My body shakes from blood loss and even though I am being dragged, I can’t help but be grateful that I don’t have to stand any longer. My legs took most of the deep knife strokes, leaving behind exposed shaky muscles and mangled skin that itches as it tries to knit itself back together. Yet that isn’t where my pain radiates, no my pain stems from the gaping wound in my chest that makes breathing harder with every passing moment. Each painful heave of air produces a spurt of warmth down my flesh with a strange rattling wheeze from my chest. I should have fought to get out of their hold earlier. I admit it was arrogant to assume that I would have the strength and ability to escape during the trade-off of me going from Marc to the others. All that effort Uma put into my healing has come completely undone other than my eyesight, which Marc was so adamant about me having back. A low growl and shuffling in the trees bring about a better focus as I listen. Someone is here stalking us as I

My eyes scan for Abe, who is face down in the dirt, blood oozing from his head as the wolf he was fighting runs over and pounces on Adriana, pinning her in her spot.“Me! Take me!” I try to run to her, to get to her, but I can’t seem to move fucking fast enough. My wolf retreats into my head, needing to heal fresh injuries, and I’m left in my broken human form.“What?” Graham turns to face me, motioning for another warrior to hold my struggling mate down. “I won’t fight.” I rush out, my hands up in surrender. “Whatever you want to do, do it to me. Not her, please.” Graham laughs and turns back to Adriana and in desperation, I try to plead to whatever soul he might have left.“She is pregnant! Graham…” My voice breaks and the tears cloud my eyes. “Your fight is with me. I am on my knees begging you.” I drop to my knees, breathing hard and trying not to sob as Adriana watches me with mournful eyes.“Where was your mercy when I begged for MY mate’s life?” His nostrils flare as he takes

I fiddle with my hands while Uma, the pack healer, looks over Liam. She feels his head and looks in his mouth before moving to check out one of his hundred cuts. She is efficient in her movements, murmuring to herself and shaking her head before moving to the next place to check. When she stands upright again, I freeze, waiting for her to explain what the hell is going on with Liam. Uma sighs heavily, placing her hands on her hips and shaking her head. She looks contemplative like she isn’t really sure what to do next. She has already shushed me twice, but I’m at my wit’s end, just looking at my pale mate with his shallow breathing.“Was he poisoned?” I ask in a whisper.“Hard to say.” She mutters before pressing her fingers on the only wound he had that seemed to be mostly healed. “This is going to hurt,”Liam’s eyes flutter open and my heart breaks with what I see. He is so drained. Seeing him like this is a reminder of what he must have seen with me daily when I was in physical th

I laugh at him, thinking he is clearly joking. Why the hell would I ever willingly kill myself? I may be weakened in my injured state, but I still have my wits about me. And I made a fucking promise to protect Adriana and our baby and to stay the hell alive.“I’m glad you find it amusing. It will make it that much sweeter when the realization hits that I am indeed not joking.” “Not a chance in hell that shit is happening,” I say, my anger growing as it hits me that this sicko is serious. But my anger won’t help me here. It won’t keep me rational while I try to plan. The only thing I can think to do is rely on the people I have been trying to push away for too long. I try to tune into Adriana but find myself completely blocked. Confused, I try again, my eyes shooting up to Marc as he laughs even harder. “She can’t hear you, Liam.” he shakes his head like the whole scenario is too humorous for him to withstand. Red floods my eyes as fury and fear try to force my wolf out, but I need t

“Stop!” the woman screams again and I turn to see Uma running toward me, pushing Billy and Jacob both aside. Gwen rushes in behind her, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushed red from exertion. “He… He..” I can’t even form a coherent sentence as my eyes meet Gwen’s, then swing to Maggie, who is clutching to Axel. Axel has his eyes trained on me to worry the forefront of his emotions. “I know, dear. Just let me look at him.” Uma says falling to her knees and ripping his shirt open. Uma presses her head to his blood-stained chest, then inspects the entry point and grabs hold of his wrist. “You need to move,” she instructs without so much as a glance my way. Billy steps up and helps me up, while Uma gently eases Liam’s head to the ground. Ume glances up at me briefly and sighs heavily. “Is he dead?” she asks. I know she is talking about Marc. it doesn’t take a genius to guess what the hell has happened here. “Yes,” I murmur, watching her closely.“You need to get your injuries tended