I sank deeper into the space between us, quieting my mind as I moved further from the surface.

Sydney entered my line of sight, concern on her face as she took in my wolf, and her position.

“Nova?”

My wolf whined, and Sydney stopped where she was, not coming any closer.

“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.” She lifted her hands.

My wolf didn’t believe her.

I was too far from the surface for the words to even register. I didn’t want to be there, I didn’t want to talk, and I didn’t want to think.

Eventually, Aspen joined her. My wolf recognized her as Alpha, and whined louder.

She had to stop even further back than Sydney.

They talked about something—ideas about how to get me to come out, probably—and eventually, Enzo’s mind brushed mine.

“Nova?”he asked, his voice more controlled than I’d ever heard it before.“You’re injured. You need to take over before your wolf accidentally hurts you further. The doctor needs to look at your arm again, to see if shifting messed with the healing.”

My wolf ignored him.

I was barely conscious enough to hear the words. The thought of responding didn’t even pass my mind.

The doctor appeared eventually. He reached Aspen and Sydney, and my wolf didn’t just whine. She growled. The sound was weak, and terrified.

He stopped. After a while, Hunter replaced him.

My wolf growled at him too.

Enzo tried after that.

Silas came by too.

A few other men I vaguely recognized as guys I was dating followed.

Even Fletcher, Aspen’s brother, tried to get my wolf to come out.

She snapped at all of them.

A few of them argued. I heard Clay’s name, though he hadn’t come by.

Clay’s mind finally brushed mine as he used the pack’s bond.“Hey, Gorgeous.”

His voice was quieter than usual.

I buried myself in deeper. My wolf didn’t snarl at him, but she didn’t budge, either. I was attracted to him, but we weren’t his. And he wasn’t ours.

“I hear your arm is messed up,”he added, his voice full of forced positivity. He didn’t want to be talking to me.“Shift back so the doctor can take care of it for you. Aspen and Sydney will keep you safe.”

My wolf huffed, and ignored him.

I was too out of it to say a word.

“Hello? I can feel you there, Gorgeous. Answer me.”

There was a command in his voice, and my wolf shut down further.