Chapter 6

That big rig barreled past in a blur, horn blaring like judgment day, right on the heels of Zoe's bloodcurdling scream.

Tears streaked her face as she lunged for the edge, wild-eyed, but Joseph hauled her back just in time, wrapping her up like she was the last fragile thing in his world.

The neat-freak wolf—yeah, him—scooped up that mangled, road-flattened cat and cradled it against his chest, fur and all, just for her.

"Joseph! Joseph! Dolly's coughing up blood!" She wailed like her heart was shattering, all doe-eyed and broken.

He cupped her face tender, thumbing away the mess, but she shoved his hand off, fury flashing as she whirled on me. "Gina! I get it—you hate my guts, you want me gone, fine! But how could you hurt an innocent life? How could you kill Dolly?!"

My face bloated beet-red, arm leaking blood like a faucet, breaths coming in ragged gasps—I didn't have the wind to even spit back a defense.

I ignored her, clawing at Joseph's sleeve instead. "Hurry... get me to the healer's ward. Now."

God, it hurt. I was hanging by a thread, vision tunneling.

Zoe kept yapping, laying into me like a prosecutor.

Joseph's brows knotted tight, mouth opening for... something.

Then Zoe clutched her chest, doubling over with a gasp.

"Zoe!" Panic hit him like a freight train. He flung my limp paw off like dead weight and shoved me aside hard.

Screech—another horn wailed as I scrambled out of the way, nearly pancaked by a passing truck.

He didn't spare me a glance— just bundled her up and peeled out, taillights fading into the dust.

I gulped air in heaving gulps, chest heaving like bellows, that drowning black creeping in, blanking my brain.

Thud.

Lights out. I ate dirt.

When my eyes cracked open next, the hospital room hummed around me—beeps and bleach.

A nurse hovered by the bed, all chipper. "Awake? Good—time to ring your pack."

Pack? My mind snapped to Joseph's back as he ditched me, cold as winter kill.

Fists balled tight, chill settling in my stare. "No pack left. Whatever it is, spit it at me."

She blinked, thrown. "No kin? Come on—you got a mate, right? He just called, checking in. Should be here any sec."

Door swung wide before I could scoff.

Our faces? Both thunderclouds. Nurse mumbled an exit, door clicking shut.

Joseph stormed in, frostbite in his fur, eyes like chips of ice. "Zoe's ticker gave out—thanks to you!"

I almost laughed—hysterical, hollow. This was on him: dragging me along to fetch her, knowing full well cat dander turned me inside out, then forcing me to ride with that furball bomb.

My face? Blank as a fresh grave. "Oh. She kick it?"

Fire erupted in his eyes, wild and scorching.

His paw shot out, yanking me up by the collar like a ragdoll.

I hissed through the stab in my chest.

But he didn't stop—hauled me down the hall, ignoring my flails and pleas, dumping me at the door of some cat haven.

The sign hit like a gut-shot: "Paw Palace" or whatever cutesy hell it was. My breath snagged.

Eyelids twitching, I gawked at him. "Joseph, you lost your mind?!"

His gaze? Steel-cold, bottomless. "Told you, Gina—don't cross my line. You brought this on yourself."

Guards materialized from the shadows, clamping my arms like irons.

They frog-marched me inside, the meows swelling like a nightmare chorus.

My rashes still screamed, fresh and furious, but closer now—furry apocalypse incoming.

"Joseph, you can't do this to me!" I howled, betrayal burning.

Out there? He stood stone-still, deaf as a post.

Door slammed. Cats swarmed—claws, fur, chaos.

Air thinned to a razor; I clawed at my throat, strangling on nothing.