The soul mage's trembling fingers hovered above the energy lever. His voice was tight with fear. "But her body is too weak. If we extract more from her soul core... it might shatter and kill her."

The entire square held its breath.

Damien stood in the center of the platform. He stared at the cracking soul shadow on the screen. His face was dark as the sky before a blizzard.

He remained silent. His jawline tensed into a sharp edge.

After a moment, something flickered deep in his wolf eyes. An almost imperceptible flash of pain—like a dark current beneath ice.

But that softness lasted only an instant.

The next second, hatred flooded his gaze again.

He coldly spoke one word: "Continue."

Little Aiden suddenly screamed, "Stop torturing Aunt Lina! She'll die!"

He rushed forward. His tiny body crashed against the protective barrier. But the pack members grabbed him and pulled him back.

"Don't go soft!" someone roared angrily. "We must find the killer! Sophia cannot die in vain!"

The Soul Vision Device rumbled. The metal needles pressed down again. They pierced three inches deep.

My consciousness felt like it was being torn to shreds. Screams burst uncontrollably from my throat. They echoed across the snowy plains.

Damien rushed toward me. His eyes were blood red. He roared like a wounded beast. "Lina! Who is worth protecting like this! Tell me!"

He suddenly collapsed. He threw himself against my shoulder. His body shook violently.

Tears rolled down. They dripped onto my blood-stained hands.

"We're supposed to be blood siblings..." he choked out. His voice was broken. "How could you protect someone else... and abandon Sophia..."

My heart suddenly trembled.

As if stabbed by some sleeping memory, instinctively, I wanted to raise my hand. I wanted to wipe away that tear for him.

But in that instant, my defenses loosened.

The memory I had sealed with a blood oath finally broke free.

The screen flickered violently.

The wolves cried out in unison: "Look! It's the crime scene!"