Chapter 78 Unshackled
As soon as the nurse alerted them that Rex was awake, Lyra was the first to take off.
Their stupid argument didn't matter as much as her friend's wellbeing.
She stormed past the doors and could hear Dax and Ryker right behind her.
The room was bright when they entered, lit only by the open window and a single lamp beside the bed.
Rex lay propped against the pillows, her skin pale but no longer deathly so.
Bandages wrapped tightly around her torso, disappearing beneath the thin blue clinic gown that she currently wore. When her eyes fluttered open and focused, Lyra froze in the doorway.
“Is it just me and you're getting prettier?" She asked and winked.
Lyra couldn't believe that Rex was making jokes even in this condition.
She froze and glanced back at Dax and Ryker, wondering if they heard her too.
“Oh,” Rex croaked. “You’re all staring like I died.”
Lyra let out a broken laugh that instantly dissolved into tears. She rushed forward, gripping the edge of the bed. “Rex! How can you make jokes at a time like this?”
She smiled wildly. "I tried to tell the doctor to cut off the joke switch, but he didn't."
Lyra was stunned at the humor and shook her head. "Oh my goodness, Rex. I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
Rex frowned weakly. “For what?”
“For everything,” Lyra sobbed. “You got stabbed because of me. Because he wanted me. You shouldn’t have had to—”
“Stop,” Rex said, lifting a shaky hand. “I'm not gonna hear you say any of such nonsense."
"But it's the truth. I'm the halfbreed, he was aiming for me, he has no reason to kill you.”
“Samson has gone crazy, yeah. But this ain't your fault," Rex repeated.
Lyra looked down, barely able to contain her tears.
“Lyra, look at me.”
Lyra obeyed, tears blurring her vision.
“You're not Luna. You're the Luna of the IronFangs and we live to serve you. When I pledged my loyalty, I meant every word of it.”
“No," Lyra cried, “I don't want anyone getting hurt because they think that they owe me their lives."
“I jumped in because I wanted to,” Rex said gently. “Not because I was forced. Not because I was ordered. I’d do it again.”
Lyra shook her head violently. “You could have died.”
“But I didn’t,” Rex replied, a small smile tugging at her lips. “And you’re still here. That is all that matters.”
Ryker stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed, his expression tight. Dax hovered to the side, unusually quiet as he watched both ladies.
“You saved my life,” Lyra whispered. “How am I supposed to live with that?”
Rex sighed. “By not making this harder than it already is. I’m alive. I’ll heal. Wolves are hard to kill, remember?”
“That doesn’t make it okay,” Lyra cried. “You’re hurt because of me.”
“You’re my Luna,” Rex said firmly. “And my friend. If protecting you costs me blood, then so be it.”
Lyra broke down completely, burying her face against the mattress.
Ryker moved first, pulling her into his arms. “Hey,” he murmured. “Breathe. You’re not alone.”
Dax stepped closer too, resting a hand awkwardly on her shoulder. “She’s right, Lyra. Rex knew what she was doing.”
Lyra wiped her eyes. “I promise,” she said hoarsely. “I promise I’ll stay. I won’t leave your side. I’ll take care of you until you’re fully healed.”
Rex smiled, eyes soft. “I’ll hold you to that.”
The door opened quietly, and a nurse entered carrying a tray of vials and crushed herbs.
“She needs these every six hours,” the nurse instructed. “They’ll help with the pain and speed healing. She must rest.”
Rex groaned. “I hate resting.”
“Too bad,” the nurse said briskly. “You’ll be fine soon enough if you behave.”
Once she left, Ryker straightened. “I need to take care of something.”
Lyra stiffened instantly. “You’re not going near Samson.”
Ryker’s jaw tightened. “He attacked you.”
“He’s dangerous,” Lyra insisted. “He’s unhinged. He’s a wolf who’s already lost everything.”
Ryker scoffed. “That’s trash. He’s a coward who went after my woman from behind bars.”
“And that’s exactly why you shouldn’t go,” she pleaded. “He wants to provoke you.”
“I’m done letting him showcase his disrespect,” Ryker snapped.
Dax cracked his knuckles. “I’m coming.”
“You’re not,” Ryker said flatly. “I don’t need backup.”
“I’m not backup,” Dax replied. “I want to look that bastard in the eye and punch him for hurting Rex.”
“We’re not beating him like crooks,” Ryker said. “He’ll face judgment the right way.”
Dax blinked, "What?!”
"Yes, he'll be punished according to pack law.”
Dax laughed bitterly. “Your precious laws didn’t stop this.”
Ryker rounded on him. “And if I abandon them, this pack falls apart.”
“Look how far your lawfulness got us!” Dax shot back. “Rex is stabbed and bleeding because you hesitated.”
“Enough,” Rex said weakly.
They both turned.
“If you go in there raging, you give Samson exactly what he wants,” Rex continued. “He wants you to become a monster. He wants it to act stupid and blood thirsty so you lose the pack’s respect.”
Ryker’s fists clenched.
“Yiu know I'm right,” Rex added. “You’re the Alpha. Act like it.”
Silence stretched.
Finally, Ryker exhaled sharply. “Fine. We do this properly.”
Dax hesitated, then nodded. “But I’m coming. I don’t trust him.”
They left the clinic together even though there was still tension between them.
A few minutes later, the prison gates came into view and just as they went through the tunnel to the cells, they stopped dead in their tracks.
The doors of the cell holding Samson were wide open.
Two guards lay sprawled on the ground, unmoving, beside them was a tray of food and bottles of beer.
Dax rushed forward, fingers pressing to one man’s neck. “They’re alive. Barely.”
Ryker crouched beside the other guard, nostrils flaring. “Poison.”
Dax’s eyes hardened. “Samson didn’t do this alone.”
Ryker stood slowly, dread settling in his gut. “No.”
Dax looked toward the high fence beyond the prison. “He’s gone.”
Ryker’s voice was ice-cold. “Samson has escaped.”