Page 19

That’s when I see it.

The branch isn’t a branch. It’s a spear of pine, thick as my wrist, driven clean through the meat above her collarbone. The wood is dark with blood, and where it enters her skin the flesh is swollen and angry, and she isn’t healing. She isn’t healing at all.

Her legs give out.

I’m there before she hits the ground. My Lycan is protective of her. Who is she? My arms close around her, taking her weight, and she’s lighter than I expect , lighter than she should be, like something inside her has already been consumed. Her hand reaches past me, fingers stretching toward the pups.

“Darlene,” she whispers. “Damian.”

She finds them with her eyes , both of them safe, huddled tucked away in Justin’s arms , and something in her face softens. Unbreaks. Her hand drops. Her head falls back against my arm, and her eyes close, and she goes still.

“Marcus.” My voice comes out steady. I’m grateful for that. “Carry her to the hospital. Now. Don’t jostle the branch.”

He doesn’t argue. He lifts her from my arms with a gentleness that surprises me, cradling her against his chest, and starts moving toward the pack hospital at a pace that’s fast without being reckless.

I bend and gather both pups. The girl tucks her face into my neck immediately, her small body shaking. The boy holds himself rigid for half a second , pride, I think, or the last of whatever his father told him , and then he folds, his arms locking around my waist.

“Everything’s going to be alright,” I tell them. Both of them. My voice doesn’t shake. “I promise. Everything’s going to be alright.”

I start walking. Rylan stays. Rylan mindlinks me, “Don’t think I won’t finish what you started later… I blush, realizing the promise in his words. “You'll have to catch me first, Alpha.”

“Don’t test my control, baby… Justin, Damon or Derek can take the pups and their mom to the hospital . You will be up a tree… with your hands on the tree truck, legs spread, as I…”

“Blame my Lycan… anyway we need to contact a patrol to scout..” I interrupt him. He smirks.

“Joshua is here with a patrol. I sent for them on the way here.” As if summoned, Joshua steps from the tree line, six warriors flanking him in perfect formation. He doesn’t look at the blood or the injured shewolf being carried away. His eyes sweep the clearing once, assessing, then land on Rylan. “Alpha.”

“Search the territory. There may be more rogues. Report anything you find directly to me.”

Joshua nods sharply and gestures to his warriors. They melt back into the forest without another word. Rylan’s attention shifts to Justin, who’s still standing protectively near the oak. “Your father trained you well. You kept your head when others lost theirs.” He places a hand on Justin’s shoulder. “I think you’re ready for more responsibility. We’ll discuss your promotion when things have settled.”

Justin’s shoulders straighten. “Thank you, Alpha.” I catch Joshua’s gaze just before he follows his warriors into the woods. The pride in his eyes is quiet but unmistakable, a fleeting, fierce warmth that vanishes as he turns away.

“Is Joshua one of the wolves you’ve been considering? Beta, gamma, delta?” Rylan’s answer comes back without hesitation, and I can feel the smirk in it before the word even forms.

“Gamma.”

I smile. I shift the girl higher against my shoulder and keep walking, rubbing circles on their backs to calm them down, “That’s a good choice, but why not Beta?”

“Your protection comes before my comfort,” Rylan says.

“Oh, one more thing… Justin was the young junior patrol warrior who looked so heartbroken when we brought everyone to catch Ronan and Candice in their… state of nakedness…”

“Maybe a double promotion is in order.”

*****

The hospital doors burst open before I reach them. Marcus comes through first, the shewolf cradled against his chest like something sacred, and Healer Thomas is already moving , he must have felt the blood on the pack bond before he saw it.

“Gurney. Now.” His voice is clipped, professional, and two orderlies materialize with a stretcher between them. Marcus lowers her carefully, and the branch shifts, and the shewolf doesn’t even flinch this time. That’s worse than the screaming.

“Luna.” Thomas doesn’t look up from her shoulder. His hands are already moving, pressing around the wound, assessing. “I need space.”

I step back. The pups are still in my arms , the girl asleep now, her breath hitching against my collarbone, the boy watching his mother with eyes that don’t blink.

“Come on,” I tell him softly. “Let’s give them room to work.”

He shakes his head. One sharp, stubborn jerk.