32

KAEL

The radio on his belt crackled again, loud in the quiet. Thane reached down and lifted it, listening with a practiced ease.

It was the same kind of radio. Same size. Same static burst. Just like the ones worn by the wolves who had attacked us when we first entered the High Wilds.

The thought made my chest tighten. My instincts didn’t like the link. I forced myself to breathe through it. We were far from that place now. At least a week of hard travel. Technology spread fast. If one group had radios, others would too. There was no reason to spiral.

“Your people are only a few minutes behind us,” Thane said. He slowed slightly so I could keep pace. His tone stayed even. “One is unconscious, but the others look stable. We have empty quarters where you can rest for now. Still, she should go straight to a healer.”

The question slipped out before I could stop it. “Where do you get electricity to charge the radios?”

“Solar panels and generators,” he replied without hesitation. “Same as most settlements.” He turned sharply left, leading us deeper into Hearthstone Enclave.

As we passed between the buildings, wolves and humans alike stopped what they were doing. Conversations cut off. Heads lowered. Some bowed fully. Thane almost always returned the gesture, brief and respectful, never lingering.

“You’re an alpha,” I said quietly.

He glanced at me, something unreadable crossing his face. I heard it then. How it sounded. Like I didn’t belong. Like I was measuring him by old rules.

“Of course not,” he said. “We’re not big enough to be a pack. And I wouldn’t want one anyway. This is a community. No ranks. No chains. We take care of each other.” He motioned ahead. “Here.”

He opened the door to one of the buildings and stepped inside. I followed, careful with my grip on Aria Blackwood. Her body was warm, too warm. Her chest rose and fell under my arm, each breath shallow but steady. Blood still soaked part of her clothes. Not as fast as before, but enough to keep me on edge.

“Damn it,” Thane snapped. “Darla, where’s Malek?”

A teenager wandered out of the back room, hands in her pockets. Jeans. T-shirt. Too relaxed for what she was about to see. The moment her eyes landed on Aria, her posture stiffened.

“Dad got called away about an hour ago,” she said. “Paisley came back.”

Thane swore under his breath. The sound was sharp. I cleared my throat.

“One of ours is a healer,” I said. “She’s close. Minutes away. I just need a room. Somewhere private.”

“You can put her in the infirmary,” Thane said.

I shook my head. “No offense. I appreciate what you’re offering. But I’m not leaving her in your infirmary.” My grip tightened slightly. “You mentioned empty quarters.”

He studied me for a moment, then exhaled. “Can’t blame you. Yeah. Come on. Darla, grab some of your dad’s supplies and follow us.”

His radio crackled again. One of the guards confirmed my wolves had entered the enclave.

“Good timing,” Thane muttered. “This way.”

It took another ten minutes to reach the Timber Quarters. My legs burned by the time we arrived. Thane unlocked the door and stepped aside. I laid Aria on the bed immediately and checked her pulse. Strong. Consistent. Still there.

Relief flickered. Only briefly.

The door opened again. I turned fast, already bracing. It was just the girl. She dropped a small bundle of supplies on the desk and stared openly.

“What’s that?” she asked, pointing at my neck.

With everything else, I’d forgotten about the amulet. It still hung there, warm against my skin.

“Darla,” Thane growled. “Mind your business.”

She rolled her eyes and stormed out.

“Sorry,” Thane said. “We’ve got a handful of teenagers here. Every one of them angry, bored, and convinced they know better than the rest of us.”

“It’s fine,” I said, tucking the amulet into my shirt. “Curiosity keeps people alive.”

The door slammed open. Corvin rushed in, a low growl rumbling in his chest. He froze when he saw me, tension easing but not disappearing. His eyes searched the room. He’d made the same choice I had. Follow the strangers. Hope we’d all end up in the same place.

“She dead?” he asked bluntly.

“She won’t be,” Liora snapped from behind him. “Lucan’s in the next quarter. You can check on him, but there’s nothing else I can do until he shifts again. He’s healing fast. Did you see what he did to her?”

“No,” I said. “I lost them near the river. She was already unconscious when I found her.”

“All right,” Liora said. “Everyone give me space. I need to examine her.” She paused. “Do you have an X-ray machine?”

“We did,” Thane said with a tired sigh. “One of our wolves went out of control six months ago and destroyed it. Haven’t replaced it yet.”

“We miss it,” he added quietly.

“All right,” Liora said. “Everyone out.”

Leaving wasn’t an option. Not after what had already happened. Nyssa stepped into the corner and met my eyes. She nodded once. She would stay.

I stepped outside. Thane surprised me with a quick smile.

“I’ll let you regroup,” he said. “I need to deal with this Paisley situation and track down my healer.” He pressed a key into my hand. “Use this. Get whatever your healer needs. I’ll be back within the hour.”

Lucan was in the next quarter. Fen stood watch beside the bed. His expression hardened when Corvin and I entered.

“What the hell was that?” Fen demanded. “What the hell is this place?”

“A settlement,” I said. “I don’t know what we ran into out there. But Thane does. I’ll get answers.”

Lucan’s chest rose and fell. I placed my hand over his heart and reached out with my power. His wolf stirred under my touch, warm and calm. I nodded to Fen.

“He’s fine. Almost healed. He’ll shift back soon.”

Fen slumped down beside the bed. “What is this mountain hiding? What if we can’t take it?”

I’d asked myself the same question more than once. “We were caught off guard,” I said. “That won’t happen again.”

The guilt pressed heavier. My focus had been split. I’d worried about leaving Aria behind. I should have sensed that thing long before it reached us. I hadn’t been sharp enough.

Every one of my wolves would die for my revenge. That had never been the plan.

They would all leave this place alive. Even if I didn’t.

A loud crash echoed through the quarters. Wood splintered. We were on our feet instantly.

“Fen, stay,” I ordered, already moving.

I reached the door just as it flew open. Liora stumbled inside, breathing hard. Fear was written across her face.

“It’s Aria,” she gasped. “She shifted while unconscious. I think she’s gone feral. You have to come now. She’s going to kill Nyssa.”