Chapter 99: My Priorities

Lia

"Even when the pack tries to execute me?"

"Especially then." He glanced toward where Theron was conferring with his second. "Watch yourself with him. He's honorable, but he's also an Alpha. And Alphas always have agendas."

"I know."

"Do you?" Viktor's voice dropped lower. "Because I've seen how he looks at you. Like you're the solution to something. And I don't think it's just the war."

Before I could respond, Theron approached. "We're ready. Lia, you'll run point with me. Viktor, take the rear guard. If anything goes wrong, your priority is getting her out."

"My priority is completing the mission," I corrected.

"Your priority is staying alive." Theron's tone left no room for argument. "Because if you die, Kai will slaughter everyone in a hundred-mile radius. And I'd rather avoid that particular apocalypse."

He wasn't wrong.

"Move out," Theron commanded. "Radio silence until we're in position. If anyone falls behind, we don't stop. Understood?"

Twenty voices answered in unison: "Understood."

We moved into the forest like shadows, our wolves just beneath the surface, lending us speed and strength without fully shifting. The moon was waning, giving us enough light to see but not enough to be easily spotted.

I led them through the trails I'd run a thousand times, the hidden paths that avoided sentinel posts, the rocky terrain that muffled footsteps, the stream bed that would mask our scent.

Every step sent pain through my ribs. Every breath felt like inhaling glass. But I pushed through it, because twenty wolves were depending on me not to collapse.

We were thirty minutes in when Theron fell into step beside me.

"You're hurting," he observed quietly.

"I'm fine."

"Liar." But his tone was almost fond. "You know, you don't have to prove anything to me. I already know what you're capable of."

"This isn't about you."

"No, it's about Kai. About showing him you're not breakable." Theron ducked under a low branch. "But Solnyshko, being strong doesn't mean never breaking. It means knowing when to accept help."

"Is this the part where you offer to help me?" I kept my voice neutral, my attention on the trail ahead.

"This is the part where I remind you that you have options." He caught my arm, bringing us both to a stop while the others continued past. "I meant what I said at Silvercrest. If things don't work out with Kai, if the bond is too damaged, my offer still stands."

"Theron…"

"Let me finish." His silver eyes held mine. "I know you love him. I'm not trying to steal you away or break what you have. But I've also watched you sacrifice yourself over and over for a bond that might not be salvageable. And I refuse to stand by while you destroy yourself for a mate who locked you in a cage."

"He made a mistake."

"He made a choice." Theron's voice was gentle but relentless. "And if he makes that choice again, if he chooses control over trust, possession over partnership, I want you to remember you deserve better. You deserve someone who sees your strength as a gift, not a threat."

"Like you?" I pulled my arm free. "Let me be clear, Alpha Theron. I appreciate everything you've done for me. The training, the support, bringing your pack to help us. But I'm not a prize to be won or a refugee looking for a new pack. I'm Kai's mate. Damaged bond or not, that's not changing."

"Even if it kills you?"

"Even then."

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "All right. But when this is over, when the dust settles and you're still standing, ask yourself if you're staying because you want to, or because you think you have to. There's a difference."