CHAPTER 14.
The moment Selena turned, I knew I was too late. She had Rowan. Her claw was pressed to his small throat. My heart stopped. My breath caught. Don’t, I choked out, hands shaking. “Selena, don’t hurt him.”
She laughed–a wild, unhinged sound. “Oh, now you care? You didn’t care when you stole Kade from me!”
Her eyes blazed with fury. “You didn’t care when you came back like a leech, clinging to what isn’t yours!”
i shook my head, swallowing the panic rising in my throat. “Selena, please—he’s just a child.”
A child that shouldn’t exist, she spat. “Neither of you should be here! You should have died in that rogue attack! He should have killed you!”
My blood ran cold. How did she know about that? But there was no time to think–her grip on Rowan tightened, and then-
A sharp cry. Rowan whimpered as a thin line of blood bloomed on his neck. No. Red. My vision turned red.
Let him go,” I growled, my entire body shaking. “You want to fight me? Do it. But leave him out of this.”
Selena smirked, eyes dark with glee. “Oh, Mira. You think you stand a chance?”
f clenched
my fists. “Come at me and see.”
Her smile widened. “Gladly.” She dropped Rowan.
barely had time before Selena lunged at me. Her body twisted, fur bursting through her skin as she shifted mid–air. A massive, dark wolf with gleaming claws and murder in her eyes emerged. had no wolf form. But I had a knife. A silver blade. Deadly to wolves–deadly to me too.
braced myself.
Her claws slashed toward me. I ducked, rolling to the side, slicing at her leg. The blade met flesh, and she yelped, stumbling back.
But I wasn’t fast enough. Pain exploded in my side as her claws raked across my ribs. I gasped, staggering back.
My blood. Warm and sticky on my palm.
She laughed. “You’re pathetic. Weak.”
I swallowed my pain. Stood tall. I wasn’t dying here. I couldn’t die here.
Selena lunged again. I dodged. Slashed. My knife caught her shoulder. She growled, fury twisting her face.
Her strikes became wild, manic. She wasn’t just trying to kill me. She wanted me to suffer.
Another swipe. More blood. My arm burned. I wouldn’t last long.
<
CHAPTER 14
Then–I fell. My knife slipped from my fingers. Selena loomed over me, teeth bared, eyes gleaming with triumph.
This is where you die,” she whispered. I closed my eyes. Waited for the pain. But it never came.
Then, I heard a grunt. A sickening thud sounded as I felt warmth above me.
fopened my eyes. Kade. His human form shielded me. Selena’s claws were buried in his chest.
My stomach dropped.
No, I gasped.
No, no, no-” Selena stumbled back, face paling. “I didn’t mean to
kade grunted, his body trembling. Then he shifted. A massive golden brown wolf stood before me, blood dripping from his chest. He turned to me, his gaze firm. “Take Rowan away.” His voice was rough, a low growl that sent shivers down my spine. Then he attacked.
Selena tried to fight.
But she was no match. She was fast, but Kade was faster. She was strong, but he was stronger. There was no way she could be a match for an Alpha. in seconds, she was cornered, gasping for breath, her body trembling as she shifted back to human form. The others arrived, their eyes wide in shock.
Kade didn’t look away from her. “Take her,” he ordered. The warriors obeyed without question.
Then he turned to me. Rowan was in my arms, clinging to me, as his eyes fluttered open.
“Mama,” he called, his expression confused.
Huge teardrops fell from my eyes. Rowan hurriedly wiped them away. “Why’re you crying?”
Thugged him tightly. “Nothing, baby. I’m just happy to see you.”
Kade reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
“You’re safe,” he murmured. His gaze dropped to Rowan. Something flickered in his eyes. Realization. Understanding.
He inhaled sharply and I realised, the medicine that hid Rowan’s scent–it was gone.
Now, Kade could finally scent him. And he knew.
My heart pounded as his gaze locked onto mine. “Mira,” he whispered.
Then he swayed. My stomach clenched. “Kade?”
His lips tilted into a faint, tired smile. Then, he collapsed, blood pooling under him.
My heart seemed to stop for a moment. “Kade!”
< CHAPTER 15
