جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

Selena's POVFire.Smoke.Blood.The world had become a nightmare of orange and black and red.I knelt beside Ian, pressing my hands against his chest. The blood was warm. Too warm. It seeped through my fingers like it was trying to escape."Stay with me," I begged. "Please. Stay with me."His eyes fluttered. Those ocean blue eyes I'd fallen for."Selena," he whispered."I'm here. I'm right here.""You came back.""I promised."He smiled. Weak. Barely there. "Stubborn.""Wrath.""Same thing."His eyes closed again."No. No, no, no." I pressed harder. "Ian. Ian, open your eyes. Look at me. Please."Raven appeared beside me. Her face was hard. Controlled."Selena, we need to move him.""Where? There's nowhere—""The healers. The underground tunnels. We have to get him there now."I looked at Ian. His face was pale. Too pale."Help me," I said.Raven grabbed his shoulders. I grabbed his legs. We lifted together.He was heavy. Dead weight. But I didn't care. I would carry him across the w

Selena's POV.I couldn't sleep.The news of the baby had settled in my chest like a warm ember. But it was also terrifying. A child. In the middle of a war. In the middle of chaos.I pressed my hand to my stomach. Still flat. Still normal. But I knew something was growing there. Something that was half me, half Ian.Something that made everything more complicated.Ian was asleep beside me. His chest rose and fell with steady breaths. He looked peaceful for the first time in weeks.I didn't want to wake him.I slipped out of the tent and walked into the darkness.The camp was quiet. Most of the warriors were sleeping. The fires had burned low. The only sounds were the crackling of embers and the distant hoot of an owl.I found a spot near the edge of the camp. Sat on a fallen log. Stared up at the stars.They were beautiful. Cold and distant and beautiful."Can't sleep?"I jumped.Raven emerged from the shadows. Her face was hard to read in the darkness."Raven," I said. "You scared me

Selena's POV.The morning sun crept through the curtains, painting golden stripes across the bed. I stretched, feeling the familiar ache in my muscles. The baby was growing. I could feel it now. A small bump that pressed against my dress when I stood.Ian was already awake. He sat at the window, staring out at the rebuilding pack house."Come back to bed," I said.He turned. His face was tired."I can't sleep.""Why not?""Too much to do. Too much to think about."I climbed out of bed. Crossed the room to him."Talk to me."He took my hand. Pressed it to his cheek."The other packs," he said. "The ones who supported the Grand Alphas. They're not going to accept what we've done.""They don't have a choice.""They always have a choice. They can fight. They can rebel. They can—""Then we deal with them. Like we dealt with everyone else.""It's not that simple.""Nothing ever is."He pulled me onto his lap. Wrapped his arms around me."I'm scared," he admitted. "Not of the other packs. Of

Selena's POVThe battlefield fell silent.Mason stood before me, blade at his throat, his eyes burning with hatred. But I didn't strike. I couldn't.Killing him wouldn't bring back what I'd lost. It wouldn't heal the wounds. It would just make me like him.I stepped back. Lowered my blade."Take him away," I said.The warriors moved forward. Grabbed Mason's arms. Dragged him past me.He was still screaming as they pulled him away. Threats. Curses. Promises of revenge.I ignored him.Ian appeared beside me. His hand found mine."You did the right thing," he said."I know.""Are you okay?""I will be."He pulled me into his arms. Held me tight."It's over," he said. "It's finally over."I leaned into him. Let myself feel the weight of everything."Not yet," I said. "There's still work to do.""Always.""Always."The rest of Mason's warriors surrendered.They dropped their weapons. Raised their hands. Their faces were hollow. Defeated.I walked through the rows of prisoners. Looking for

Selena's POV.The healer's chambers felt smaller than before.I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands pressed against my belly. The baby was quiet now. Resting. Like nothing had happened.But something had happened.Mason was gone.Escaped from the dungeon. Under heavy guard. In the middle of the night.Ian stood by the window. His back was to me. His shoulders were tense."Tell me again," I said.He turned. His face was hard."Someone helped him. From the inside. Opened the cell. Knocked out the guards. Left no trace.""Who?""We don't know yet. But we will.""How?"Ian crossed the room. Knelt in front of me."We search every corner of this pack. Every person. Every ally. Every enemy." He took my hands. "We don't stop until we find him.""And the baby?""Safe. You're safe. That's all that matters."I looked at him. His eyes were burning."Promise me you'll be careful," I said."Promise me you'll rest.""Ian—""Selena." He squeezed my hands. "Please. I can't lose you. I can't lose the