Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Cedara

The sound of gunfire shatters the tense silence. My heart leaps into my throat as my mother gasps, "What's going on?"

I shake my head, eyes wide with terror. I have no idea, but my instincts are screaming danger. Shouts and the thunderous pounding of footsteps echo down the corridor outside the cell.

My mother clutches at the bars, peering out anxiously. "Cedara, I don't like this. Something is very wrong."

My pulse races as the unmistakable scent of blood wafts under the door. The metallic tang ignites my wolf, making my muscles tense as if readying for battle.

Roars filter through the walls now, mingling with the sounds of fighting. Through the bars, I reach for my mother's arm urgently. "Mom, you need to get out of here. Now!"

She opens her mouth to protest, but I cut her off sharply. "Please, just go! Get back to the town, to safety. I'll be okay."

"No! I'm not leaving you here alone. I won't!"

The sound of boots against the concrete floor jolts me from my frantic pleading.

Someone's coming!

"Cedara!?" My mother's eyes are wild. She's clinging to the bars between us.

My heart hammers as the footsteps draw nearer, each thud reverberating through my bones.

The door crashes open, and suddenly Casey's there, chest heaving, keys clutched in her white-knuckled grip. "Come on, let's get you out of her!" she barks, rushing forward.

Relief washes over me as she jams the key into the lock. But it won't turn, the rusted metal groaning in protest. Casey spits a curse, yanking harder until finally the key snaps clean off, clattering uselessly to the floor.

"No!" My mother's voice is shrill with panic.

Casey slams her shoulder against the bars, but they don't so much as rattle. Of course – these cells were built to contain wolves at their strongest. She snarls in frustration, her eyes burning as she begins to shift.

Instinct takes over, and I feel my own bones contorting, muscles rippling beneath my skin. Within seconds, I'm half-transformed, throwing my powerful frame against the unforgiving metal. It's no use – the bars hold firm.

My mother has also assumed her wolf form, but her movements are sluggish, her once-sleek black coat now streaked with the silver that the years have added. She makes a low whining sound, crouching low. I can't let her face this!

I turn frantic eyes on Casey. "Get her out! She can't stay here!"

Casey hesitates, then nods. "We're getting out of here, Sybil!" When my mother shrinks back, she grabs my mother's scruff firmly, tugging insistently. With one last anguished look at me, Mom allows herself to be dragged away.

Alone now, I grit my teeth against the deafening roar of gunfire. My hackles rise as boots thump ever closer. I'm trapped – a sitting duck. But I won't go down without a fight.

???

Cedara

I'm shaking with apprehension at the sounds from outside, convinced that any minute, the door is going to fly open, and armed attackers are going to burst in. My nerves are strung taut, but I hold myself firm, ready to attack.

I press myself back against the cold concrete wall, my heart thundering. The gunfire and shouts have grown closer, more intense. I can make out heavy steps approaching once more.

The door swings open with a crash, and a huge, burly man storms in, weapon raised. My nostrils twitch at the scent of human. They must have gotten in somehow.

What the hell's going on?

I bare my teeth.

He lets out a laugh that makes my blood run cold. "Well, well, what have we here? All wrapped up and ready to be shipped out." He advances. "Looks like the boss will be pleased with this haul after all. The raid may have been a bust, but at least we won't be leaving empty-handed."

No!

I can't believe this nightmare isn't over. Just when I'd started to hope that my life might finally be on track, here's more danger, more threats.

"Get away from me, you bastard!" I grate the words, my beast still evident. "They'll be here any second. Get away while you can."

He scoffs. "Doesn't look like you're in any position to be making threats, she-wolf." He reaches the door to the cell and scowls down at it.

She-wolf?

These people know what we are.

He rattles the door to the cell, his brow furrowing as he sees the ruined lock. At least the reinforced door won't open for this brute. Safe for now, I watch warily as he grows increasingly frustrated, kicking and slamming against the locked entrance in a futile attempt to force it open.

Finally, he draws his weapon and fires off a round at the locking mechanism. The explosion is deafening, but the bullet pings off and ricochets away. I flinch at the sound but hold myself steady.

"It's no use. You won't get it open," I smirk, putting on a show of bravado.

His crazed eyes lock on me again, and I shrink back, fresh fear gripping me. "If I can't get you out, then I might as well put you down right here!" He raises the gun, sighting down the barrel right at me. I dart aside just as he fires off a round that gouges into the concrete where I'd been standing. Chunks of debris pelt me, but I barely notice, my focus entirely on the weapon and the malice on his face.

"You don't know what you're dealing with!" I snarl, even though I'm pretty sure he knows exactly what I am. His next words confirm it.

"Think I'm stupid, wolf? We know how to control the likes of you." He taps the barrel. "Silver. If I get one of these slugs in you, you're toast. Won't be the first time I've seen one of you freaks go down."

Ice rushes through my veins as I stare at him.

"Hah, you wolves make good sport, don't you?" He's laughing, taunting me as he lines up another shot. There's nowhere for me to run, nowhere to hide. It's only a matter of time before…

The door explodes inward in a shower of splinters. Barrett is there, his face twisted with rage as he takes in the scene. Part of me wants to cry with relief at the sight of him. But mostly, I'm just frozen, caught between the two predators like a helpless rabbit.

