Closing In
The journey from the ancient caves was a grueling test of endurance, even for the purebloods who had begun to recover. The mountain air, crisp and thin, filled Kieran's lungs, but the lingering effects of the virus still gnawed at their strength. Every step was a conscious effort, every breath a battle against the subtle nausea that threatened to overwhelm them. Yet, the image of Lyra, trapped and suffering in Elias’s sterile prison, burned brighter with every passing mile, a furious beacon through their mate bond.
Kieran led the small strike team – Derek, Liam, Anya, Rhys, and Kaelen – with grim determination. They moved with a predator's stealth, avoiding Elias’s scattered patrols and the remaining, unpredictable Vanguards. The sun beat down on them for hours, relentless, be
