Amara awoke to the soft crackling of a fire. The air around her was warm, a stark contrast to the chilling events of the night before. She blinked, trying to adjust her vision to the dimly lit cabin. Her body ached, and her head throbbed, but she was alive.
The first thing she noticed was Lucian, sitting by the fire. His back was turned to her, and the flames cast flickering shadows on his broad, scarred shoulders. His wolf-like senses must have alerted him to her stirring because he turned his head slightly, his glowing golden eyes meeting hers.
"You're awake," he said, his voice low and gravelly. There was relief there, but it was guarded.
Amara sat up slowly, wincing as her muscles protested. "Barely," she muttered, her throat dry. She glanced around the room, noticing the dried blood on Lucian's arms and the faint smudges on his chest. "You're still hurt."
"It's nothing," he replied brusquely, turning back to the fire.
"You keep saying that, but you're bleeding out every time I look at you," she said, forcing herself to stand. Her legs were shaky, but she managed to make her way to his side. "Let me help."
Lucian stiffened as she knelt beside him, but he didn't stop her. His silence was permission enough. Amara picked up a clean cloth and a small bottle of what looked like herbal salve from the table nearby. Without asking further, she began cleaning the deep gash along his ribs.
He didn't flinch, but she could feel the tension radiating from him. His skin was warm beneath her touch, and she couldn't help but notice the way his muscles flexed with every breath he took.
"You shouldn't have come outside last night," he said finally, breaking the silence.
Amara paused, her hands hovering over the wound. "And let Selene kill you? I couldn't just sit there and do nothing."
Lucian shook his head, his jaw tightening. "You don't understand, Amara. If something happens to you, it doesn't just weaken me—it breaks me. Do you have any idea what that feels like?"
Her hand faltered, and she looked up at him, surprised by the raw emotion in his voice. "I didn't ask for this bond either," she whispered. "But I'm not going to stand by and let you fight all of this alone. If you think I'm just some weak human who can't protect herself, you're wrong."
Lucian's gaze softened, and for a moment, the hardened Alpha seemed almost vulnerable. "You're not weak," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But you're everything they'll use to destroy me. And that terrifies me."
His words struck something deep within her. Amara had spent so much time resenting the bond, blaming him for dragging her into this chaotic world. But now, she realized it wasn't just her life that had been upended—it was his, too.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said firmly, meeting his gaze. "If we're stuck with this bond, then we fight together. You'll have to deal with that."
Lucian stared at her for a long moment before letting out a low chuckle. "You're stubborn," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Takes one to know one," she shot back, a small smile tugging at her lips.
The moment was short-lived. A loud howl echoed through the forest, cutting through the calm. Lucian was on his feet in an instant, his senses alert.
"They're still out there," he said, his voice hardening. "Selene might be gone for now, but her rogues are regrouping. We need to move."
Amara's stomach sank. "Move? Where?"
"To my pack," Lucian said, already grabbing his gear. "It's the only place where I can protect you properly. We'll be safer there—safer than this cabin."
Amara hesitated. The idea of meeting his pack, of stepping deeper into his world, was daunting. But what choice did she have? Staying here was a death sentence.
"Okay," she said, her voice steady. "Let's go."
The journey through the forest was grueling. Lucian led the way, his movements silent and precise. Amara struggled to keep up, her human stamina no match for his supernatural agility. Still, she refused to complain, determined not to slow him down.
"Keep close," Lucian said, glancing over his shoulder. "We're still in rogue territory."
Amara nodded, her heart pounding as she scanned the trees for any sign of danger. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. But the tension in Lucian's posture told her they weren't alone.
"How far is your pack?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Another hour," he replied. "Maybe less if we don't run into trouble."
"Comforting," she muttered under her breath.
Lucian smirked, the faintest hint of amusement breaking through his grim demeanor. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
Amara didn't doubt his words, but that didn't stop the anxiety from gnawing at her. Every shadow, every rustle of leaves felt like a threat. Her grip tightened on the silver dagger Lucian had given her before they left the cabin. It wasn't much, but it made her feel slightly less helpless.
They continued in silence until they reached a small clearing. Lucian stopped abruptly, his body tensing. Amara followed his gaze and froze.
A group of rogues emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with malice. They were outnumbered.
Lucian growled, his body shifting slightly as his claws and fangs extended. He stepped in front of Amara, shielding her with his body.
"Stay behind me," he commanded, his voice firm.
"Lucian—" she started, but he cut her off with a sharp look.
"No arguments, Amara."
The rogues didn't wait. They lunged as one, their snarls filling the air. Lucian met them head-on, his movements a blur of claws and teeth. He was fast, lethal, but the sheer number of attackers made it a brutal fight.
Amara gripped her dagger tightly, her heart racing as she watched. She couldn't just stand there and do nothing. When one of the rogues broke away from the group and charged toward her, she reacted on instinct.
The rogue lunged, but Amara sidestepped at the last second, driving the dagger into its side. The creature howled in pain, collapsing to the ground. Amara stumbled back, her chest heaving as adrenaline surged through her.
Lucian dispatched the last rogue with a final, brutal strike, his chest heaving as he turned to her. His golden eyes locked onto hers, a mixture of relief and fury in his gaze.
"What did I say about staying behind me?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Amara straightened, meeting his glare. "And what was I supposed to do? Let it kill me?"
Lucian stared at her, his jaw clenched. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're going to drive me insane," he muttered.
Amara smirked despite herself. "Guess you'll have to get used to it."
Lucian shook his head, but there was a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Come on," he said, offering her his hand. "We need to keep moving."
She took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet. As they continued through the forest, Amara couldn't help but feel a strange sense of pride. For the first time, she felt like she wasn't just a liability. She had fought, and she had survived.
But as they neared the edge of the forest, a looming sense of dread settled over her. This was only the beginning. The war was far from over, and the bond that tied her to Lucian was both their greatest strength and their greatest vulnerability.
For better or worse, their fates were intertwined. And there was no turning back now.