Celie went directly to her lab and we stayed back.
“Don’t you think it’s a little weird?” Sara asked as she looked upon Celie's retreating figure.
I nodded, “She looks…”I trailed off.
“Irritating, annoying.” Sara completed.
But I shook my head. “No, I don’t mean it like that. I mean she looks different. Like she isn’t the same Celie that we met before, it’s like she is way too excited for the project and it feels like more than the job.”
Sara looked at me, “Listen, I think we are being a little too vigilant. Maybe she is doing her dream project. You know how scientists could be. I don’t want to accuse an innocent person. I have done that before and I don’t like the feeling. I don’t want to be that person again.”
She looked at me and gave me a wry smile.
I knew what she was intending, but I couldn’t help but think about Celie’s weird behavior.
Something was very off here and I needed to find that.
As we entered the lab, Celie’s face lit up in a way that instantly made me uncomfortable. Her energy was as intense as before, but now it was directed squarely at me.
“Ella! Sara!” she greeted us with that same unnervingly bright smile. “You’ve both arrived just in time. Ella, your insight and foresight… truly, it’s been invaluable. None of this would’ve been possible without you.”
I forced a smile. “I’m just doing my part.”
“More than that,” she insisted, her voice almost too sweet. “Your understanding of the pack dynamics, the integration of the vaccine—it’s genius.”
I felt Sara shift beside me, clearly as uncomfortable as I was with Celie’s praise. “Uh, thanks,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
Before I could say more, the door behind us swung open, and Adonis strode in. His presence filled the room in an instant, his broad shoulders and stern expression exuding authority. The previous Alpha of our pack, and my father, was never one to be subtle.
“Sir,” Celie greeted him with a respectful nod, her over-the-top enthusiasm slightly tempered in his presence. “It’s an honor to have you here.”
“Celie,” Adonis acknowledged her with a brief nod before turning his attention to me. “Ella, I heard you’ve made progress.”
“We have,” I replied, my tone more serious now. “The vaccine is in circulation. Over 30% of the pack has already received it, and the results are promising. But there’s something else you need to know.” I glanced at Sara, who gave me a slight nod of encouragement. “The witch—she’s been more active. There’s something about this situation that doesn’t sit right with me. We need to be cautious.”
Adonis listened carefully, his expression darkening as I spoke. “You think the witch is connected to this?”
“It’s possible,” I said, my voice firm. “Her influence has been spreading, and I don’t trust the timing. We need to be on guard.”
He frowned, nodding thoughtfully. “We’ll deal with it. But first, there are other matters.”
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