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“I know.”

Bring him home.

I grab Michael beneath the arms. He's heavier unconscious or I’m just that banged up. My ribs scream. My injured leg almost folds. I'm nearly dragging him. Blood drips from my fingers onto the ground. My wolf presses against the pain again.

“Arlene. Our pup.”

I'm trying.

“Just keep us moving.” My wolf take more of the pain to himself.

A surviving warrior reaches me. His entire side is soaked in blood.

“I've got him.”

“No. Protect the others.”

“Darian.”

“Go!”

He goes. Because there are still injured pack members ahead and we are so close to the boundary. Because there are only four of us now. Every dead warrior has left another hole. Every hole has become mine. The boundary comes into view. Home.

“Keep moving!”

The first wolves cross. Then the elders. Then the women. Then the children. One by one. I count. Six. Ten. Fourteen. Seventeen. Paige crosses with Milo and Piper. Twenty. Then the three warriors. All twenty. Alive. My knees almost give out. Not yet. Michael. I drag him closer. A howl erupts from Silver Moon territory. Reinforcements. Finally. Dozens of wolves tear toward us. The hunters finally retreat. Hands grab Michael from me.

“Take him!” I don't know who I'm shouting at.

“Hospital. He was hit with something. Same thing they used on Joshua.” Someone catches me as I fall. “No.” I shove at them.

“Three warriors. They're injured. Get them first.”

“Darian, you're bleeding everywhere.”

“The three warriors.”

“They're being taken to the hospital.”

I close my eyes. My wolf exhales inside me.

We did it.

“Joshua.” Silence.

We will bring him home.

I try to stand. My body refuses. Darkness takes me.

****

I wake to movement. For half a second, I think I'm still in the human territory. Then Silver Moon's pack scent reaches me. Home. Arlene. Pups. I'm being carried.

I try to sit up. Pain tears through my body.

“Stay down,” someone orders.

“Michael?”