KAEL
My heart stopped the second I broke through the trees and saw Aria on the ground.
A wolf covered in blood snarled over her and leapt.
There was no thinking. No weighing options. I threw myself forward and hit him in midair before he could touch her. We crashed hard on the other side of her body. I landed on all four paws. He rolled away, claws tearing through dirt.
A knife handle stuck out of his side, catching the last light of the sun.
Aria had stabbed him.
Pride rose through the fear choking me. She had fought back. She was still fighting.
I lowered my head and scraped my paw against the earth. I refused to look at her. If I saw her still and broken, I would lose control. I needed to believe she was alive. I needed that hope more than breath.
The wolf—Rook—took a slow step
