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1013 Words
“Someone has to go search for survivors,” I said, propping my hands on my hips. I'd missed Kaden's possessive alpha attitude, but now was really not the time for it. “I can teleport in and out, and I can defend myself against the shifters and witches.” Most of the witches anyway. Evanora was another story, but I hoped I could avoid her altogether.
Kaden let out a low growl. "No. It's too dangerous."
"Trust me," I said softly. "I swear I'll return to you. I didn't bring you back from the dead just to let something happen to me now."
Kaden blinked at that. "Back from the dead?"
“Like I said, we have a lot to talk about." I desperately wanted to stay with Kaden now that I had him back, but there were other people out there who needed me more right now. As alpha female, it was my duty, and in Kaden's eyes, I saw the grudging understanding of an alpha who knew we had to do this to protect our pack.
I stepped back and vanished.
CHAPTER TEN
Thick smoke billowed into the air, turning the sky black. The fire had spread quickly through the woods, making it almost recognizable from even a few minutes before. I coughed and stumbled through the burning forest, looking for anyone friendly, knowing I would have to hurry. I debated shifting, but my nose was useless now, so clogged by the smoke that I doubted I'd be able to smell anything but fire for the next few days.
I checked the cabin first, covering my mouth and nose with my hood as best I could to shield myself, but the place was already engulfed. I tried to peer inside anyway, calling out for any survivors, when a beam fell from the ceiling, sending cinders everywhere. I narrowly teleported just in time to avoid getting crushed. So much for my father's cabin. If anyone was in there, it was too late for them. I had to move on.
I heard a familiar voice cry out behind me. Mira. I ran through the forest as fast as I could toward it, sidestepping the burning areas, while fear bubbled up inside of me. I'd wanted her here, and if she died, I would never forgive myself.
I stumbled into a clearing a short distance away from the smoke, where the fire hadn't reached yet. Mira was in her human form, while her mate was beside her in wolf form and covered in blood, defending her against another wolf. At the sight of me running toward them with a moonbeam in my palm, the enemy wolf darted off into the woods, and Mira let out a small cry of relief. She stumbled toward me, and I noticed she was limping.
“Oh, I'm so glad you're all right,” she said and embraced me.
I hugged her tight with a lump in my throat, before drawing back to look her over. For her, it had been only minutes, but for me, it had been an eternity since I'd seen her. Dirt and blood smudged her olive skin and her long black hair was tangled with a few leaves in it. “Are you okay?” I asked.
Mira grimaced as she moved her leg. I noticed a long s***h in her jeans, still sluggishly oozing blood, even though it had begun to heal already. “I'm in better shape than Aiden,” she said, motioning toward her mate, who struggled to remain standing on all four paws.
"You're safe now. I can get you to the others and they'll heal you up." I grabbed Mira with one hand and then rested my other on Aiden's back. As soon as I transported them both back to the clearing, I yelled out, "We need healing!"
Harper and Dane immediately came forward to help them. Kaden started toward me, but I teleported back before he could stop me. Wesley was still out there, and I'd be damned if I was leaving him again.
The fire was already worse when I returned. I said a quick prayer to Selene, since it seemed like she might actually be listening, and set off looking for any other survivors. A quick magical shield blocked me from the smoke and fire as I searched, but all I found were the dead, some torn apart by claws, others burnt and blackened by Sun Witch magic.
Then I caught the briefest trail of a familiar wolf scent. Wesley.
I found him surrounded by fire, fighting with another wolf—a Leo. They were both injured, neither able to get the upper hand, and the flames were getting closer with every second that passed, caging them in. I blasted cold at the area around them, hoping to keep it at bay, and that distracted the Leo wolf enough for Wesley to knock it down, sinking his teeth into its neck. The Leo let out a last, shuddering breath before stilling.
I ran toward my brother, holding back a cry of relief at the sight of him still alive. I dropped down and wrapped my arms around his furry neck, hugging him tightly. He panted heavily and I saw blood all over his fur, but he nuzzled his head against me, showing he was relieved to see me too.
For a few seconds I considered searching for others, but there was no point. The fire burned almost too hot to handle around us, and there were dead shifters and a few red-cloaked Sun Witches lying on the ground everywhere. There was no sign of Evanora or her daughter though—they must have fled before it got bad.
"Let's get out of here," I said. But just before I could teleport, Wesley's ears perked up.
He jerked his head toward the south, and I heard it then too—the sound of someone sobbing. s**t. Who else was out here? I shared a glance with Wesley, and we started moving toward the sound as one.
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