Chapter 24 - Leah

I couldn’t see inside the building from my position outside, but from Killian’s body language, I understood that even he knew that he was outnumbered. So far, he had remained outside, but if he entered the building, there was no doubt in my mind that his life would be forfeit.

We need to protect him! Destiny shouted, trying to force me to change.

Fighting right now won’t help him, I pointed out. Even with my help, Killian and I are outnumbered. We have to go get help.

I can’t leave him! My wolf argued my point, seemingly unable to see reason when facing the prospect of losing our mate to his deranged half-brother.

I turned around quietly, shifting our focus toward the trees where the pack warriors still met.

Destiny, we don’t have time for this. Run for the other alphas. Right now.

With Franco’s focus still on Killian and the hostages inside the community center, I sprang into action. I shifted, hoping against hope that Destiny would follow my plan and get help. It was the only chance we had at saving Killian.

My heart soared as my wolf ran towards the trees, knowing we were doing everything we could at the moment. But the next moment, I felt a feeling of loss and grief wash through me. If we didn’t hurry, I might never see my mate again.

You were right, Leah, Destiny said. I needed your perspective to understand that this was the best plan. Now let me help you.

She pushed herself even harder until the wind whipped through her fur so fast, it felt like we were flying. The rhythmic beat of her paws on the ground and the feeling of speed were enough to wash the fear from me, replacing it with adrenaline.

We careened into the clearing at breakneck speed, sliding to a stop at the edge of the arena. The stunned faces of the three packs looked at us for a split-second before half of the wolves shifted.

“Luna Leah,” Jasper said in a loud, commanding voice. “What happened?”

“Franco is back in Pinedale,” I answered, shifting at once. “He and his pack have taken the remainder of the pack members hostage in the community center. Killian is trying to stop them, but he’s outnumbered.”

“How many are there?” Jasper asked.

I shrugged, feeling the panic rise up in my chest. “I don’t know. I didn’t see them.”

Without giving an order, the entire assembly shifted, following their alphas back toward town. Jasper and the Dark Moon Pack took the lead, while Nile’s Pinedale wolves took the right flank.

To my surprise, Killian’s wolves followed me as I ran on Jasper’s left side. It hadn’t struck me until this moment, but with their alpha in danger, the pack would look to their luna for leadership. Pride filled my heart as they obeyed my silent orders.

In what felt like less time than it had taken me to reach the forest, we arrived at the hedge where I had spied on Killian’s conversation with Franco. To my horror, Killian was no longer standing in the doorway. Instead, his wolf Rocky was backing away as Franco and his enemy shifters circled around him menacingly.

Jasper, Nile, and I nodded to a few of our wolves, who circled around to the front of the building to begin evacuating the civilians from inside.

With the rescue mission underway, I threw my whole focus into Killian. One of his legs appeared to be broken, as he wasn’t putting any weight on it. A large gash ran down the length of his front leg as well, leaving a trail of blood on the grass wherever he walked.

At the sight of the blood dripping from my mate, I howled, letting out my pain and fury. The sudden cry drew the attention of the wolves toward me as Jasper, Nile, and I jumped in unison over the hedge, aiming directly for Franco. Our packs followed closely behind us.

Chaos broke out as nearly a hundred wolves fought each other. Fur, teeth, and snarls filled the air as we bit, clawed, and slammed each other to the ground.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Killian recover the full use of his legs as his quick healing mended what had been damaged. He lunged for the wolf protecting his brother’s flank—Franco’s beta—grabbing him by the throat and tossing him to the ground.

He then turned his attention toward Franco.

I rushed to Killian’s side, ready to defend him from any of the other wolves backing his brother. As we squared off against our nemesis, I saw Nile and Jasper leading our wolves, working together to drive the attackers back. Instead of a disordered melee, we now had battle lines. The tides were turning.

Just as we were about to attack Franco, pushing him back once and for all, a flash of silver whooshed from behind us and hit Killian on the back. I whirled around as he howled in pain, trying to find where the hit had originated from.

