Wires snapped and monitors sparked as golden light poured from Rory's trembling body. Her spine arched, her mouth opened in a silent cry, and then she immediately gasped.
A deep, guttural breath filled her lungs like it was her first time breathing. Her eyes went open, golden and glowing unnaturally in the dim hospital room. The golden aura that had burst from her moments ago now clung to her skin like a second layer, crackling with soft energy.
"What the hell…" the nurse muttered, frozen in place.
"Call the head, call someone" another nurse stammered.
The room became hot for the nurses, voices blurred. Rory sat up slowly, confused knitting her brows. Her fingers twitched. The sheets beneath her were soaked with sweat. She felt everything and nothing all at once, like she was in her body and outside of it.
"I... I'm awake?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.
The door burst open. "RORY!"
Her father's voice was loud through the hallway before he even entered the room. Dorian's boots hit against the tiled floor as he rushed in, his eyes were wide-eyed and breathless. He stopped at the sight of her sitting upright, golden light still radiating softly from her hands.
"Rory… baby?" His voice cracked.
She looked at him, tears rushing to her eyes. "Dad?"
He didn't hesitate. In two long strides, he was beside her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. She shook in his grasp, not just from fear, but from something deeper, like the world had shifted while she was asleep, and she wasn't sure it had changed for the better.
"I thought I lost you," Dorian whispered into her ears as he carrassed her hair. "You weren't supposed to wake up like this…."
"What's happening?" she asked, her fingers digging into his jacket. "Why do I feel like I've been set on fire? Why can I… hear things?"
Dorian pulled back, his eyes scanning her. "There's no time to explain. You're awake, and that's all that matters. But we're not safe here. Not anymore."
Behind him, the lights flickered again.
"Dad, I….I saw things," Rory murmured. "While I was asleep. Shadows. Wolves. Voices calling my name. A woman…"
Dorian's face hardened. "Victoria."
Rory blinked. "Who?"
"I'll explain everything. Later. We have to move, now… thank God you're awake."
"But the nurses…." Rory held her Dad.
"They're compromised," Dorian growled. "She's already inside the hospital. I can smell the shadows clinging to the walls."
Rory wasn't sure of what her Dad was saying "Come on, love. You have to trust me. Can you walk?"
She nodded, throwing the sheets off and swinging her legs over the edge. They wobbled as her feet hit the ground.
Dorian steadied her. "You're stronger than you think, Rory"
She didn't respond, but the moment she stood, the golden glow flared again, briefly illuminating the entire room. Dorian's eyes narrowed. He hadn't seen that kind of aura since… "Let's go," he muttered, wrapping a coat around her.
They slipped out of the hospital room into the corridor. The emergency lights blinked red, the hall drenched in shadows. They moved quietly, Dorian leading her through the staff-only exit and down a narrow flight of stairs. Rory's steps were uneven, her senses overloaded.
"I can hear hearts," she murmured.
"What?"
"Heartbeats. They are everywhere. The nurses, the patients… but some of them, they don't sound… alive."
Dorian's jaw clenched. "That means it's worse than I thought."
They exited into the alley behind the hospital. The wind hit her face like ice, but Rory welcomed it. The outside world smelled of ash and blood. Distant howls echoed from the woods.
"Is that… fighting?" Rory asked.
"Yes. The rogue wolves are attacking the training grounds."
"What? Why?!" Dorian tugged her down an old path behind the dumpsters. "Because someone planned it. It's a distraction. She knew your awakening would draw power. She's been waiting for this moment."
"Who is she?" Rory demanded. Dorian didn't answer. Instead, he stopped beside a rusted gate, shoved it open, and guided her into an overgrown lot behind an abandoned building.
Rory hesitated. "This place is…."
"Come on." Dorian reached behind a collapsed wall and pressed something. A faint click echoed, and the ground shifted. A trap door lifted, revealing stairs leading underground.
"Dad…"
"I built this years ago," he said softly. "When your mom and I were still sneaking around. We needed a place no one else knew about." He smiled.
They descended quickly, the darkness swallowing them. As they reached the bottom, Dorian flipped a switch. Dim lights flickered to life, revealing a hidden space carved into stone. Cozy but strong, stone walls, thick doors, a bed, shelves, old photographs, and a fireplace.
Rory stared in awe. "You… built this for her?"
He smiled faintly. "Yeah. When we were young and stupid and in love."
She wandered in, brushing her fingers across the dusty photos. One of them was of her mom sitting on the edge of the bed, laughing, looking carefree and happy.
"Did she ever come back here?" Rory asked softly.
"After we got married? No. But sometimes, I'd sneak away when I missed her. This place... it was our first safe space."
Rory turned to him. "And now it's mine?"
"It always was." She sat down slowly, her breath finally steadying. The golden light around her had dimmed, but her skin still felt electric.
"Dad… there's something inside me. Something old and angry. Like it's been locked away for a long time."
"I know," Dorian said, his voice low, eyes dark with worry.
"It's your birthright. You're not just a wolf, Rory. There's something ancient in your blood… something powerful. It hasn't awakened in centuries. That's why your fate is different. That's why I'm terrified."
Rory narrowed her glowing eyes. "Terrified of what?"
He hesitated, then met her gaze. "Of who might come for you."
Her chest tightened. "Who?"
"Creatures born of shadow. Old enemies. Things that were buried... but not dead."
Rory rose to her feet, fists clenched. "So we're just going to stay down here while they tear everything apart up there? While people fight for me?"
Dorian stepped closer. "No. We wait, just long enough for you to gain control. You've only just awakened. If you go out there now, you might not make it back. And worse… you might not come back as you."
"I don't care!" Rory snapped. "I'm done being the girl in the coma. I'm done being protected. I'm awake now. Let me fight!"
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "And you will. But your power is unstable, Rory. If you lose control, you could destroy everything you're trying to save."
Her eyes blazed brighter. "Then teach me to control it. Don't hide me away like a secret!"
A rumble echoed above them.
Dorian's head jerked up. "Did you hear that?"
Rory turned toward the trapdoor, her golden eyes narrowing.
Another rumble, closer this time.
Dorian stepped in front of her. "She found us."
"Who?" Rory breathed.
A cold whisper curled down the stairwell like mist, soft but clear as ice.
"Alpha Dorian, Victoria is behind this" A voice came from outside as the lights blew out. Shadows flooded the room.
Rory's power surged uncontrollably, gold fire crackling in her palms as the ancient force inside her pushed forward, hungry, awake, and no longer willing to be contained.