KAEL
Desperation tightened in my chest as my eyes locked on Liora. She was the only one still standing with me. The rest were down. Broken. Bleeding. If I chased after Aria, I would be leaving her alone with three injured wolves who could barely move. That choice felt wrong in every way.
Leaving wasn't something I could accept.
But neither was letting that creature take Aria.
"I'll get them awake," Liora said, already moving. Her voice was firm, not shaken. "Go. We'll follow your tracks."
I hesitated. Every instinct pulled in opposite directions.
"Damn it, Kael, go," she snapped, meeting my eyes. "If he wanted her dead, she'd already be dead. He wants something else. You know that. Don't let him have it. Bring her back. I can protect them here."
That was it. There was no more time
