Chapter 155
Elowen's POV
Alpha Austin gasped behind me.
His whole body went rigid. I felt it through the air—that sudden spike of recognition and fear.
"You!" His finger shot out. Trembling. Pointing straight at Raven.
I turned my head. Looked at Austin. Then back at Raven. Then at Leo's massive wolf form.
Who was he pointing at?
"You tried to kill me!" Austin's voice exploded through the room.
The walls shook. Or maybe that was just me. My legs felt weak. My head spun.
"This range is not small..." Juno muttered in my mind.
Everything tilted sideways. I stumbled.
Ethan's arm caught me around the waist. Warm. Steady.
A growl ripped through the air.
"Let go of her."
Ronan's voice. Cold as ice. Sharp as a blade.
Oh no.
My heart jumped into my throat. Would Leo think Ethan was a threat? Would he attack?
"Easy, babe." Cassian's voice flooded through our bond. Soft. Calm. "Breathe for me. Casper's still in control."
I closed my eyes. Tried to focus on his words instead of the panic clawing at my chest.
"Let Ronan protect you until you can get to us safely." Casper's mental voice joined in. Rougher than Cassian's. More urgent. "Please, cutie."
I wanted to argue. Wanted to tell them I didn't need protecting. But my knees wobbled. My hands shook.
"Trial run?" Raven's laugh echoed through the room.
Dark. Amused. Like he'd just told the world's funniest joke.
My skin crawled.
"What?" Alpha Austin took a step forward. His fists clenched.
"I said 'trial run.'" Raven's smile spread wider. His gray eyes gleamed. "I did kill you, boss!"
"You son of a bitch!"
Austin's body started to shake. His shoulders hunched. I could see it—he was going to shift. Going to lose control.
My eyes flashed. Heat rushed through me. Juno surged forward.
"Whoa." Ethan's grip on my waist tightened. He looked at Ronan. "Gold eyes."
"Trust me." I spun to face Austin. My voice came out stronger than I felt. "Please."
Austin's jaw clenched. His teeth ground together. But he stopped shaking.
Raven took a step toward me.
Smooth. Graceful. Like a predator stalking prey.
"Be a good girl." His voice dripped with mockery. "Listen to the only one here using his brain."
He gestured at Austin. Casual. Dismissive.
"I'd hate to kill you twice."
Ronan moved. Fast. His body blocked my view of Raven. I felt his hand grab the back of my shirt.
"One more step, demon." Ronan's voice was deadly calm. "And I'll gut you."
I glanced toward Cassian. He stood near the wall. His ice-blue eyes locked on mine. Dark. Serious. Worried.
I couldn't hold his gaze. Couldn't look at him. Because I knew what I was about to do.
And he wouldn't like it.
My eyes shifted to Alaric. Then Kade. They were both moving closer. Slowly. Carefully.
But I could see the blood on Alaric's arm. The way Kade favored his left side.
They were hurt. Tired. Drained.
"Get behind me." Ronan's whisper brushed my ear.
But I was already moving.
Already walking deeper into the room.
Toward Leo.
Leo crouched low. His massive body coiled tight. His red-brown fur stood on end. Every muscle bunched under his skin.
Ready to attack.
"He can't win!" Juno's voice cracked in my mind. "Elowen, he can't win against that thing!"
I knew. God, I knew. Leo was strong. Powerful. The strongest wolf I'd ever seen.
But Raven was something else. Something darker. Something ancient.
My eyes met Leo's fiery gaze.
Please don't attack him.
"Hey, handsome." I spoke out loud. Kept my voice soft. Intimate.
Leo's ears twitched. His head turned slightly toward me.
"Elowen!" Alpha Austin's voice behind me. Panicked. "Get back here!"
But I kept walking.
That's when I saw it.
A piece of wood. Sticking out of Leo's left side. Blood matted the fur around it.
"Is that a chair leg?" Juno asked.
How had Casper not noticed? The pain must be—
"Casper's recovery always amazes me," Juno muttered.
"Cutie!" Leo's voice rumbled through the room.
Deep. Possessive. That one word held so much.
To everyone else, he probably looked terrifying. Dangerous. A monster.
But to me?
He was safety. Protection. Home.
If Cassian was right—if Casper really was in control—then Leo wouldn't hurt me.
"Mates!" Juno called out. Needy. Desperate.
I was almost there. Almost to them.
Almost—
"Not so fast, sweetheart!"
Raven appeared right in front of me.
I stumbled back. My foot caught on something. My arms windmilled.
"Move!" I shoved at his chest. Tried to step around him.
He shifted. Blocked my path. Again.
His eyes burned red. Like fire. Like blood. Like hell itself.
I couldn't look away. My feet froze to the floor. My breath caught in my throat.
The air grew thick. Heavy. I tried to breathe. Couldn't. My lungs burned.
"Elowen!" Cassian's mental voice screamed in my head.