Chapter Thirty Nine

Brielle’s POV.

Zane was still unconscious.

He hadn’t moved, not even twitched or anything. breathing was shallow, and his skin was cold despite the thick blankets wrapped around him and the care he was receiving.

I sat by his bedside, my hands trembling as I reached for his. I couldn’t bring myself to touch him at first, not because I didn’t want to, but because I was scared he’d disappear the very moment I did.

“Zane.” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I’m so sorry.”

Still, no response. Just the silence between us as the healers left.

Lucien stood by the window, arms crossed, and he looked ready to kill. He hadn’t spoken in a while, not since they dragged Zane in and dumped the sack of heads on the floor. It was a disgusting sight. Those people had been fathers and husbands, and their lives had been ended so cruelly.

“Lucien…” I finally spoke, barely able to meet his eyes. “Let me go back.”

He turned slightly but said nothing.

“I mean it.” I said louder this time. “Let me go back to Chase. Maybe if I do, all of this will stop.”

He turned around fully now.

“What the fuck are you saying?”

“I said let me go.” I repeated, standing. “Maybe if he sees me again, maybe if I tell him that I’m sorry, that I never meant to—”

“He won’t care!” Lucien snapped at me. “You think he gives a shit about apologies?”

“I don’t know!” I yelled back. “But we have to try something! Look at Zane, Lucien. He’s practically dying here!”

“He won’t die!” Lucien’s fists clenched. “And as for you, don’t put this on yourself.”

“It is on me!” I said. “Do you think he beat Zane for fun? No! He did it because of me. Because you and I… we…”

Lucien looked away, jaw locked tight.

“It’s not just about you, Brielle.”

“Yes, it is.” I whispered. “And you know that I’m right.”

He moved closer to me.

“You going back to him isn’t going to stop shit. You think Chase wants you alive? No. He’ll torture you, parade you like a prize, then skin you in front of the other packs just to make a fucking statement.”

I winced at his words. He didn’t have to say it like that.

“He’s not going to stop.” Lucien continued, his voice rough. “Whether you stay or leave. It’s quite obvious that he has already made up his mind.”

My heart dropped.

“If that’s the case, then we’re doomed.”

“We will fight.”

I scoffed.

“Fight? Against who? Chase has the Pack of Alphas behind him. Do you know what that means? It means that he’s a god to them. You think you can take down a god with a few dozen angry wolves?”

“So? I’m not afraid of him.” Lucien said.

“But you should be!” I cried. “Zane’s lying there like a broken doll and you’re still talking about fucking fighting?”

Lucien didn’t answer me immediately. He just stared at the ground for a long moment, breathing hard.

“That bastard killed my sister in his fun. I'm not losing another person to his silly games,"

I blinked at him.

“I won't stand by and watch him kill you, Lucien. That's foolish!" I spat fiercely.

"He wants me and I will surrender willingly,"

“Oh? And then what? He will kill you, Brielle. Without hesitation, he will slit your throat to make a bloody point,”

“But at least I won't lose you!" I cried as I stared at Zane's pitiful state again.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“I made her a promise, and it was that I would never serve him. I would never kneel to him, no matter what it cost me.” Lucien muttered softly.

"I will keep my promise, even if it takes my life,"

We were still standing there in silence when one of the guards burst through the door, panting like he’d run a hundred miles.

“My Lord!” The guard said, bowing. “Another body. A royal, dead. The same signs.”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed.

Lucien cursed and grabbed his coat.

“Stay here.” He told me. “Don’t leave this room, not for anything.”

“Lucien, wait—”

But he was gone, slamming the door behind him.

I turned back to Zane and sat down again. His face was still a bloody mess. I reached out and held his hand, holding back my tears.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered again. “I know I’ve said it a thousand times, but it’s never felt like enough.”

I looked at his chest, watching the slow rise and fall of his breath.

“You always had something smart to say. Something annoying, sarcastic… always made me roll my eyes. We were so good.” I laughed softly, then wiped a tear from my cheek. “I miss that.”

I leaned closer, brushing hair from his forehead.

“Please don’t leave me alone, Zane. I don’t think I can handle it.”

And then I felt it.

The pain. I felt it through his hand. It was so faint, yet so sharp, slicing through the bond between us.

My eyes widened.

“Zane! You’re still in there.”

I leaned down, my lips near his ear.

“Fight. Do you hear me? Fight like you always do. You’re not allowed to die. Not when I haven’t even punched you for being a dick yet.”

A small tear slipped from my eye as I sat back, sighing. I was going to get him back. I just knew it.

Suddenly, I felt a shift in the air.

It was slight initially, you know, the kind of change you feel in your gut before your brain catches up with it.

There was a strong, cold presence here that felt so wrong, but what was it?

I turned my head slowly.

There, in the corner of the room, stood a figure dressed in a black cloak.

My blood ran cold as I noticed them.

“What the hell—” I stood quickly, going to stand in front of Zane. “Did he send you to kill me?”

“What are you waiting for? Come get me! Come!” I roared angrily. I was done letting people fight my battles, I wasnt backing down, not this time.

Next thing I knew, the person was in front of me now, hood still pulled low, their face still hidden with the knife in the air