Emeric’s Pov

The chopper's rotors beat a relentless rhythm above us, their steady thud merging with the engine's roar as we sliced through the icy morning air. Below, the dense forest stretched endlessly, a vast sea of green that was both inviting and menacing. I glanced at Mya beside me; her face was taut, her eyes fixed blankly out the window. Her silence since takeoff was heavy with unspoken worries about Hope, her best friend.

 Leaning in to be heard over the din, I asked, "Mya, are you okay?"

 She didn't immediately respond, her gaze still locked on the view below. After a moment, she blinked, as if waking from a trance, and turned to me. "What?"

 "I asked if you were okay," I said, studying her expression. "You've been awfully quiet."

 Mya forced a strained smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Just thinking."

 "About Hope?"

 She nodded, her smile fading. "Yeah. It's happening so fast. We're heading to Nana's without even saying a proper goodbye."

 I understood her frustration. Hope was more than a friend to Mya; she was like a sister. Their bond, forged through years of shared secrets, laughter, and tears, was unbreakable. With everything moving so quickly, Mya had no chance to explain. I squeezed her hand, trying to offer some comfort.

 "She'll understand," I said, trying to sound more assured than I felt. "Hope's in good hands with Ken. Once we're settled at Nana's, you can call her. I'm sure she'll be waiting to hear from you."

 Mya sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I know, but it's not the same. She hasn't fully settled in."

 "I get it," I said, empathizing more than she knew. "But we didn't have a choice. Nana's message was urgent. We couldn't risk waiting."

 Mya's eyes searched mine, her worry palpable. "But what if something happens to her while we're gone? What if… what if she needs me?"

 I didn't have a comforting answer. The world wasn't safe right now, not for any of us. But I couldn't share that fear with Mya. She was already on edge. "Hope's strong," I said instead. "She'll be okay. And we'll be back before you know it. I promise."

 Mya nodded, but her expression remained unconvinced. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes as if to shut out the world. I watched her, feeling a pang of guilt. I wished there was more I could do to ease her worry. All I could focus on was getting us to Nana's safely and hoping for the best.

 Turning my attention to the cockpit, I observed the pilot, adjusting the controls. His calm demeanor was a stark contrast to the turmoil within me. "How much longer until we reach Nana's?" I called over the noise.

 He glanced back, his face unreadable behind aviator sunglasses. "About twenty minutes, if the weather holds," he replied tersely. I nodded, trying to shake off the growing unease in my stomach. Something about this journey felt off, and the feeling only intensified as we neared our destination. I pushed the thought aside; I couldn't afford to worry Mya more than she already was.

 I shifted in my seat, attempting to find comfort, but the chopper's cramped space and my racing thoughts made it impossible. I stared out the window, watching the trees blur below. The landscape was beautiful in a wild, untamed way, but it did little to soothe my racing heart. My mind was preoccupied with what lay ahead and the danger that awaited us.

 Mya looked at me, her concern evident. "Why were you acting so strange? You seemed nauseous and constipated, and your aura was all over the place."

 I debated whether to explain, not wanting to add to her anxiety, especially with Nana's urgent message weighing on me. But Mya was my sister, and she might understand. I had even asked her for a list of everyone at the hospital earlier, and she said she'd get it to me.

 "I think I found my mate," I said finally.

 Mya's eyes widened in shock. "What? You found your mate? Did you see her? Do you know who she is? Have you marked her yet?"

 I felt a pang of embarrassment. While others eagerly anticipated meeting their mates, I was putting Nana's needs first. It might sound strange, but I was convinced my wolf wasn't overly concerned. It seemed to trust that we would eventually meet our destined one in both worlds. My wolf wasn't pacing restlessly in my mind; instead, I felt an odd sense of calm.

 Mya's expression was a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "I know, everything's happening so fast. I don't know who she is yet, but I'm sure she's the one. My wolf believes it. I'm eager to meet her, to be with her, and to spend my life with her. I want to become a stronger alpha—the strongest alpha."

 I continued, "Given everything that's happening—the rogues, the attacks at the park—I need her by my side. But I want to mark her privately, away from prying eyes. I need to protect and guide her. What if she doesn't know about our kind? She might even be human. Have you noticed how many people have been coming into the park lately? Some are human, and others haven't even transformed into wolves yet."

 The forest below was an endless expanse of green, occasionally pierced by sunbeams. It was beautiful, but it did little to soothe my racing heart. The chopper's interior was metallic and cold, filled with the harsh hum of the engine and occasional creaks. I glanced at Mya, who was gripping the armrest tightly, her knuckles white.

 Suddenly, a jolt rocked the chopper, throwing me violently against my seatbelt. Mya gasped and clutched the armrest. My heart raced as I looked out the window, searching for the cause of the disturbance. The forest below seemed to tilt and swirl, as if the world was spiraling out of control.

 "What was that?" I shouted, my voice nearly drowned out by the alarm blaring in the cockpit.

 The pilot's 's face was pale, his eyes wide as he frantically scanned the controls. "We've been hit!" he yelled, panic evident in his voice.

 My blood ran cold. Dark shapes closing in on us from the distance made my heart pound. Before I could react, a barrage of arrows whistled through the air, striking the chopper's frame. Three hitting me, piercing my side, my chest and left thigh. The arrows were laced with wolfbane and silver, ignited a searing pain that spread through me. My vision blurred, and dizziness overwhelmed me.

 "Mya, hold on!" I shouted, but my voice was fading. The chopper spun wildly, the world outside a dizzying blur of green and blue. The forest rushed up to meet us, and my strength waned as everything went dark.

 The chopper shook violently, its rotors screaming as they struggled against the forces pulling us downward. The cabin erupted into chaos, the seatbelts straining against the relentless forces. The pilot shouted commands, but his words were lost in the cacophony. The cabin's metallic walls trembled, the vibrating noise blending with the shrill alarm.

 I struggled to stay conscious as the chopper descended rapidly. The sharp pain from the arrow seemed to pulse with each violent jolt, and I could barely discern the blurred, frantic movements of Mya as she tried to secure herself. My breathing became shallow and ragged, each inhalation stinging my wound.

 The chopper shuddered violently, the metal frame groaning and screeching as it fought against the forces pulling us downward. The landscape outside became a chaotic blur of green as the chopper twisted uncontrollably through the forest canopy. Each shuddering impact felt like a brutal reminder of our dire situation. The once-serene landscape was now a dangerous, whirling blur.

 Every bone in my body felt like it was being rattled with each jarring jolt. My vision narrowed to a tunnel as I tried to grasp what was happening. The harsh sunlight that had briefly illuminated our path was now obscured by thick, ominous clouds that seemed to roll in from nowhere. The once-clear sky was now a menacing blanket of darkness.

 Mya's desperate cries for help mingled with the cacophony of the chopper's dying engine. Her face, etched with fear, was a haunting sight as she struggled to keep herself secured. The sounds of metal screeching and the relentless blaring of the alarm created an overwhelming symphony of terror. I could barely make out her frantic movements as she fought to maintain her grip on the armrest, her knuckles white and strained.

 The pain from the arrow was relentless, searing through me with each violent shake of the chopper. My strength was waning, the darkness closing in around me. The once-clear sounds of the engine and Mya's voice were fading into a distant, muffled din. My breaths came in shallow gasps, each one more painful than the last.

 As the chopper plunged through the treetops, the impact jolted through my body, sending shockwaves of pain and disorientation. The metal frame groaned and buckled under the strain, the vibrations intensifying with each passing second. And then everything turned black.