20

DERRICK

Leaning back, I threw my head up and let out a long howl. My wolves answered at once and came running back.

They formed a tight circle around us, watching the forest from every direction.

Eldric stretched his shoulders and moved closer.

“She’s pretty,” Selene said quietly.

“She is,” Eldric agreed as he carefully ran his hands along Amira’s leg. His expression tightened. “And she’s terrified. Give us a little more room.”

The wolves obeyed immediately and backed away.

My wolf lowered his head and gently nipped Amira’s nose.

It was a simple sign of affection.

A gesture meant to comfort her.

One he hoped she would return.

She didn’t.

Instead, she only stared at us. Fear filled her eyes. They looked distant and glassy.

Turning my head, I let out a low grumble at Eldric.

“Don’t look at me,” he muttered. “I’m not hurting her. The wound has already closed. I’m nearly finished. I just want to see...”

His voice suddenly faded.

“My God.”

My wolf rumbled again, demanding an explanation.

“Amira, I’m going to turn you onto your stomach,” Eldric said softly, though strain edged his voice. “Please don’t be afraid.”

He reached for her.

The moment he tried to roll her over, she squirmed and pushed away from him.

She wasn't growling.

There was no anger in her.

No aggression.

Nothing.

“Derrick, help me here. This is important.”

My wolf lowered his head and gently nudged her.

A small whimper escaped her.

Slowly, she rolled onto her stomach.

The second she did, rage crashed through me.

Scars.

Her wolf was covered in scars.

The sight hit like a punch to the chest.

Instantly, I ripped control back from my wolf and shifted into my human form.

Kneeling beside her, I carefully parted the fur along her side.

The moment my fingers touched her, she cried out.

Then she jumped up and ran.

Lucian lunged after her.

“Leave her,” I ordered sharply.

He froze.

“Selene, follow her on foot. Take some clothes.”

Selene nodded and disappeared into the trees.

“You’re sure she won’t run?” Eldric asked quietly.

“She has too much to lose,” I said flatly. “Her freedom.”

My jaw tightened.

“She’ll finish this.”

“She was right,” Thorne said. “This route into Moonshade Forest is too exposed. We haven’t even reached the forest yet, and we were already attacked.”

I gave a short nod.

She had warned me.

She had seen the danger before any of us.

I ignored her advice and put my wolves at risk.

That mistake would not happen again.

“There’s only one thing I know that leaves scars like those on a wolf,” Eldric said grimly.

Wolfsbane.

The word settled heavily over all of us.

Was that why Amira had hidden her wolf from us?

Had she been afraid we would see the scars?

One thing was certain.

She wasn't hiding because of her red wolf.

Her wolf's fur matched the color of Amira’s hair.

Sometimes wolves shared features with their human forms.

That wasn't unusual.

But her coloring wasn't normal at all.

It was far too rare.

The bond between Amira and her wolf was obvious.

They were deeply connected.

Closer than most.

In many cases, a connection that strong pointed to an alpha.

“She refuses to stay shifted,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “Will that slow her recovery?”

“Definitely,” Eldric answered.

He looked at me and sighed.

“She’ll be weak for a while. I’ll leave my pack with you and write down instructions, but you need shelter. At best, it will take a full day before she can enter Moonshade Forest. Maybe two.”

“What is he talking about?” Draven demanded. “Where is Eldric going?”

“Not just Eldric,” I replied.

Everyone looked at me.

“Amira warned me that our group was too large. She was right. We’re drawing too much attention. We need stealth.”

Lucian let out a disbelieving snort.

“You’re going alone?” he asked. “With her? You trust her?”

“I don’t have a choice.”

Silence followed.

Nobody seemed happy with my answer.

Several of them looked ready to argue.

Minutes later, Selene returned.

Amira walked beside her.

She was dressed now, but she looked pale.

Her body trembled from head to toe.

The first chance she got, she had shifted back into human form.

“What’s happening?” Selene asked as she guided Amira to a nearby stump.

Eldric crossed the Wayfarer’s Camp immediately and headed toward them.

“He’s sending us back,” Draven said tightly. “He and his mate are going alone.”

A growl slipped from my throat at the word mate.

Selene ignored it and nodded.

“Yeah. That makes sense.”

Thorne blinked.

“You understand that? Really?”

“She saved your life with that flare gun stunt, Thorne,” Selene shot back. “If I were you, I’d be grateful.”

Thorne immediately closed his mouth.

He had no answer for that.

Neither did I.

Selene was right.

None of us would have survived that attack without Amira.

“It doesn’t matter what any of you think,” I said firmly. “The decision is made. We go alone.”

Draven bared his teeth.

“If you don’t come back,” he said coldly, “we’ll hunt her to the ends of the earth.”