Scarlet chains

Chapter 7------Blood and Beasts

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The double doors of the operating room finally creaked open.

I shot to my feet. "Is she—?"

The doctor pulled off his mask, eyes wide and voice trembling. "She's… stable."

"Stable?" I repeated, stepping forward.

He nodded slowly. "More than stable. She's completely healed—every wound, every internal injury. It's like… like nothing ever happened to her."

I blinked. "What are you saying?"

"She had a ruptured artery. Broken ribs. Internal bleeding. We patched her up, but by the time we closed the last stitch, her body had already regenerated the damage. We've never seen anything like it." He looked back toward the room. "But… she won't wake up. She's in a coma."

I pushed past him and entered the room. Nova lay still, her chest rising and falling gently, face peaceful—as if sleeping. I sat beside her, heart pounding with confusion and something I hadn't felt in years: fear.

"She's transforming," Wolf said from behind me. "The wolf in her… it's awakening. And when she does wake up, Dominic, she won't be the same girl you bought. She'll be something else. Stronger. Wilder."

I glanced at her face. "Then I'll be ready."

Wolf laughed low. "You say that now. But you don't tame a storm… you survive it."

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For two days, Nova remained in the coma. I barely left her side.Not that I cared or anything but I wanted to look for signs.

Wolf never explained how she healed so fast. I asked, of course—but all he did was smile that smug, irritating smile and say, "She's stronger than you think."

What the hell does that mean?

Late at night, I stared at her face. Her skin had turned paler than usual, with a strange shimmer under the hospital light. Her nails were sharper. And once—just once—I thought I saw her fangs.

Fangs.

I didn't tell anyone.

The monitors beeped steadily. Her heart was strong—too strong. Almost… inhuman.

Wolf returned that evening, silent as always. He glanced at Nova, then at me.

"She's changing," he said simply.

"Into what?"

He didn't answer. Just walked away.

But I saw the flicker in his eyes before he turned.

He's hiding something. Something big.

And I'd find out what—even if I had to drag it out of him myself.

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*Two days later…*

The room was silent, just the soft hum of machines and the steady rhythm of Nova's heart monitor.

Then suddenly—*beep… beep… beepbeepbeep—*

I jolted up from the chair. Her fingers twitched. Her eyelids fluttered.

"Nova?" I moved closer, heart pounding.

She opened her eyes slowly—those same defiant, stormy eyes—but sharper. Wilder.

"Where… am I?" she asked hoarsely.

"You're in the hospital. You were stabbed." I leaned in. "But you're okay now."

She tried to sit up. I gently held her back, but froze.

There were no scars.

Nothing.

Her skin was flawless, like she'd never been cut open. I'd seen the wound myself—it should've killed her.And I distinctly remember whipping her earlier.

She noticed my stare and looked at her arms, her stomach, her sides. Confused, she whispered, "Why don't I feel… anything?"

Just then, Wolf entered.

She turned to him instantly. "You, who are you? "

"Yes,that matters not" he said, calm and unbothered. "Welcome back."

"What's happening to me?"

He smiled faintly. "You've awakened… but not fully."

Her body may have healed—but something far more powerful was still sleeping inside her.

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