Chapter thirty

The battlefield was eerily silent.

The last of Orion’s controlled wolves had collapsed, their bodies trembling as the invisible chains that bound them shattered. The air was thick with tension, the scent of sweat, blood, and something older lingering beneath it.

Kai stood in the center of it all, his chest heaving, his hands shaking.

It had worked.

Anna had told them that breaking Orion’s hold wouldn’t be simple, but she had done it. The wolves who had once fought blindly under Orion’s control were now lying in the dirt, free, but dazed, lost.

Lucian moved beside Kai, his sharp blue eyes scanning the fallen wolves. “Are they stable?”

Anna knelt beside one of them, her fingers lightly touching a trembling wolf’s forehead. The man gasped at her touch, his entire body convulsing, as if some unseen force had just left him.

Then, his eyes cleared.

He looked up at Anna, something close to confusion twisting his features. “What—where am I?”

Anna exhaled sharply. “You’re safe.”

The man’s breath hitched. “I… I couldn’t control myself.” His voice broke. “I tried, I swear, but I—I belonged to him.”

Anna’s grip on his shoulder tightened. “Not anymore.”

The man shuddered. Around them, more of Orion’s wolves stirred, groaning as they returned to themselves. Some clutched their heads, others curled in on themselves, ashamed, broken.

Kai swallowed hard. He had expected resistance, maybe even more fighting.

But this?

This was worse.

These weren’t enemies.

They were victims.

Kieran stepped forward, his golden eyes dark. “They’re not soldiers anymore.”

Mira, who had remained at the perimeter, crossed her arms. “They don’t know how to be anything else.”

Lucian exhaled. “Then we teach them.”

Silence stretched.

Then, a weak voice—one of the freed wolves—spoke. “He’s coming.”

Everyone froze.

Lucian’s entire body went rigid. “What?”

The man swallowed hard, eyes still glassy. “Orion. He knew you would come for us.”

Kai’s stomach dropped.

Mira swore under her breath. “Damn it.”

Kieran tensed. “How long do we have?”

The freed wolf coughed, gripping his own chest. “Not long.” His breath was uneven. “He’s already on his way.”

Anna’s face paled. “He’s going to try to take them back.”

Lucian turned to Kai. “We need to move.”

Kai’s pulse thundered. “Where?”

Lucian’s jaw clenched. “Home.”

The decision was instant.

Lucian didn’t hesitate, didn’t pause to consider other options. They were taking these wolves back to their pack.

It was dangerous. Bringing in a group of recently freed wolves, still unstable, still connected to Orion in ways they didn’t fully understand—it was a risk.

But Kai knew Lucian wouldn’t abandon them.

And neither would he.

The journey back to the pack was tense.

Lucian and Mira took the lead, while Kieran and Rhett guarded the rear. The freed wolves moved carefully, some still disoriented, others terrified.

Kai stayed close to Anna. She had spent the entire trip keeping them steady, talking to them, grounding them.

Orion had owned them for so long.

Now, they had to learn how to be themselves again.

But as they neared the pack’s territory, Kai couldn’t shake the feeling in his gut.

Something was wrong.

He glanced at Lucian, who had been quiet for most of the trip. “You feel it too.”

Lucian didn’t look at him, but he nodded.

Orion wasn’t just coming for his wolves.

He was coming for revenge.

The pack was ready when they arrived.

Mira had sent word ahead, and as soon as they stepped into the settlement, warriors surrounded them.

The freed wolves tensed, their bodies instinctively reacting to the presence of a new pack.

But Lucian stepped forward, his voice steady, calm. “You are not prisoners.” His sharp gaze swept over them. “You are ours now. You don’t answer to Orion anymore.”

The words settled over the group like a heavy weight. Some flinched, others looked away.

But not one of them disagreed.

Kai’s throat tightened.

Anna touched his arm. “This is going to be hard for them.”

Kai nodded. “I know.”

Lucian turned to Mira. “Get them settled. We’ll figure out how to break the rest of Orion’s hold later.”

Mira nodded, already moving.

Lucian exhaled. “Everyone else, prepare for war.”

The command sent a ripple through the pack.

They knew.

Orion wasn’t just going to take this loss.

He was coming.

And this time?

They would be ready.

That night, the tension in the air was thick.

The freed wolves had been given temporary quarters, guarded but not restrained. Anna was with them, helping them adjust.

Kai, however, couldn’t sleep.

He stood at the edge of the settlement, staring at the dark treeline.

He could feel it.

Orion was watching.

The bond between them was faint—almost nonexistent—but there was still a shadow of something lingering in Kai’s chest.

Orion was angry.

And soon, he would strike.

Lucian’s presence appeared beside him, silent but solid. “You’re not sleeping.”

Kai scoffed. “Didn’t think you’d be either.”

Lucian huffed. “You’re worried.”

Kai didn’t look at him. “They’re not ready.”

Lucian’s voice was calm. “They will be.”

Kai exhaled. “And if we lose?”

Lucian’s gaze flickered toward him, something sharp behind his eyes.

“We don’t lose,” Lucian said quietly.

Kai wanted to believe that.

But deep down, he knew—

The real battle hadn’t even begun.

And if Orion was coming for them…

They had to be ready to kill a god.