The beta wolf that Killian had attacked was no longer lying on the ground. He had been faking how badly he had been injured, and he’d used the opportunity to shift into human form and surprise him from behind. He held a strange silver knife in his hand—apparently, the same weapon that had been used moments ago to strike him.

Realizing he had been spotted, the beta dropped the knife. Shifting back into his wolf form, he attempted to flee over the hedge, but Killian and I pounced in unison. Together, we finished him off, ensuring he wouldn’t attack again.

“Well done, big brother.” Franco had shifted and was taunting Killian, clapping slowly in mock celebration at his kill.

“It’s over, Franco,” Killian replied as he turned to face him. “Your wolves are being driven out. Your second is dead. You’ve failed.”

“On the contrary, brother. I never fail,” Franco said. His blue eyes flashed in anger, and I wondered what other sinister things he had planned for us.

Killian narrowed his eyes, not backing down. “You are no longer my brother,” he declared. “You are nothing to me. For so long, I wished I could make things right between us, but you’ve proven that will never be possible. There is nothing left for you here, Franco.”

The man glared at my mate with fury, but even he could see that there was no winning this fight.

“You aren’t going to kill me?” Franco asked incredulously.

“There would be no point,” Kilian said simply. “You’re already dead to me. Leave now. If you ever return, I assure you that you will be killed.”

With one last look of fury, Franco backed away, following the path his wolves had made as they were pushed out of Pinedale.

We all stood, waiting for the sounds of their running footsteps and howls to fade into the distance before we finally realized that the fight was over.

“Are they gone?” Luna Violet asked.

“They’re gone,” Nile assured her.

With the wolves routed from the area, I shifted, turning to look at Killian. My face beamed with pride and relief, knowing that we had succeeded in our goal to protect our packs. Against all obstacles, we had overcome the attack. Together.

I was about to run into his arms in celebration of our victory when I noticed that he had turned pale. It was as though all the blood had drained from his body.

“Something’s wrong,” he declared. His voice seemed distant, almost robotic, as his eyes became unfocused.

“Killian?” I asked, unsure what he was talking about. The attackers were gone, and we had won. What could be wrong?

He looked down at his leg, and I saw that blood was still gushing from the wound he had received earlier. Instead of healing, it had reopened, and the blood was soaking what remained of his pant leg.

“What is happening?” he asked, fear rising in his voice.

Killian’s leg gave out, and he slumped to the ground. As he fell, I lunged forward, barely managing to catch his head before it hit the ground.

“No!” I screamed as fear and loss overwhelmed me almost to the point of insanity.

Never had I seen a werewolf in such bad shape before, and the sharp contrast between the strength and command Killian had shown during the battle and the lifeless shell he was becoming was too much for my mind to handle.

Tears streamed down my face, obscuring my vision as I stroked his blond hair. If he could only open his eyes, I would know that everything was going to be okay again.

This has to be some cruel trick , I thought. We’re finally together. Everything has to be alright.

I was aware that other hands were touching Killian, but I couldn’t tell who they belonged to. All I knew was that he was slipping away from me.

“Leah, you need to let us help him,” Jasper said.

I looked up at him, pushing through the shock so I could comprehend what he was telling me. “Help him?”

Jasper nodded. “We’re taking you both to Nile’s house. It’s closest, and time is of the essence. April and Violet are going to help you get there, and we’re going to heal him. But I need you to let go so we can move him.”

I looked back down at my hands, realizing that I was still holding his head in my lap. I nodded mutely, allowing Nile and Jasper to lift him away from me.

A small sob shook my body as he was taken away, but the next second, two pairs of arms encircled me. The lunas were here, wrapping me in their circle of protection and helping me toward the house where my mate was being carried.

“We’re here,” April said. “We’ve got you.”

There was nothing more they could say, but they didn’t need to. After years of being on my own and having to take care of myself, I finally had people looking out for me and my mate. I had to believe that he was going to survive this.

“I can’t do this alone,” I said.

“You’ll never have to,” Violet replied.