Chapter 161: Toward Home

I shifted mid-leap. Felt the change tear through me. My wolf exploded forward.

The first hunter didn't have time to raise his weapon. I hit him full force. Drove him into the ground. My jaws found his throat.

Blood. Hot and metallic.

The others reacted. Drew weapons. Shouted warnings.

Too late.

I was already moving. Already on the second hunter.

He swung his sword. I dodged. Came up under his guard. Ripped into his leg. He screamed. Fell.

I didn't stop to finish him. Moved to the next.

This one had a crossbow. Fired. The bolt grazed my shoulder. Pain flared.

I ignored it. Closed the distance. Knocked the crossbow from his hands. Took him down.

The remaining two tried to flank me. Smart. Would have worked against a normal wolf.

I wasn't normal.

The bond burned in my chest. Guided my movements. Made me faster. Stronger. More dangerous.

I spun. Caught one hunter's blade in my jaws. Twisted. Ripped it from his grip.

He stumbled back. Fear finally registering in his eyes.

Good. Let him be afraid.

The other came at me from behind. I sensed him. Felt his intention through the air.

I dropped low. His blade whistled over my head. I swept his legs. He went down hard.

I was on him before he could recover. Ended it quickly.

The last hunter stood near the tunnel entrance. Backing away slowly.

He looked at the bodies around me. At the blood covering my fur. At Darian chained to the wall.

"Please," he said. "We were just following orders—"

I didn't care about his excuses. Didn't care about orders or reasons.

He'd hurt what was mine.

I charged.

He ran. Made it three steps before I caught him.

Silence fell. Just my breathing and the drip of water somewhere in the darkness.

I shifted back to human form. Stood in the center of the carnage, naked and covered in blood.

No survivors. Like I'd promised myself.

Darian hung from the chains. His head had lifted. He was watching me with those gray eyes.

"Lyra," he whispered.

I moved to him. The chains were silver forged with dark magic. They'd burned his wrists. Left angry red marks on his skin.

I grabbed the chain. Ignored the way it seared my palms. Pulled.

The metal shrieked. Held.

I pulled harder. My muscles screamed. Blood ran down my hands where the silver burned.

The chain broke.

Darian collapsed forward. I caught him. Lowered him carefully to the ground.

He was heavier than I expected. Weak. The magical silver had drained him.

"Can you stand?" I asked.

"Give me a moment."

His voice was rough. Raw. Like he'd been screaming.

Rage flared again. I shoved it down. Focused on getting him out.

I wrapped the bandit's cloak around him. His clothes were torn. Bloody. Not enough protection against the cold.

"Your shoulder," he said. "You're bleeding."

"It's nothing."

"Lyra—"

"It's nothing," I repeated. "Can you walk?"

He tried to push himself up. His arms shook. He made it halfway before his strength gave out.

"I need a minute," he said. Frustration bled through the bond.

"Take your time."

But we didn't have time. More hunters could come. The tunnel could collapse. A dozen things could go wrong.

I sat beside him. Let him lean against me. His weight was solid. Real.

Alive.

"You came," he said quietly.

"Of course I came."

"I knew you would."

Something in his voice made my chest tight. Not surprise. Not relief.

Certainty.

He'd known. Even when I'd let him leave. Even when I'd pushed him away. He'd known I'd come if he needed me.

"You're an idiot," I said.

"Probably."

"You should have been more careful."

"They ambushed us. Nothing careful would have changed that."

"Still."

He turned his head. Looked at me. Even exhausted and hurt, his eyes still held that spark. That warmth.

"Thank you," he said.

"Don't thank me yet. We still have to get out of here."

"Right."

He tried to stand again. This time I helped him. Pulled him up slowly. Let him find his balance.

He swayed. Grabbed my shoulder to steady himself.

The bond flared. Warm and bright. Stronger than it had been in days.

"Lyra," he started.

"Don't," I said. "Not now. Let's just get you home."

"Home?"

"The settlement. Connor will want to know you're alive."

"Is that the only reason we're going back?"

I met his eyes. Saw the question there. Saw the hope he was trying to hide.

"No," I admitted. "It's not."

He smiled. Actually smiled despite everything. Despite the blood and pain and near death.

"Good," he said.

I covered myself with another cloak from the dead bandits and then wrapped his arm around my shoulders. Took most of his weight.

We started toward the tunnel entrance. Slow. Careful. His steps were unsteady but he didn't complain.

I kept one arm around his waist. Kept him upright.

The bond hummed between us. Satisfied. Content.

Like this was exactly where we were supposed to be. Together. Alive.

We emerged from the tunnel into cold night air. The stars were out. Dawn was still hours away.

"Long walk back," Darian said.

"You can make it."

"That confident?"

"Yes."

Because I wouldn't let anything else happen to him. Wouldn't let him fall. Wouldn't let him go again.

I'd almost lost him. Almost let fear cost me everything.

Not again.

Never again.

"Lyra," he said softly.

"What?"

"When we get back. We need to talk."

"I know."

"Really talk. No running. No hiding."

"I know," I said again.

And I meant it. No more fear. No more pushing him away.

I'd gone into hell to bring him home. I wasn't letting him go again.

We started walking. Into the darkness. Toward home.

Together.