Chapter 36: Venom's Grasp
The heavy thud of Orion's armored body hitting the stone floor reverberated through the office, a sound that froze the air in Sophia's lungs. Her heart lurched as she stared in shock, the alpha's collapse shattering the tension that had gripped the room moments before.
Without a second thought, she was the first to move, her feet carrying her to his side as Lysander and Ronan surged forward, their faces etched with worry. She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands trembling as she reached out, her fingers brushing against his cheek. His skin was as stiff as wood, unnaturally rigid, and her breath caught as her gaze fell upon the black veins snaking up his neck and hands, a dark web spreading beneath his skin like a spider web.
"Orion!" she gasped, her voice a choked whisper.
'What's wrong with him?' She asked herself.
