I woke to gentle hands shaking my shoulder. Emily stood over me, her face haloed by the golden light of late afternoon streaming through the windows.
"It's time," she said softly. "The pack is gathering."
For a moment, I couldn't remember where I was or why I was there. Then everything rushed back—Liam coding, my desperate attempt to speak to him, the news about Maria, the coming ceremony.
I sat up too quickly, wincing as my head throbbed in protest. Emily steadied me with a hand on my shoulder.
"Easy," she cautioned. "The medication Dr. Michaels gave you can leave you dizzy."
My throat still felt raw, though the sharp pain had dulled to a persistent ache. I touched it gingerly, feeling the swollen tissue beneath my fingers.
"No more attempts at speaking," Emily reminded me gently. "
