Jerome's breaths came in shallow gasps as she leaned back against the rough bark of the tree, every muscle in her body screaming with exhaustion. Her vision blurred at the edges, but she forced herself to stay awake, her thoughts tethered to Ian. She couldn't afford to pass out now. Not when Ian was still out there, fighting for her—fighting for them.
The battle continued to rage in the distance, but it seemed to grow quieter. The snarls and growls of wolves clashing faded into a background hum. Jerome tried to shake the fog from her mind, but her body was betraying her, the pain and blood loss dragging her toward unconsciousness.
Suddenly, a figure broke through the trees. For a split second, Jerome's heart leaped, thinking it was Ian. But as the figure stepped closer, her blood ran cold.
It wasn't Ian.
Aiden's imposing form towered over her, his eyes gleaming with malice. His wolf form shifted back into a human as he stalked closer, every movement predatory. His lips curled into a wicked smile as he loomed over her.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Aiden's voice was a cruel purr, his gaze sweeping over Jerome's battered form. "The little wolf's precious mate, all alone and vulnerable."
Jerome's heart pounded in her chest, panic rising like a wave. She tried to push herself up, but her body refused to cooperate. She was too weak, too broken to fight back. Her vision swam as Aiden crouched down, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair away from her face.
"Ian should've known better than to leave you unprotected," Aiden sneered, his fingers grazing her skin. "But I suppose that makes this easier for me."
Jerome recoiled from his touch, her breath catching in her throat. "Don't—"
Aiden's hand snapped out, gripping her chin roughly and forcing her to meet his eyes. "You're not in a position to make demands, little wolf. Ian may have marked you, but that doesn't mean you belong to him. Not yet."
Jerome's pulse raced with fear, but she fought to keep her voice steady. "Ian will kill you."
Aiden chuckled darkly, his grip tightening. "Perhaps. But not before I get what I want."
Before Jerome could respond, the sound of heavy paws crashing through the underbrush sent a shockwave of hope through her. Ian.
Aiden's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing as he straightened. He turned just in time to see Ian's massive wolf form burst through the trees, fury blazing in his golden eyes. With a feral growl, Ian launched himself at Aiden, his claws outstretched, teeth bared.
The impact was brutal. Ian's body slammed into Aiden's, sending them both tumbling to the ground in a violent clash of claws and teeth. The air was thick with the sounds of their snarls and growls as they fought for dominance, a deadly dance of power and rage.
Jerome struggled to stay conscious, her heart pounding as she watched the brutal fight unfold. Ian was relentless, his rage driving him forward with an almost reckless abandon. But Aiden was just as fierce, meeting every attack with his own savage force.
Blood sprayed across the ground as they tore into each other, the forest echoing with the sound of their battle. Jerome's vision blurred again, her body growing weaker by the second. She wanted to call out to Ian, to warn him to be careful, but her voice failed her. All she could do was watch, helpless and terrified, as the two Alphas fought for control.
Ian's fury was palpable, his movements swift and brutal. But Aiden was no easy opponent. He dodged Ian's attacks with precision, striking back with equal force. For every blow Ian landed, Aiden returned it tenfold, his eyes gleaming with a twisted satisfaction.
Jerome's heart clenched as she realized that this fight wasn't just about power. It was about her.
With one final, savage blow, Ian's claws raked across Aiden's chest, sending him stumbling back. Aiden's eyes flared with rage, but he didn't advance. Instead, he spat blood onto the ground, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
"This isn't over," Aiden snarled, his voice dripping with malice. "I'll be back for her."
And with that, he turned and fled into the shadows of the forest, disappearing from sight.
Ian stood there, his chest heaving, his body covered in blood—some of it his own, some of it Aiden's. His eyes were wild with fury, but as he turned back to Jerome, they softened.
He rushed to her side, shifting back into his human form as he knelt beside her. "Jerome… are you okay?"
Jerome's lips parted, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm… fine."
But the darkness was closing in again, and this time, she couldn't fight it.
Her world went black.
To be continued...