---- the experiment will fail. There will be no second chance and she will decay." Mrs. Black paled, her legs nearly giving out. "No... no! Don't stop the experiment. I-I won't see her. I won't..." Gary had already been briefed by Beta Bill on the experimental procedure. The experiment preserved her body properly,and never decayed. He stepped forward, voice hoarse. "Did... did my mate leave anything behind?" The werewolf technician handed him a sealed envelope. "Each donor," she said, "leaves behind something for their clan. Miss Nadia left a letter. That's all." Gary took the envelope with trembling fingers. He tore it open. And found nothing. ---- The envelope was empty. Blank. His hands began to shake. The letter slipped from his fingers and fluttered to the ground. Mr. Black picked it up and stared, silent. Gary covered his face with both hands, his voice cracking. "So that's how much you hated me," he whispered. " Not even a single word. Not even goodbye..." Before the silence could stretch further, Beta Bill burst in once more. "'Sir-something's happened. The police are here. They want to question you regarding herb theft and resource abuse." "And-there's footage. From a passing car. It captured everything that happened before Mrs. Brown's death. It's already gone viral." Gary didn't respond. ---- His wolf ears buzzed, head felt heavy. A storm of nausea twisted in his gut,and his chest clenched. He could barely breathe. His hands flew to his heart-the same way Nadia once had when she was overwhelmed, drowning in pain, suffocating beneath the weight of betrayal. Darkness overtook him. He collapsed. He awoke in a Infirmary bed. His mother hovered by his side, weeping quietly. His father stood at the foot of the bed, face hard as stone. The moment Gary's eyes opened, his father barked, " Look at the mess you've made. You trusted the wrong the entire pack. You abused your power. You destroyed our clan name." "The board voted. As of today, you're stripped of your title and all pack shares." Gary stared at him blankly.