KAEL
“…Zane?”
The sound left my lips before I even realized I’d spoken, and the weight of everything else fell away. For a heartbeat, I forgot about Riven who had collapsed against Ravenna’s body and the chaos still rattling the camp. My feet moved before my mind could catch up, carrying me to the bedside where Zane lay so pale, so fragile, but conscious and breathing—my brother, my friend.
I dropped to my knees, my chest so tight I could barely breathe. My vision blurred, but I didn’t care. Tears streamed down my face, as I laughed and cried all at once. “Zane… Zane… it’s me,” I whispered, my voice breaking into childlike sounds.
His lips parted, and his voice was weaker than a feather on the wind. “Alpha.”
gods, my heart shattered. “It’s me,” I breathed, gripping his hand even thoug
