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My wolf's head drops between his paws. In the hospital, he stayed strong for me. When I held Arlene and refused to accept what I already knew, he kept me standing. When they took her from my arms, he carried me out of that hospital.

Now it's my turn.

"You stayed with me."

His ears twitch.

"You kept me together when I couldn't do it myself."

Want mate.

"I know." I press closer to him inside our shared mind. "I've got you."

Another howl rips from his chest. This one takes me with it. I howl with him until I can't tell which one of us is making the sound anymore.

Then another howl cuts through the forest behind us. Silver. Powerful. Lycan.

Rylan.

My wolf lifts his head. Leaves crunch somewhere behind us.

“Darian.”

I force our body upright. “Go away.”

Rylan keeps coming.

“Selena told me what happened.”

“I said go away.”

Rylan shifts. Bones crack and reform until he stands several yards away from us, blood still streaking his skin from everything that happened tonight.

I turn my head away from him.

Want mate.

My chest tightens. "Me too."

“Come on,” Rylan says quietly. “Let's get you up.”

I shift.

Pain tears through my exhausted body as bones break and reform. The moment I'm human, my knees hit the ground. I catch myself with one hand while the other digs into the dirt.

Rylan reaches me and grabs my arm.

“Don't.”

“Darian.”

“I said don't fucking touch me.”

“I'm helping you stand.”

“I don't need your fucking help.”

I rip my arm out of his hand and force myself upright. My legs shake beneath me. I take one step, then another before my knee buckles.