Chapter 21: Twenty one

Chapter 21

Sam’s POV

“Get him out of here!” I roar, my voice slicing through the smoke and chaos. The smell of blood and ash hangs thick in the air, and my heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear myself think. The ground is trembling under my boots, and every instinct in me is screaming one thing to find her.

Cole drags a half-conscious guard away from the wreckage, shouting orders I can’t hear over the ringing in my ears. The explosion tore through the western wing of the pack house, right where Ella had been moments before. My chest constricts painfully. I can’t feel our bond. I can’t feel her.

I shove aside burning debris and force my way into the corridor, coughing as the smoke blinds me. My hands are bleeding, my mind frantic. “Ella!” I call again, my voice cracking this time. “Ella!”

No answer.

The hallway groans as another beam collapses. I throw myself forward, ignoring the searing pain in my arm. My wolf is restless, clawing beneath my skin, desperate to take over. He wants to find her needs to but I can’t shift here, not in this mess.

Then, through the smoke, I see a shadow moving. Small. Weak. Coughing.

My heart lurches. “Ella!” I sprint toward her, catching her as she stumbles. She’s covered in soot, her face pale, but her eyes, those same broken, defiant eyes snap to mine.

“Benjamin ” she gasps. “He's gone.”

Her words slice through me sharper than any blade. “What do you mean gone?” I shake her shoulders gently, desperate for an answer. “Where is he, Ella?!”

Tears streak down her ash-stained cheeks. “He was with Cole’s men outside then the explosion ”

Before she can finish, another blast rumbles in the distance, closer this time. The enemy isn’t done.

I pull her close, pressing her head to my chest. “We’ll find him,” I promise, even as fear coils deep inside me. “I swear to you, I’ll bring him back.”

Ella nods weakly, but I can feel her trembling. Her hand clutches my shirt like it’s the only thing keeping her standing. For a moment, despite everything, despite the smoke and the screams and the blood, the world narrows to just us, her heartbeat faint against mine.

Then Cole’s voice cuts through. “Sam! Rogues breached the east wall!”

I spin around, my hold on Ella tightening. The rogues. Of course. This wasn’t an accident. The explosion was a distraction.

I hand Ella off to a nearby healer. “Get her to the safe house,” I ordered. My tone leaves no room for argument. “And don’t let her out of your sight.”

The healer nods and pulls her away, but Ella’s gaze stays locked on mine. “Bring him back,” she whispers, her voice breaking.

“I will,” I swear again, my voice low, rough, and raw.

As she disappears into the smoke, I shift. My bones snap, fur bursting through my skin, and I let the beast take control. The wolf’s eyes lock on the horizon on the rogue scent that reeks of blood and betrayal.

Benjamin is mine, my wolf growls in my head, and we take off into the forest, the sound of our pack at war echoing behind us.

The moonlight cuts through the trees as I run, fast and silent. The rogues are close. I can smell them. Then I smell him. My son. His scent mixed with fear. My wolf’s growl vibrates through my chest.

Up ahead, through the clearing, I see three rogues dragging a small figure toward the river. Benjamin. His little body limped, his hands tied.

Rage explodes through me. I don’t think so. I move.

I slam into the first rogue, tearing his throat open before he even realizes I’m there. The second one swings a blade, catching me across the side, but I don’t stop. I crush his ribs beneath my weight, the sound of bones snapping satisfyingly in a dark, primal way.

The last one taller, stronger, scarred across his jaw grins as he drags Benjamin toward the edge of the cliff.

“You’re too late, Alpha,” he sneers.

I lunge but too slow.

He throws Benjamin off.

A sound leaves me that doesn’t sound human. It’s pain and fury and terror all at once. I leap after them without thinking.

The wind roars past me as we fall. I catch Benjamin mid-air, wrapping my body around his. The impact slams the breath from my lungs, but he’s alive. He’s breathing.

I roll onto my back, gasping. “It’s okay,” I whisper to him, even though my vision is swimming. “I’ve got you.”

He looks up at me, dazed, tears in his eyes. “Dad…”

The single word freezes me. He said Dad.

Before I can respond, I hear footsteps above. The rogues didn’t come alone. More shadows move along the ridge.

I grit my teeth, pushing myself up despite the pain. I can’t shift again, not with him in my arms. I glance toward the dark treeline ahead. If I can just reach the riverbank

“Sam!” Cole’s voice echoes from above.

I look up and see him climbing down with a rope, his eyes wide. “You’re insane!”

I almost laugh, but then Benjamin’s small hand tightens on my shirt. “They were after Mom,” he whispers weakly. “Not me.”

I freeze.

“What?” I whisper.

Benjamin looks at me, tears brimming. “They said… they needed her alive. The woman with the Demon’s mark.”

My stomach turns to ice. The rogues weren’t after him. They were after Ella.

Cole reaches us and pulls Benjamin up first. I push him toward the cliff wall. “Take him,” I say, my voice rough. “Go!”

“Sam ”

“Go!” I bark, my wolf close to breaking through again.

Cole grabs Benjamin and starts climbing. I stay behind, scanning the dark woods, my blood humming with dread. My heart beats so loud it drowns out everything else.

Then I hear it.

A scream.

High, terrified and unmistakably hers.

Ella.

I

look up at the burning sky and whisper, “Hold on, mate. I’m coming.”

And then I ran back into the fire.