POV: Thelma

Cold. That was the first thing I registered. Cold metal against my bare arms, cold air circulating through unseen vents, cold terror settling into my bones like ice.

My eyes snapped open to blinding white light. I tried to move, to shift, to call on my Alpha power, but nothing happened. Panic clawed at my throat as I realized I was straining against restraints that wouldn't budge. Thick metal bands circled my wrists, ankles, and waist, bolting me to what felt like an examination table.

And around my neck, I felt it. A collar. Smooth, cold, humming with energy that felt wrong against my skin. The moment my...