Chapter 31

Chapter Thirty-One

Ember

M y wolf limps back a few steps, circling the wolf we should have handled outside of the modified dog kennel the first time he tried our authority. I proverbially grit my teeth to manage the pain that radiates into me from her back right leg. That’s the kind of injury that will take some time to heal, and I’m guessing the agony is what brought me back to consciousness.

The male wolf isn’t in much better shape. His missing eye is likely gone forever, but that won’t be a problem, considering he won’t be living through this battle. There’s also a huge patch of hair and skin dangling from the left side of his neck.

He advances, and my wolf refuses to back down. She meets him in the air, snarling and trying to rip into his jaw as his paw lands against a particularly tender wound in her ribs.

I yelp in her mind, but she sounds nothing short of rabid. Her teeth catch on his jowl, and she tears away skin and flesh, flinging it aside before attacking again.

The male wolf’s feet land on the ground, and she lunges, despite the burning pain in her leg. He attempts to roll, but she’s ready for that. Her fury turns into a red tint that hazes my vision, or maybe that’s the massive amount of blood that spurts onto her face as she rips his throat out.

It’s clear he’s down and not getting back up, but she doesn’t heed any of my instructions. Not until his head is no longer attached to his massive body.

Her head falls back as she howls, but it’s not a victorious sound.

Her agony and heartbreak fill my mind as I realize I can’t feel Lorcan at all anymore.

There’s no pain…

It’s just nothing.

My wolf moves as quickly as she’s able to with a broken leg. She spots Veryn and Anders fighting against a group of wolves, but it’s barely a thought in her mind. She focuses on getting us to Lorcan’s body, and she doesn’t know what to make of the two men hovering over his sides.

She recognizes Rogue, but even our lifelong friend feels like a threat. She growls, snapping her teeth. I push with every bit of my will to force her to give up control, but she won’t.

“You can’t hurt them,” Rogue says in her no-nonsense tone. “They’re working to save your mate. If you kill them, you kill any chance of saving the druid.”

My wolf bounds around Rogue, hobbling on three legs. Every inch of her body aches, but it’s nothing compared to the emotional torment.

She continues to try to shut me out. It’s her attempt to protect me from the pain, but I fight with every ounce of energy I have left. Her head tilts, and we both stare in shock as the man with black hair pulls the spear from Lorcan’s chest, only to drive a dagger straight through his heart.

My wolf snarls, but the man’s face flies up. Something inside me says that’s Calyx. There’s something wholly unnatural about his gaze, and if she wasn’t so furious, she might whine or even run away.

“Don’t,” he says simply as his hands begin to glow with wispy white magic.

My wolf lowers to her belly, like if she shimmies along on it, he might not see her. She inches closer until her nose bumps Lorcan’s hand. A long dagger protrudes through the middle, staking him to the ground.

I start to cry, and the tears leak from her eyes as she laps at his skin.

The blond man with glasses also raises his hands over Lorcan’s chest, but he looks at my wolf. “We’re doing everything we can. Don’t cry.”

My wolf squeezes her eyes closed and continues rubbing her muzzle against Lorcan’s palm, like she can will him to live. She feels Rogue take a seat next to her, but she’s too heartbroken to do anything as Anders and Veryn continue to fight against the remaining wolves.