ENDURING {Sequel to Everlasting} ❗️EDITING ❗️

Chapter 57 - Part B

"No more!" I breathe through clenched teeth, sweat dripping down my face and chest.

My body shakes and trembles with pain, agonising suffering that doesn't show mercy. Every inch, every cell and nerve is set alight with fire, sending a scorching heat through me like no other.

The last wound on my thigh slowly knits itself back together, they time it, scribbling everything down in their little notepads.

I know it's necessary, I know it's important to figure out how long the affects last. It's very clear that it doesn't last as long as we assumed, the burning lasts around thirty seconds, after that I'd say it's around sixty seconds before all affects fade.

"It's not possible." Luka exhales, handing me a blanket to cover up.

"I didn't just sit through eleven hours of experiments, to be told fucking no." I spit in temper, my hands still shaking as I wrap the soft material around my shoulders.

"The pain alone in those thirty seconds will at least take that just to recover-"

"What if we double the dose? It'll be the same amount of time to circulate, more time to do what needs to be done." I say, resting my head against the wall, partially exhausted.

"Double the dose and the agony alone could kill you, never mind what it might do your wolfs DNA." Luther tells me, scratching his chin in thought.

"What if we lower the dose, take it every hour? It'll leave traces in my blood, when I take the full dose the pain won't be as bad, and the affects might last longer." I voice.

"That's just a theory, it might not work." Lucien says.

"Do you have another option?" I snap with a glare.

They just look at me, Luther sighs in defeat knowing it's not exactly written in any book. Everything that has happened since Roman arrived, has never been tested. I've only just stopped taking the injections to fake the pregnancy, and I'd be lying if I said it hasn't knocked me a little sideways.

"Thought not." I mutter, getting to my feet as the last of the cuts finally heal up.

"Prepare a weeks worth of doses, I'm going to get cleaned up. Don't forget about our arrangement!" I call as I exit the lab and head to my old room.

Thankfully I'd thought to undress before the experiments began. And even though I haven't slept a wink in over twenty four hours, and struggled to sleep days before that, I find myself ignoring the call for the comfortable bed as I head to the shower.

I still have a long drive ahead of me, and I plan on driving through the night so that I can get back to Hardin by morning.

If this plan is going to work, we need everyone on board. Roman is not a man you stand against unless you've got an army of Alphas backing you up.

Question is, will it be enough?

By the time I get back to the Elders, the doses are packed into a black satchel for safe keeping. I don't stick around long after that, merely running through different solutions to taking Roman down for good. Naturally they're concerned of the casualties if Roman is too strong. A thought that we cannot risk having.

I know what it's like to be terrified of something. That fear will be our downfall, we have to come to terms with the fact that everyone Roman has taken is possibly dead, and we are having this war not because we're fighting his hold over our people, but because we're fighting for survival.

Survival. It always brings out the most ruthless parts of a wolf. When you're backed into that corner, the weight of your imminent death hanging in the air around you...that is when you learn who you are, what you'll do to survive.

As I exit the Elders headquarters, I sneak back into the lab and search through the medical cabinet. Grabbing handfuls of the little glass bottles containing Epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline. Ensuring I grab a load of syringes and needles, I sneak back out of the lab and tuck the bulging bag under my arm.

"Miss Slovak." The guards greet, giving me a nod as they open the huge doors.

Exiting the mansion, I quickly get in my car. Placing the bag on the passenger seat, I begin my long ass journey home in the dark. The fact that there's almost zero traffic helps, although I do take a minutes stop every hour.

I don't necessarily feel different for the seven injection in the last seven hours, but I suppose time will tell.

Hardin's pack is on high alert, borders closed off and guards standing five feet apart, wolves roaming behind as they wait for signs of movement. I would have assumed they'd ward me off, but instead they barely react to me pulling up at the border.

The wolves and guards steps aside, barely glancing at me as I slowly drive past them, following the only path a car can access to the pack house.

I exit the car with my satchel in hand, the house dimly lit, quiet as I head inside and go straight to Hardin's office. Considering he's probably been run off his feet all day, it really doesn't surprise me to find him fast asleep. Sat up on the couch with his head hanging back, looking very uncomfortable.

Lucifer is sprawled out at his feet, lifting his head and watching me as I walk into the room. I think it takes Lucifer a few seconds to wake up, because the moment he realises who I am, he jumps to his feet with his tail wagging.

"Hi baby, did you miss me?" I whisper, crouching down and petting him affectionately.

Lucifer breathes a huff, smacking me with his paw. I just smile and stroke him, before heading over to Hardin. I didn't want to wake him, he looked peaceful.

Uncomfortable though.

So I gently touch his forearm. "Hardin." I whisper, not needing to finish the word before his eyes snap open frantically.

"Shh, it's just me." I say softly, easing the instant panic in his eyes.

"Kal? What time is it?" His voice is husky with exhaustion, his eyes rolling slightly as he rests his head back against the couch.

"Let's go to bed, come on." I whisper, grabbing his arms and forcing him to wake up.

"Ok." He grumbles, still half asleep as he slowly stands up. His arm slung around my shoulder, I take his heavy weight as best as I can as we head out of the office.

Getting him up the stairs? Don't even ask, never happening again.

The second I get him on the bed, he falls back on the covers. I consider waking him again, but I figure he needs his sleep. So I take his jeans off, and lift his fat head up as I slot a pillow underneath.

I place a blanket over Hardin, before exiting the bedroom, Lucifer on my heel.

"You don't want to sleep?" I sigh, giving his head a scratch as I head downstairs into the deserted training room.

That's where I burn my energy until the sun rises, my mind running through the plan over and over, considering all other options that would fit better.

Truth is, we could nuke the bastard and he would most likely survive. His healing and cell regrowth is beyond anything I've ever seen, as someone who once watching him cut his own finger off just to prove he could regrow limbs, I know exactly what he's capable of.

Excuse me if I have my doubts about this war.