ARYA
All hell broke loose in the high court. Screams erupted as bodies scattered around me, and my heart leapt into my throat.
Daxton.
I didn't think. I just moved. I raced forward, shoving through the chaos with nothing but his name ringing in my head.
"Daxton!" I called out, my voice trembling.
The guards surrounding him had drawn their weapons. I saw one of them fall, blood blooming across his chest. I ducked, dragging someone down with me as bullets whizzed overhead.
This wasn't a rescue. This was an execution. It was meant to take down my Alpha.
Across the chamber, I saw Hadrin pulling a shaken council elder to safety. Our eyes locked for a second, and I knew. He had planned this.
I spotted Daxton in the center of the court. Blood stained the collar of his shirt. His wrists we
