“Just a short trip, baby,” I whisper, though my throat tightens and my heart pounds so loudly it drowns out my own words. I pull him close, inhaling the familiar softness of his hair, grounding myself. I have to stay composed-for him. “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
Callen turns, his jaw clenched, eyes hard. “Give him to me, Paige. I need you ready to move.”
I hesitate, holding Jax for a heartbeat longer before reluctantly handing him over. Callen cradles him firmly, his body a solid fortress of strength and control. “Stay right behind me. No matter what.”
He doesn’t need to repeat himself.
Glancing toward the door, Callen orders, “Go! We have to move now!”
We sprint.
As the door crashes open, chaos erupts around us. An alarm blares in the distance, shrill and piercing, rattling my bones. The air is thick with the acrid scent of smoke curling low over the forest floor. Red emergency lights bathe the trees in an eerie glow, casting long, sinister shadows that make the scene all the more terrifying.
Wolves dart ahead, streaks of muscle and fur moving with desperate speed. Packs of humans and wolves alike rush by, carrying the wounded, clutching children, grasping whatever they can salvage. Shouts ring out: “Regroup at the ridge! North and west sides are compromised! Two down near the stream!”
It’s controlled chaos-organized desperation. We run alongside them.
Poppy leads with Jake close behind, her breaths ragged as she clutches the medical bag tightly to her chest. Callen strides beside me, his long legs eating up the ground, with Jaxon’s small hands gripping his shirt tightly.
The forest blurs past-a whirlwind of silver leaves and shifting shadows. Each heartbeat thunders in my ears, every breath sharp and loud. I keep glancing back, searching the darkness for Remy and Ryder, half-expecting them to burst through the trees at any moment.
But they don’t appear.
Branches whip against my face, leaving stinging scratches that burn. The pounding of paws surrounds us-wolves flanking, protecting, sending warning howls that pierce the night with raw, aching emotion.
I’ve run before, but never like this. This isn’t a retreat. It’s a fight for survival.
That realization hits me like a punch to the gut.
We’re fleeing from our home-our sacred territory. Every inch of land the pack has bled for, every memory carved into these woods, is being lost. All because masked men with guns decided we didn’t deserve to exist.
Fury ignites inside me, burning through the fear as I clench my fists while running.
We never did anything wrong. We kept to ourselves, hurt no one. We raised our children, guarded our borders, followed the laws of humans-and still, it’s never enough.
It never will be.
Tears blur my vision, a mixture of rage and the biting wind.
Parker’s wolf runs beside me, massive and powerful, his fur gleaming silvery under the moonlight. He moves close enough that my hand brushes against his back, the warmth grounding me in a world that suddenly feels like it’s unraveling.
His fur is slick with sweat, muscles trembling beneath. He glances back, golden eyes locking with mine, and through the bond, I hear his silent promise: “We’ll get through this. We always do.”
I nod, squeezing his fur tighter, drawing strength from him. But the comfort is fleeting. Something shifts in the air.
The pack’s rhythm falters, a ripple of tension washing over us. The ground beneath seems to hum with unease. Then Parker stumbles.
At first, it’s barely noticeable-a slight hitch in his stride. Then another. His front paws catch on the uneven earth, and a sharp, broken whine escapes him, chilling me to the bone.
“Parker!”
He collapses hard, skidding through the mud.
I drop to my knees beside him as his body convulses violently; the shift overtaking him in a brutal wave.
Moments later, he’s human again-naked, gasping for air, one hand pressed desperately against his chest as if trying to hold it together.
“Parker!” I cry, panic clawing its way up my throat. “Talk to me!”
Callen spins around, still holding Jax close. Leo circles back in wolf form, low growls rumbling as he scans the darkness for threats. The pack slows, confusion rippling through the ranks.
Parker’s eyes are glassy, unfocused. Sweat glistens on his skin as he trembles uncontrollably.
“Hey!” I slap his shoulder, desperate for a response. “Parker, what’s wrong? Tell me!”
He tries to speak, but the words catch in a shallow breath. He shakes his head violently, struggling to push the thought free. “It’s…” He chokes. “It’s not me.”
“What do you mean it’s not you?” My voice cracks with fear.
His gaze shifts to Callen, horror dawning in his eyes. “It’s Remy.”
The world tilts dangerously.
Callen swears under his breath, tightening his grip on Jax as he scans the treeline. “Are you sure?”
Parker nods weakly, shivering. “I felt it through the bond. He’s hurt. Bad.”
Those words hit harder than any bullet ever could.
My chest tightens painfully. “No,” I whisper. “No, no, no…”
I reach out, feeling the faint flicker of Remy’s presence far away, the bond between us trembling-fragile, distorted, barely holding on.
Ahead, Poppy stumbles to a halt, spinning around, eyes wide with alarm. “What’s going on? Who’s hurt?”
“Remy,” Callen growls, already shifting Jax against his shoulder to free a hand. “Jake, set up a triage zone at the ridge. We’ll bring him in if we can reach him.”
Jake’s face hardens instantly, the calm healer taking charge. “We’ll clear a space and prep blood. Move now!”
But I’m frozen. My body won’t respond. Kneeling in the mud beside Parker, my hands tremble as I press against his chest, trying to steady the echo of Remy’s pain flowing through him-through all of us.
Then Ryder’s howl shreds the night air. It’s deep, raw, soaked in fury and heartbreak. The sound shakes the trees, rolling through the forest like thunder. Every wolf halts. Even the children stop, listening.
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