. Always running. The coward’s way.

Are you calling your father a coward?

No, of course not. I’d never…

The thoughts disintegrated into a muddle of rage and guilt. I drank it up, knowing it was a memory, something Karl was offering me, a gift…

When my stomach stopped churning, I rubbed my hands over my face.

“I—I think I’m okay now,” I said. “Can we—?”

“Leave?” He got up from his crouch and rolled his shoulders, working out the kinks. “I plan to.”

I saw the back of a paramedic who’d just passed through with the stretcher. I got up, wanting to ask how Troy was, but my knees wobbled and Karl had to catch me.

Paige appeared in the doorway. She managed a wan smile, and motioned for Karl to sit me back on the bed. As she checked my pulse, I flashed back to the panic room, to how I’d left it, over Karl’s shoulder, flailing like a chaos-crazed demon. Paige had seen that. They saw, and now they knew my secret.

But as shame flooded me, I remembered how they knew. Not from Karl, who’d never betray my secret. From Benicio. Who’d told Karl to get me out of the room. Who had thrown me into a chaotic situation, knowing I’d thrive on it and, like a junkie, want more.

He’d used me just as much as Tristan had. There was a difference between seducing a prospective employee with promises of huge bonuses and preying on her weaknesses, feeding her the drugs she wants, knowing she’ll become addicted.

Lucas walked in, but my gaze went past him to Benicio. Then I looked away. I didn’t want to lay the blame on him. So what if he’d tempted me? I wanted to be above temptation. In control. Responsible.

“I’ll be at the hospital,” Benicio said to Lucas. “I want you and Paige—” A sharp intake of breath. “Your brothers.”

“I’ll warn them.”

“I should have thought—”

“I’ll look after it, Papá. You go with Troy. I’ll have guards meet you at the hospital.”