CIARA
His bare chest was heaving, the deep, jagged claw marks from the ambush leaking fresh, dark red blood down his rigid stomach. The white medical bandages were dragging in the dirt behind him . He didn't look at Thomas, who was choking on his own breath against the gravel.
He reached the wooden post in massive strides. Without a single word, his large, blood-stained hands gripped the iron chains. With a guttural, primal roar, he yanked his arms back.
The heavy metal links didn't just snap—they shattered, the iron rings flying across the courtyard as he tore the bindings straight out of the wood.
The sudden release made my knees buckle, but I didn't hit the dirt. Hayes’s massive arm caught me around the waist instantly, yanking my body hard against his bare, burning chest.
He squ
