Rex’s POV When I opened my eyes, I was blinded by white light. Not the soft kind, not the warm glow of dawn, this was sharp, endless, swallowing everything around me. The last thing I remembered was darkness. The pain of my body giving out. The image of Zane, broken and bleeding, right before everything went black. Zane. My heart lurched, and I shot upright, stumbling to my feet. “No, no, no—where is he?!” My voice cracked in the emptiness, my pulse hammering in my ears. I spun in every direction, desperate for some kind of door, a break in the blank walls, anything that could lead me back. Back to them. Back to him. But the room was empty. Hollow. A void without edges. And inside me, Ria was silent. Too silent. I paced, restless, the hollow sound of my steps echoing back at me. It reminded me of something of the in-between place I’d been trapped in before my first shift. But this wasn’t the same. That void had felt suffocating, like it was crushing my soul into dust. This wa
Rex’s POVThe screams still echoed in my head. Even after everyone had settled down and the injured were being treated, I was stuck in that moment,frozen—while the rest of the world kept moving.How did I not once consider that Ron could find us? If Aries was able to without even knowing where we’d disappeared to, then of course Ron could. I’d let my guard down, and now they were paying the price.What kind of leader am I supposed to be?It’s not your fault, Ria’s voice sounded in my head. But I could hear the guilt beneath her words.“God, I’ve been calling you for hours!” Julian’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts as he shook my shoulders. His urgency pulled me back to the chaos.“We need your help, Rex,” he said, dragging me without waiting for my response.I didn’t resist. I let him pull me through the camp. Aries had disappeared the moment we crossed the barrier—probably to check on others—and I hadn’t seen him since.Julian stopped at a familiar hut. My heart pounded. This was
Ron’s POVI didn’t sleep. Sleep was useless when rage was the only thing keeping me upright. The Elders were proving even more pathetic than I’d thought, and still no word on Rex. They said to wait, wait—until she stepped out of whatever barrier she was trapped in and returned to the pack.I wasn’t waiting.I would have her back. At any cost.“Any word from Selene?” I asked as I stalked into the meeting room, each step heavy with anger. My hands pressed flat to the table, nails biting into the wood.“Nothing from her,” the warrior replied carefully. “So we sent someone else to spy on the Awoke pack like you ordered.”I gave a slow nod. Selene was probably dead , most likely before she even got close. I’d known that when I sent her, but I’d hoped she could be useful one last time. Everyone lately seemed intent on disappointing me.“The Elders are seeking your audience,” he added quietly.“Tell them I’m busy,” I said, my voice sharp. I wasn’t about to sit through another spineless excus
Rex’s POV It had been hard to fall asleep last night, probably because Rose, Lilly, and I spent hours catching up. It was necessary, though. I could tell how worried Lilly was just from the way she talked… and the way she clung to us. But even after everything she told us, she still refused to say how they found out we were here. That, she claimed, was Aries’ story to tell. By the time we finally got to bed, it felt like only a minute had passed before sunlight was spilling into the room, hot, blinding, and almost as if it knew something historical was about to happen. I never imagined Aries would even consider merging the packs, but for what the banished had suffered, it was the best choice. For once, they could belong without being watched, suppressed, or treated like they didn’t exist. I got ready quickly and stepped outside, only to find Aries waiting for me. His smile spread instantly when he saw me. “Were you waiting for me?” I asked, walking into his embrace. “We need to
Aries POV;I’d thought it through long before I suggested merging the packs. I knew they wouldn’t jump at the idea not after everything Robin had told me about the years of disappointment they’d faced. But I wanted to give them back what the Elders and the rest of the world had stolen for no good reason. And I was sure that was what Rex would want too.Considering Rose, Lilly, Zane… and everyone else, it was the best option.The Elders had no control over my pack, no ties to us at all. They couldn’t dictate our moves, and they couldn’t openly attack without exposing themselves. As far as I was concerned, the plan was airtight. So when the cheers went up after my reassurance, I let out a slow breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. My gaze found Rex’s tear-filled eyes, and I couldn’t help but smile. I wasn’t lying when I told her I was taking her home , but now, it looked like we’d be going back with her people too.“Are you sure about this?” Robin asked as soon as I walked back ove
Rex’s POVThe past few hours had been nothing but a blur, yet the steady warmth of Aries lying beside me grounded it all in reality. He was here. Really here. I could hear his breathing, feel the weight of his arm draped lazily across my waist.Outside our door, I could sense the presence of others, hovering, hesitant, like they weren’t quite sure if they were allowed to approach. Not that I blamed them. An Alpha in their midst wasn’t something the banished saw every day… much less an Alpha mated to the Elegida.“What are you thinking about, love?” Aries murmured, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before sitting up. His tone was casual, but his eyes stayed fixed on me, reading me like he always did.“Let me guess,” he said with a half-smile. “You’re already thinking about how to help the banished, aren’t you?”I chuckled softly. “How did you know?”“Because I know you.” He tightened his arms around me. “That, and I was thinking the exact same thing. I’ve barely been here a day, Rex, an