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“I’m sorry, Celeste, I just wanted to live. I hope you can forgive me one day,” she whispered under her breath before opening her eyes and looking at the men with resignation and hatred. “I hope they make you suffer a slow death. My only regret is not being there to watch them do it.” Then she screamed and ran at them. She didn’t get very far, and before she could do any damage, he slammed the silver knife straight into her chest to the hilt. She fell to the ground, looking up at the cave ceiling, tears running down her face.
I got jerked back and heard Celeste gasp in front of me. We were back in Ruby’s room. When our eyes connected, I saw the intent and determination in her eyes. Then, as if in slow motion, she jumped off the window, shifting into her wolf halfway down and landing with a small huff, running in the direction of the woods.
‘Celeste!’I screamed via mind-link at her, jumping off the window to follow her. Atlas was going full speed, but I knew she was faster than us. I didn’t know what I would do if she disappeared again.
‘YOU CAN’T LEAVE US AGAIN. PLEASE MATE. I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU!’Atlas roared at them, the raw emotion and desperation clear in his words. He was trying to catch up, but both of us were in full panic mode, knowing we wouldn’t be able to catch her if she didn’t let us.
‘I know that place. I am not running away. I need to get to her before she dies. I can’t let her die thinking I would not forgive her,’Celeste replied, eerily calm.
‘Let us come with you. It’s not safe for you to go alone,’Atlas and I both pleaded at the same time.
‘I’m not; look down. I can’t slow down. It might be too late if I do. I left a trail.’
We looked down at the ground as we ran, wondering what she meant. And then we saw it, small little fires in the shape of paws on the forest floor.
‘Alpha, what’s happening? Danny said Luna ran,’Gillian’s voice came into my head.
‘Are you close? Follow the fire paws. She knows where they took Ruby. She had a vision of it,’Atlas answered for us.
‘Fire pa—‘Gillian started.
'I see them. We are a few steps behind you, Atlas,’Otto, Gillian’s wolf, interrupted.
‘They only make it out of this area dead or in chains. They will pay for the suffering they have inflicted on our people,’Kara and Celeste’s voices rang through my head, and I heard a few growls of agreement around us. She was communicating with everyone through mind-link at once, something only people initiated into their ranked roles should be able to do. Her luna ceremony was still two days away. She shouldn’t be able to do that.
Mate is special. When are you going to stop being surprised?Atlas rolled his eyes.
Fair point, but I can’t help it if I’m fucking impressed every time she shows us what she’s capable of,I argued.
We can show her how impressed we are later,Atlas purred.
You’re a fucking horn dog. Focus. The sooner we catch up, the less chance she gets hurt.The moment I said those words, Atlas seemed to pick up even more speed.
We ran for about half an hour and were getting close to the river that ran near the edge of our territory. When we made it out of the forest, I could barely see Kara’s black and red tail about a mile ahead of us. Damn, but she was fast. We had only been a few seconds behind her when she jumped.
‘We’re almost there, Markus. They can’t escape. They have to pay. I have never been able to change a vision. I know it means Selene will not let me heal her. This is meant to happen, and we cannot let her death be in vain.’Celeste’s voice was strong and full of pain.
‘It stops here,’I promised.
‘I’m just out of range of them catching my scent. Are you close?’
‘Thirty seconds from you,’Atlas answered.
‘Surround the cave. No one escapes,’ I instructed my warriors. ‘If you can, take them alive, but I’d rather see their heads roll than allow them to leave.’
We reached the end of the cliff that went down toward the river bank. I heard Ruby scream, the same warrior cry we heard in the vision and I saw Kara jump into the cave with a giant roar. Scuffles were heard above the sound of the running river, and one of the traffickers came running out of the cave and toward the river bank.
‘One headed north,’I called out as Atlas continued to push his legs as far as he could, only one thought driving us—get to Celeste.
‘We’re in position, Alpha. He won’t get away,’Gillian answered.
With that assurance, I jumped into the cave after Celeste, her safety our number one priority. As we entered, every concern we had of Celeste being hurt evaporated. The second trafficker was unconscious and crumpled against the wall. His once-attached arm could be found along the other side of the cave. Celeste was on the ground with Ruby, the silver knife still protruding from her chest. They spoke in hushed whispers before I felt the pack link snap, and Ruby’s chest stopped moving.
Atlas gave back control as we shifted back to my form. I crouched in front of them and squeezed the hand not holding Ruby’s
“Is he still alive?” she asked calmly, unable to look away from her friend. There were tears gathered in her eyes, but her tone was monotone. She wasn’t blocking the bond connection, so I could feel the depth of her grief. I didn’t know if I should consider her calmness concerning or if I should admire her ability to control her reactions to this terrible situation. I walked over to the piece of trash wolf against the wall and kicked his leg.
“He’s alive… for now,” I said. The leftover stump on his arm was still bleeding but not much anymore, and I could see the skin trying to knit itself close as his wolf did what it could to save their life.
