{ Mia }
A dull ache throbbed at the base of my skull. My body felt heavy, like I was sinking into the earth itself.
I forced my eyes open, blinking against the dim light overhead. The air smelled of metal, dust, and something faintly familiar—like home, but… not quite.
"She's waking up!" A voice echoed somewhere near me. It sounded distant, underwater.
I tried to move, but my limbs felt sluggish. My throat burned. Then, a face came into view—Ace, his brows furrowed, exhaustion clear in his stormy eyes.
"You scared the hell out of me, cupcake," he muttered.
That's when it all came rushing back, the whisper in the dark, the creature's claws, the golden light. And then… nothing.
I swallowed hard, my voice hoarse. "Where are we?"
" At the warehouse."
" But wasn't it destroyed?" I asked, trying to sit up but a strong headache washed over me forcing me back down.
" It was... But I asked Natalie to rebuild." He smiled.
I froze." N-Natalie? The robot?"
" Yes cupcake."
Then, Ash's voice rang in my mind. " Restraints too tight!!! Need to heal!! Take them off!!"
Ace, as if sensing my uneese turned to me concern evident on his face. " Mia, what's wrong ?!"
I struggled against the bandages on my throat. " I— need to get these off!!"
Cole hurried behind me untangling the bandages.
" T-thanks Cole." I rasped.
The moment Cole loosened the last layer of bandages, a rush of cool air hit my skin, and I sucked in a sharp breath. My throat still ached, but something was changing.
A faint golden glow pulsed beneath my skin as I gently touched the wound. I could feel it knitting itself back together, warmth spreading through my body like liquid fire.
Ace's eyes darkened with realization. "Your wolf is healing you…"
I clenched my jaw, willing my hands to stay steady. "I-I think so."
But then, a sharp pain shot through my spine, and I gasped. My fingers dug into the sheets as my vision blurred. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, too fast, too loud.
Ash's voice came again, urgent. "Not stable, too much energy! Need to release it!"
"Release what?" I whispered.
Ace and Cole exchanged a look. "Mia, talk to us," Cole pressed.
But I barely heard him. The pressure inside me was building, like a dam ready to burst. My breathing turned ragged. My veins felt like they were burning from the inside out.
Then, without warning—
A pulse of golden energy exploded from my chest, sending Ace and Cole stumbling back. The lights overhead flickered wildly, and the entire warehouse trembled.
My vision swam, and just before darkness claimed me again, I heard Ace curse under his breath.
"Yeah… that's not normal."
{ Ace }
My breath hitched as Mia's body started to glow. Conner suddenly growled in my head. "She's healing herself... Ace stop her it's way too dangerous!! She's not ready yet!"
My eyes darkened with realisation. " Your wolf is healing you..."
" I-I think so." She whispered in disbelief.
But then, her expression changed from relaxed to pained. " Mia, what wrong?!" She covered her ears shutting her eyes tight !
I exchanged a look with Cole. " Mia, talk to us,"
And then, a pulse of golden energy exploded from her chest, sending Cole and I stumbling back. The lights overhead us flickered wildly, and the entire warehouse trembled.
" Yeah... that's not normal." I whispered as Mia fell to the ground.
Mia hit the ground hard, her body limp. My stomach twisted.
"Shit," Cole muttered, scrambling to her side. "She's still breathing, but look at her."
I didn't need to be told twice. Her golden glow had faded, but sparks of light flickered under her skin, like lightning trapped beneath the surface. Her breathing was shallow, her body burning hot.
Conner growled in my head. She overloaded herself. If this keeps up—
"I know," I snapped, cutting him off. I didn't need a reminder of how dangerous this was.
Cole shook her gently. "Mia? Come on, wake up!"
Nothing.
I clenched my fists. We had to do something before—
A low hum filled the air, followed by the sound of whirring gears.
Natalie.
The robot stepped forward, her glowing blue eyes scanning Mia's body. "Energy levels critical. Instability detected."
"No shit," I muttered. "Can you fix it?"
Natalie tilted her head. "Stabilization possible. However, external interference may be required."
"Meaning?" Cole asked.
Natalie's gaze locked onto me. "Your energy, Ace. You share the same anomaly as Mia. You may be able to counteract the imbalance."
I swallowed hard. Hell.
I barely understood my own powers, let alone how to use them to fix something like this. But looking at Mia, twitching slightly like her body was trying to fight itself, I knew I had to try.
I reached out, my fingers brushing against her wrist. A sharp, electric jolt shot up my arm, and suddenly—