CHAPTER FORTY FIVE – SHE IS NOT ACCEPTED

As she finally crawled into bed that night, Laura's mind was whirling with questions. What was Dr. Carter up to? What threat were the werewolves facing? And where did she fit into all of this? She tossed and turned, sleep eluding her. The events of the day played over and over in her mind – the dismissive treatment, the overheard conversations, the confrontation with Axel and Garrett. She felt more alone and out of place than ever. As the first light of dawn began to creep through her window, Laura made a decision. She couldn't continue like this, feeling helpless and ignorant. Somehow, she needed to find out more about what was really going on at the Elric compound. As she dressed in her standard-issue clothes, Laura caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Dark circles hung under her eyes, a testament to her restless nights. She sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. It was hard to believe that just a few weeks ago, she had been a respected nurse, her life full of purp