109 | CIVIL WAR

I didn’t lose consciousness. And, in a way, I wished that I had.

Because then I wouldn’t have seen the fight break out. Laying upon the ground, my cheek pressed to the dirt, Ares’s arms tugging weakly at my limp shoulders, I could just about see the moment when Flora ripped free of her bonds and charged towards us.

Dad was only a half-second behind her, but it was enough. The (somewhat) peaceful exchange of words had been broken, and Dad had lost all authority as Alpha.

Then Ares and Dad were hauling me up. My legs buckled again but, somehow, I managed to get them under me just enough to support my swaying weight.

“You two need to get out of here,” Dad hissed, clapping Ares on the shoulder. “We can distract them in the fight, but they will notice you’re gone if you don’t move fast.”

“I’m not leaving you,” I ground out through gritted teeth.

“You don’t have a choice, sweetheart. You can’t fight like this.”

I clenched my hands into fists. I felt useless. “I don’t want to go.”

“Haile,