Bound To The Broken Alpha (Amy and Daniel) novel Chapter 53

**When Dawn Breaks Slowly Hope Finds Space To Grow by Jin Rowan**
**Chapter 53: Wolfsbane**

**AMY**

I sprang to my feet, urgency coursing through me as I rushed to the window, flinging it open to invite the crisp morning air inside. The oppressive weakness that had settled over me didn’t dissipate instantly, but after a few moments, the cool breeze began to clear my mind. Whoever had orchestrated this sinister act aimed to keep Daniel in a state of vulnerability, perhaps even worse.

With trembling hands, I reached for my phone, intent on calling Mrs. Carter. But a nagging doubt held me back. How much did she truly know? What secrets did she harbor? Her grip on the affairs of this house was dangerously tight. Trusting her could lead to consequences I wasn’t prepared to face.

Instead, I scrolled through my contacts, my heart racing as I selected Cole’s name. The moment I pressed call, he answered on the first ring. “Ma’am?” His voice was steady, a comforting anchor in the storm of my thoughts.

“Cole,” I whispered, striving to keep my tone even. “I need you to come back. Right now.”

“What’s wrong?” His tone shifted, concern threading through his words.

“Someone’s been in Daniel’s room,” I revealed, my voice barely above a murmur. “They planted something under his bed. Wolfsbane. And it’s strangely fresh.”

A heavy silence enveloped the line for a brief moment before he responded, his voice now serious and commanding. “Stay out of the room, Amy. Open the windows wide and wait in the hallway. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

I stepped back, following his instructions as I positioned myself by the doorway. The fresh air from outside began to ease the tension in my chest. My eyes kept darting to Daniel, who lay there, serene and blissfully unaware of the turmoil surrounding him.

Five minutes crawled by, each second stretching into an eternity until I heard the familiar sound of Cole’s footsteps on the stairs. He appeared at the door, clad in a dark jacket that contrasted sharply with the pale walls. “You did the right thing by calling me,” he said as he entered, his demeanor exuding a calm authority.

“I almost reached out to Mrs. Carter,” I confessed, the weight of that decision heavy on my conscience. “But something held me back.”

“You made the right call,” he said, his voice flat and unyielding. “We need to handle this quietly for now.”

Together, we stepped back into the room. Cole crouched down beside the bed, pulling a flashlight from his pocket. As he shone the beam beneath the bed, the light illuminated the cluster of purple flowers nestled in the carpet, just as I had seen before.

“They’re fresh,” he noted, his brow furrowing in concentration. “Whoever planted this did so within the last hour. You mentioned seeing someone leave?”

“Yes,” I replied, my heart racing at the memory. “But I couldn’t make out who it was. He moved too quickly.”

Cole reached into his pocket, retrieving a small handkerchief with careful precision. He used it to pluck one of the flowers, examining it closely. “This isn’t random,” he stated firmly. “These aren’t easy to acquire, especially in such a fresh state.”

I crossed my arms tightly, a chill running down my spine. “Do you think it’s someone inside the house?”

He nodded, his expression grave. “It has to be. No outsider could slip in here unnoticed.”

I scanned the room, looking for any signs of disturbance. Everything appeared normal, save for that sinister patch beneath the bed. “What happens if it’s left there?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Wolfsbane doesn’t merely poison,” he explained, his tone serious. “It siphons strength from anyone with wolf blood slowly, keeping them weak. Perhaps that’s why Daniel hasn’t shown any signs of improvement.”

The realization twisted my stomach into knots. “You think someone’s been doing this before tonight?”

“Possibly,” he replied, his gaze unwavering. “It’s likely that whoever is behind this adds fresh flowers periodically to maintain its potency.”

A surge of anger welled up inside me. “They’re deliberately keeping him in this state.”

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