I scream as the man whips around, his gun leveled at Barrett. Time slows as he squeezes the trigger. The shot rings out like a thunderclap, and I watch in horror as the bullet grazes Barrett's arm, tearing through his shirtsleeve and drawing a line of crimson.

"Barrett!" The anguished cry rips from my throat, but he doesn't even flinch. With an enraged howl, he charges forward, heedless of the danger.

The man tries to bring his weapon up again, but Barrett is on him in a blur of movement. They collide with bone-jarring force, the gun clattering across the floor as they grapple viciously. I can only watch, frozen, as they roll over the ground in a flurry of limbs and grunts.

Barrett is clearly stronger, but the man fights with the desperation of a cornered animal. He claws and bites, trying to reach for the fallen gun. His fingers reach for the grip of the weapon and close around it. I see a flash of silver and hear the gunshot, the sound making me flinch.

"No!" I scream again, terror gripping me. But then Barrett rises, hovering over the man's prone form. A gaping hole mars the man's throat where the bullet struck home – his own silver round.

With a gurgling rattle, he draws one last breath before going still. Barrett turns towards me, his eyes burning with urgency and concern. He rushes to the cell door, gripping the bars as his gaze rakes over me.

"Cedara…" His voice is rough, tinged with relief and lingering fury.

I swallow hard, trying to find my own voice. "It's locked. The key broke off…"

Barrett doesn't hesitate. He steps back, snatching up a fallen metal bar from the floor. With a roar of exertion, he wedges it between the door and frame, muscles straining as he pries with every ounce of his strength.

The reinforced metal groans in protest, but inch by inch, Barrett forces it open, fueled by sheer desperation to reach me. I stare in awe at the display of raw power, overcome by a profound sense of love and gratitude for this remarkable man – my mate.

Finally, with one last heave, the door wrenches free from its hinges, crashing to the floor. Barrett doesn't even pause, crossing the threshold in two long strides to sweep me into his embrace.

Barrett crushes me to his chest, his strong arms encircling me in a protective embrace. I cling to him, my face buried in his neck, inhaling his scent deeply. For a moment, I let myself get lost in his warmth, his solidity. He's here.

I'm safe.

After a long moment, Barrett pulls back slightly, his hands coming up to cradle my face. His dark eyes search mine intently, roving over my features as if assessing for any sign of injury or distress.

"Are you okay?" His deep voice is laced with concern.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak past the lump in my throat. Emotion crashes over me in waves, leaving me lightheaded and shaky.

Apparently satisfied that I'm unharmed, Barrett lowers his head, his lips grazing mine.

"God…I thought I was going to lose you again." His throat works as he swallows.

"Never. I'd come back from hell to be with you." Our eyes lock for a moment, a thousand unspoken promises within that look. And then my breath flutters out in a sigh as he claims my mouth in a searing kiss. It's a kiss that pours every ounce of his love, his desperation, his fierce protectiveness into the press of his lips against mine. I respond with equal fervor, my hands fisting in his shirt as I pull him impossibly closer.

His tongue sweeps into my mouth, tangling with mine in a dance of passion and promise. It's a kiss that brands my soul, a kiss that says I'm here, I've got you, I'll never let you go. My heart swells with the depth of feelings threatening to burst from me.

When Barrett finally raises his head, we're both panting heavily. He rests his forehead against mine, his breath mingling with my own.

"I'll always protect you, Cedara," he vows, his voice rough with emotion. "With my life, if I have to."

I swallow hard, tears pricking at the backs of my eyes. "I hope it never comes to that," I whisper. "We deserve to have our time together after everything we've been through. I'm just afraid of…"

"Afraid of what?"

"Her, Barrett. My wolf. What if she—?"

"She's part of you, beautiful. And I love her, too – she's the fighter within you. But I think she's going to be less of a problem from now on. She's not the only one around to protect you anymore. Your control is coming back." He smiles gently.

I think through the events of the last few hours and realize that he's right. She's been around when I've needed her. But I've had control over the changes. We're working together again, the way we always used to.

From outside, a shout rings out, causing us both to stiffen. But then the words register.

"All clear! They're down!" It's Jagger. I realize the sound of gunfire has died away. I'd been so lost in the kiss that I'd barely noticed.

I sag against Barrett, my knees giving out as the adrenaline that's been holding me steady begins to rush away. He catches me easily, sweeping me up into his arms and holding me to him. I nestle into him, sinking into the sensation.

This feels like home. It feels like forever.

"It's over," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my temple. "We're through it. The final hurdle. It's time for the rest of our lives together."

Emotion wells up inside me, a heady mix of joy, love, and anticipation. "I love you so much," I choke out.

"I love you too, beautiful," he breathes. I tilt my face up to his, our lips meeting once more in a kiss that feels like a new beginning.

This is the moment I've been dreaming of. In Barrett's arms, I know that everything is going to be okay. We have a future ahead of us, a lifetime to explore the depth of our bond.

And I can't wait to get started.