The moment Francis was lifted, his body remained eerily still—too still for a dying Alpha, yet not lifeless enough to fully release his fading aura. Alex and Joe each took a side, carrying him out under the fractured tension of the estate, while Naomi and Erica followed closely behind like wolves moving in synchronized concealment.
Naomi's voice cut through the night air as she turned sharply to Joe. "Joe, take care of the residence. We're taking him to the hospital."
"Understood, Mrs. Tillman," Joe replied immediately, though his instincts remained unsettled. "Please hurry. He doesn't look stable."
The car doors slammed shut.
Alex's vehicle surged forward the instant they were inside, tearing out of the courtyard with unnatural urgency. The speed made even Joe hesitate for a brief second, his instincts reacting to how quickly they were removing Francis from any potential rescue point.
Inside the moving car, the atmosphere tightened.
