Chapter 10 : Ashes and Afterlight
277 Words
The clearing reeked of scorched fur and silver.
Clara’s arms ached. Her hands, raw and slick with blood—Liam’s, her own, others she couldn’t name—refused to stop shaking. Around her, the townsfolk tightened their loose ring, weapons still raised, breath coming in hard gusts. No one spoke. Even the wind had the decency to fall silent.
Liam slumped beside her, half-shifted. His claws had dulled, bones clicking back into shape like broken branches resetting. The whites of his eyes showed. But he was breathing.
Alive.
“Get them out,” Clara rasped to the sheriff. “Now. Check the town. Anyone who ran—we bring them home.”
Sheriff Danner nodded and signaled the first wave of townsfolk to fan out.
The rogue alpha was gone—melted into shadow the second Liam regained control. But his pack hadn’t fared as well. Half lay unconscious or writhing from iron burns. The rest had scattered, but not far.
Silver Hollow didn’t run anymore.
Not since Clara.
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Liam stirred. “You... you burned me.”
Clara cupped the back of his neck, feeling the heat still rolling off him like smoke from an engine. “You were gone.”
He tried to sit up and winced. “You hurt me.”
“You were going to kill me.”
A pause.
Then he laughed. A rasping, half-feral sound, but real.
“I told you,” Clara whispered, leaning her forehead against his, “I don’t need a knight, Liam. I need a partner who doesn’t flinch.”
He swallowed. “I didn’t.”
“No.” She kissed his temple. “You howled.”
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