The soft scent of antiseptic lingered in the air as Tyler stepped out of the clinic room, his bandaged hand hanging at his side and his steps slow, each one reminding him of the pain still gnawing at his body. The hallway beyond was alive with gentle chaos nurses moving briskly between rooms, carrying trays and fresh bandages, while the quiet laughter of children echoed from a corner where a small group played under the watchful eyes of a caregiver.
The sunlight spilled in through the tall windows, painting warm golden streaks across the polished wooden floor, almost too bright after the dim stillness of the recovery room. Tyler's gaze swept the space, taking in the blend of homeliness and order that marked the Davidson estate's infirmary.
A voice he knew instantly cut through the background murmur.
"Tyler."
He turned, and there stood Mr. Jack, his familiar grin breaking into relief as he closed the distance and set a steadying hand on Tyler's shoulder.
"I'm very happy you're fine," Mr. Jack said warmly.
Tyler's brows furrowed. "What happened? How did we get back so quickly?"
"You were evacuated from Lake Blacksea early this morning. Luckily, no one else saw you," Mr. Jack explained.
"Really? By who?"
"Some of our best wolves," Mr. Jack replied without hesitation.
"How did you know we were in trouble?"
"Mr. Hudson's wife saw it and alerted us. Mason, Richmond, Richard, and Charles went to get you out."
"Oh… I don't know them," Tyler admitted.
"Well, I suppose you'll thank them later," Mr. Jack said with a nod. "I'm just glad you're all alive. I knew I could trust your pack to handle it."
Tyler's expression tightened. "The vampire… he was fierce. Stronger than any we've faced. His powers demonic, lethal. He said he was part of the Twelve Vampire Chiefs."
Mr. Jack's eyes sharpened. "Yes… I knew it would be one of them. No normal vampire except maybe in a group can cause such destruction. The Twelve Chiefs are Susun's council, his most trusted subordinates."
"So… there are more like him?"
Mr. Jack gave a knowing grin. "What you fought at Blacksea was one of the lowest-ranked chiefs. Even so, their strength is unmatched."
Tyler inhaled sharply. "I couldn't beat him… not until I saw Bella in pain. Something took over like my wolf and human self became one. My speed, my strength it all surged. It was like I wasn't even in my own body."
Mr. Jack's face grew thoughtful. "I don't know what it is… but I'll see what I can find out. For now get some rest. You'll need it."
With that, Mr. Jack gave his shoulder a firm pat and walked away, leaving Tyler standing in the sunlit corridor, the murmur of nurses and children filling the space around him.
Mr. Jack wandered slowly between the tall wooden shelves of the library, his fingers brushing over the spines of old books. Now and then, he pulled one out, flipped through a few pages, then slid it back into place.
His gaze halted on a thick, weathered volume with a bold, fading title: Discovering the One Mind Wolf. Something in the name tugged at him. He pulled it free, the cover cool and rough beneath his fingers, and carried it to a nearby sofa.
Opening it, he skimmed the yellowed pages until a heading caught his eye:
The One Mind Wolf
"When the body and the wolf become one in a desperate, soul-enchanting, rare occurrence…"
The words gripped him instantly. He read on. The One Mind Wolf, the passage explained, could accelerate speed and strength far beyond normal limits. It could not be summoned at will; it was triggered only by deep, overwhelming emotion and had to be earned. Many wolves of past generations had tried to master it, but all had failed save for one.
The first to awaken it was Constantine, in the midst of a brutal battle with Susun, he opened the one mind wolf giving him more strength than his foe. Since that day, no wolf had been recorded as possessing its power. Yet legends told that, if a member of a fighting pack awakened the One Mind Wolf, it could spread to others in the heat of battle provided they too reacted with intense emotion.
Studies noted its extraordinary effects: enhanced durability, swift healing, and a resistance to injury few could match. But it was rare, reserved only for those with exceptional spirit and purpose.
Mr. Jack slowly closed the book, his mind heavy with thought. Tyler had been able to unlock the one mind wolf because as he said Bella was in pains,he couldn't bear to see his sister suffering so an emotional discharge must have led to him unlocking the one mind wolf.
For the first time in a long while, the hope of ending Susun's reign no longer felt like a distant dream it felt possible.