SYDNEY As I lay in bed, I could hear the conversations and commotion around me, but my body felt heavy and unresponsive. My wolf, Katrina, was weakening too. Her usual strength and vitality were dwindling. I realized with a jolt that the toxin from my mother's blood was coursing through my veins, crippling me. The truth now makes sense of why my parents had always treated me differently. To them, I am nothing but a curse. The memories of my childhood flooded my mind, and I finally understood why I'd never felt their love or warmth. They'd kept me at arm's length, and I'd always wondered why. Now, it all made sense. I was a product of their mistakes, a hybrid with a toxic legacy. The weight of their rejection crushed me, but I knew I couldn't let it define me. I focused on the sound