16

Everything was gradually becoming evident.
"You didn't intentionally murder those folks, did you?
He asked, and I didn't answer. This was a very delicate topic for me, and to be completely honest, I didn't want to talk about it.
When he saw my upset expression, he added, "Well, I guess I have my answer.
"Why are you here?" I asked, wiping away a tear before it fell.
"My brother"
"Your brother?" I asked, confused.
"He doesn't know me, but I've heard you're his mate," I said.
I muttered, "Ryan," as I peered more intently at the man in front of me.
"Yes. If you don't go right now, they'll use you to murder him."
When I heard that, the prospect of killing my underwear mate caused my chest to tighten severely, even though I knew we might never be romantically involved, I never intended for him to pass away.
He stepped closer and said, "I don't know what happened between you two, but I'm sure you don't want him dead.
I gritted out, "Don't get any closer."
No matter his name, I wouldn't fall for his tricks. For all I know, he might be here to trick me. This didn't make sense because I've never heard of Ryan having siblings.
What if he were to falter?
What if everything here is just a distraction to get me to lower my guard?
Everyone knew he might be the person they sent to do the task. I wouldn't watch passively as he filled my head with lies.
"I tell you what. Get away!" I yelled while gesturing toward the door.
At this, he grinned and chose to stay put. There was a problem somewhere. He seemed strange. I had to obtain it, and I had to go right away.
My perception wasn't as sharp as it had been. I realized that since I could no longer communicate with my wolf, whatever I had been injected with all those months before had already killed her.
I put my hands in front of me and used my strength to push the intruder moving in my direction back almost immediately.
The only difference in all of this was that he didn't move. Indeed, it no longer appeared to have access to my powers. Not always when I used my powers did my hands glow golden.
Attempts two and three were unsuccessful. Unaware of what was going on. It was only a few steps away, but it still was beyond my power.
She responded by grinning.
From behind him, a man with a metal container appeared and stated, "You see, while where the distraction drains your powers."
"Power was contested.
"You are correct. Can't take enough power to do this," he declared, and then a decisive blow was administered to my head from the container, knocking me out.
I slowly opened my eyes and briefly blinked to clear my vision. I tried to get up in a panic, but I could not. I had never seen anything like what I was fastened to when I peered down.
A man in a lab coat said, "Oh good, you're awake", while adjusting his glasses and making a note on his notepad.
Where am I? I cried out.
He didn't answer; instead, he continued checking on me and taking notes. My eyes automatically closed as a reflex after he shone a bright light on them.
He continued doing this for a while, just.
circling me while jotting down
Things. If the lab coat on his arm is any indication,
I believe he was observing me. I was startled when he briefly turned aside.
I can call upon my power, and
The worst thing happened just as I was ready to knock him out so that I could escape.
I experienced unbearable back aches. Something inside me had the sensation of being pierced by a thousand needles. I struggled against my bindings while crying out in agony till the agony passed.
I heaved a sigh of relief when the ache subsided. I believed that I had experienced agony before, but this time it was distinct. It couldn't possibly compare to all the suffering I've endured during my lifetime.
This was far worse, and I sincerely wished I would never experience that again.
The man turned to face me and stated, "Now, if you behave, I won't be forced to do that again" He then shot me a lethal gaze.
I asked, "Why am I here?"
He replied, picking up a syringe, before approaching me and saying, "Research purposes."
Why are you doing that? I query
Pulling against my bindings in a panic
"I cannot make another mistake like that. I can't drain your energy because if I give you enough time, you'll probably recharge. "As he spoke, he inserted the needle into my neck.
I couldn't see clearly, so I glared at him. Anything in the syringe that was working did so very quickly.
I was cold. I was unable to move and couldn't feel anything. I attempted to speak, but nothing came out. My brain was not getting any response from my body. Everything failed.
During this interval, he cut my stomach.
He Opened. As he tore me apart, I stared at him in horror. All I could do was lay there and allow this mad doctor to check my internal organs because I could not feel anything or complain.
As he examined my insides, his brows furrowed, and he had a slightly disappointed expression.
"You fit the bill for a typical individual. Except for the fact that you have powers, you are precisely the same as everyone else. "He grimaced.
I wanted to snicker at his dismay. Did he believe I was sprouting a tree inside me or something?
When he reached inside and pulled out something, I was stopped in my caustic thoughts.
