Alaric’s POV
The run back was s**t. Every step yanked at the tear in my side, hot and wet under my fur, but I didn’t let up. I could feel her the whole way. Sharp little tugs, like she was scared and trying not to show it. Not words, just this cold pull in my chest. She was in the cabin.
Alone. And something was out there smelling blood.
We crashed through the last line of pines right as the alarms started screaming. Guards jerked upright, staring at us like we’d crawled out of a grave.
Blood-matted, three limping, two still back there buying us time. I shifted on the move, skin ripping over fur, and nearly ate dirt the last ten yards to the hall.
“Lock the f*****g perimeter,” I snarled at the closest ones. “Silverfang’s testing us. Double eastern ridge. Shoot first.”
No time for ye