"If the legends are correct, then you shouldn't die if I pull out your heart and if they are incorrect... Well then," he replied, taking whatever was inside me out.
I was terrified to discover that it was a heart when he put it up in his hands. I imagined he was holding it up to his face to look at it because it was pounding violently in his hand. Even though there was no blood, my heart had a scarlet glow. It appeared to be a scene from a fairy tale.
"Wow. This is something I had never seen before, "He declared with a triumphant grin as if he had just won the lottery.
This was likely the most incredible thing that had ever occurred to him. The only thought crossed my head: "Why am I not dead?"
"Therefore, the stories are true. Without a heart inside your body, you can live. "He glanced at me while grinning.
He said, holding my heart in his fingers, "I wonder what would happen if I were to squeeze it.
I couldn't express my concerns because I couldn't speak up, so I had to be silent and listen to what he was saying despite my confusion.
What would happen after that?
He squeezed my heart right when I was about to give up hope of him acting. My chest, where my heart should be, was giving me a sharp pain. I had the impression that the tighter he squeezed, the nearer to death I was.
I found it impossible to breathe due to him further constricting my heart. I genuinely believed these would be my final moments, but wow, was I mistaken? My soul released a powerful burst of energy, which launched the man's body into the glass, shattering it into countless tiny pieces.
The man lying still on the shattered glass reminded me of something else. I was brought back to something I had done months prior.
I concentrated on moving my body again because I didn't want to think about the past. I tried several times before giving up. It was useless.
"Over here!" I shouted, and then I heard walking.
This made me sit up and hope they weren't there to save me rather than subject me to more testing. As I thought this, I concluded that I was alone and helpless.
They most likely came here to see that insane dude and not me. I waited for my fate while gazing up at the ceiling after losing all hope.
I recognized a familiar voice saying, "Fuck"
I recognized the voice from somewhere but could not identify its owner by face. Instead, I eagerly awaited to learn who it was.
That same familiar voice asked in a distressed voice, "Why isn't she healing?"
We are unsure, someone said.
The recognizable voice questioned again, "Is that her heart on the ground?" I should have been able to see who it was by now, but I continued to look up.
"It is", I said shortly after seeing someone touch my heart, and once they had freed it, they placed it back inside of me where it belonged.
"Now sew her up. Before the rest of them return, we must depart, the recognizable voice ordered.
The individual approached me and kissed my hand, but I could still feel nothing. He gave me a regretful expression as he turned away. I was taken aback by the flurry of emotions that swarmed through these usually frigid eyes.
He continued to hold my hand as we just stood there and stared at each other without saying anything.
POV of Marina
His blazing eyes, which seemed to be able to penetrate my soul, drew me in and wouldn't let go. He could see all the suffering I had been burying and was communicating to me through his eyes that he was there for me.
It struck me as odd to see his worried face turned toward me. The thought that he was depressed broke my heart since he seemed sincere and guilty. It was strange. He harmed me. Therefore it must be a mate thing, but despite that, I sat here inconsolable over his sadness.
Weird.
I could sense sparks in the area where his hand and mine were in contact. I was finally regaining physical control. To be sure he was here and I wasn't hallucinating, I squeezed his hand.
He grinned before leaning in and kissing my forehead. My tummy began to flutter with butterflies as a warm sensation began to fill me.
He was genuinely worried for the first time since I first met him, and his eyes revealed his fragility. Though it might have been my mind fooling me into seeing what I wanted to know, I could feel the worry and admiration beaming through his eyes.
I decided it would be best to ignore it and keep my attention on him. I was all too familiar with him. He might be friendly right now and icy the next.
Ryan gave her a comforting smile and assured her, "We're going to get you out of here.
Right. I was still in this terrible situation. I was so absorbed in his gaze for a moment that I completely forgot I was even in this place.
I noticed a man stitching up my stomach as I looked down. I was frightened by what I saw. In the middle of my abdomen, a long wound was currently being repaired. My stomach felt numb, so I wasn't in any pain.
Tears started to spring up in my eyes without realizing it, so I let them flow while looking up at the ceiling. My back hurt, but I couldn't put my finger on why.
Ryan quickly shoved me back down after I attempted to stand up.
He looked at her sternly and ordered, "Don't move. I stayed still as the man was sewing me back together. I was going to stand up when I was knocked back down again.
"Wait. You can't stand up yet, "said he.
How come not? Angry, I questioned. He wouldn't let me stand up.