Chapter 187
Riley's POV
The ritual to break our mate bond had left me drained, unable to even lift my arms in defense. I could still feel the phantom echo of our connection, a hollow space where his emotions used to flow into me. My body screamed with the fresh pain of separation, nerves raw as if my skin had been peeled away. But there was something else too—a strange lightness, like chains falling away.
Freedom comes at a cost, I thought, accepting what was to come.
Storm whimpered inside me, confused and terrified. My wolf had genuinely loved him, had reveled in being the mate of such a powerful Alpha. Now she cowered, mourning not just the loss of our mate but the loss of status, of protection. Without an Alpha's mark, we would be vulnerable—if we survived the next thirty seconds, which seemed increasingly unlikely.
"No pack will take us," Storm whined. "We will be alone, hunted."
I didn't bother responding. It didn't matter anymore. I had made my choice, severed the bond that had both protected and imprisoned me. I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact of Kassak's claws, for the tearing of flesh and the final darkness that would follow.
A rush of air, a heavy thud, and then—nothing.
No pain. Just the warm splash of something wet across my face.
My eyes flew open. The world seemed to slow, sounds becoming distant and muffled. All I could hear was labored breathing that wasn't my own. All I could see was a broad back in front of me, shoulders I recognized even as my mind refused to accept what I was seeing.
Marcus. My father.
He stood between me and Kassak, his body a shield. Kassak's massive claws were buried deep in his chest, blood pouring from the wounds. My father's face was contorted in pain, but his eyes remained defiant as he stared down his attacker.
Kassak looked as shocked as I felt. He stumbled backward, his claws sliding free from my father's flesh with a sickening sound. Blood splattered the ground between them. Kassak swayed, the combined drain of our broken bond and the effort of his attack leaving him barely able to stand. He collapsed several feet away, his massive wolf form heaving with exhaustion.
My father's knees buckled. I moved instinctively, catching him as he fell. We sank to the ground together, his weight dragging us both down. I cradled his upper body in my lap, my hands pressing uselessly against the gaping wounds in his chest. Blood soaked through my fingers, hot and relentless.
"Why?" The word tore from my throat, raw and broken.
Marcus looked up at me, his eyes clouding with pain but surprisingly clear in purpose. "Been... watching the battlefield," he managed, each word a struggle. "Saw you... make your choice. Had to... get to you."
Now I noticed the other injuries that covered his body—claw marks across his arms and shoulders, a deep gash on his thigh. He had fought his way through battle lines to reach me. Had risked everything—had given everything—to save me.
"But you've always hated me," I whispered, confusion overwhelming me. "I couldn't bring resources to the Starscar Pack."
A bitter smile twisted his bloodied lips. "I was... a failure as a father." His breathing grew more labored, bubbles of blood forming at the corners of his mouth. "Blinded by... power. Ambition. Too proud to... admit I was wrong."
Storm howled in grief within me, the mournful sound of a wolf watching an Alpha fall. Despite everything, he was still my father, still of my blood. And he was dying in my arms.
"I've always been... proud of you," he continued, his voice weakening. "Your courage. Your... independence. Never knew how to... say it."
Tears blurred my vision, falling onto his face and mixing with the blood there. Years of resentment and pain clashed with this moment of sacrifice, leaving me hollow and confused.
"Elena knew," he whispered. "Your mother... she saw your strength. Wanted you to... find your own way." He coughed, more blood staining his lips. "She would be... so proud... of you today."
Something broke inside me—a dam holding back emotions I'd refused to acknowledge. Memories flooded in: my father teaching me to track when I was small, his rare smile when I made my first kill, his hand briefly squeezing my shoulder after I passed my first Alpha challenge. Tiny moments of connection buried under years of perceived rejection.
"I forgive you," I said, the words surprising me even as they left my mouth. They were true, I realized. In this moment, with his blood soaking into my clothes and his life fading before my eyes, I could finally let go of the anger I'd carried for so long. "Thank you for saving me. For... for being here at the end."
A smile—genuine this time—softened his features. "Finally did... something right." His hand found mine, squeezing with the last of his strength. "It doesn't hurt anymore. I feel... peace."
His eyes grew distant, focusing on something beyond me. His breathing slowed, then stopped altogether. The hand in mine went limp.
Marcus Hayes, once Alpha of Starscar Pack, my father, was gone.
I held him, unable to move, unable to think. Storm's grief merged with mine, a keening that filled my mind and soul. We had lost many things in our lives, but this—the death of a parent, an Alpha—cut deeper than I could have imagined.
A low growl pulled me back to reality.
Kassak had risen to his feet again. Weakened, yes—his massive form trembling with exhaustion, blood matting his fur—but his eyes still burned with killing intent. The broken mate bond had drained him, but rage was fueling him now, pushing him beyond normal limits.
"Riley!"
Freya's voice. She had reached the ridge, her face a mask of horror as she took in the scene—our father's body in my arms, Kassak advancing toward me again. Without hesitation, she lunged forward, placing herself between me and Kassak, her smaller wolf form bracing for impact.
Kassak looked barely able to stand, swaying on his feet. He shouldn't have been a threat anymore. Freya charged toward him, her smaller form moving with deadly precision. She struck first, her jaws locking onto his already wounded shoulder, tearing through muscle and sinew. Kassak howled in pain as she ripped away, circling quickly to attack his exposed flank.
Blood poured from Kassak's fresh wounds as Freya continued her assault, clearly gaining the upper hand. She darted in again, slashing at his hind leg and causing him to stumble to one knee. Victory seemed certain—Kassak was failing, his strength ebbing with each heartbeat.
But as Freya moved in for what should have been the final attack, something changed in Kassak's eyes. A cold calculation replaced the pain, his muscles tensing in one final, desperate burst of energy. This wasn't about winning anymore—it was about ensuring he wouldn't die alone.
Just as Freya lunged for his throat, Kassak's massive paw shot out with unexpected precision. He caught her mid-leap, his claws sinking deep into her front leg. Using the last of his strength and her own momentum against her, he pivoted and violently flung her entire body through the air.
Horror froze my blood as I watched Freya's form tumble toward the edge of the ridge. Her claws scrabbled desperately against the loose rocks and dirt, her body sliding closer and closer to the steep drop.
"Freya!" I screamed, trying to rise, to move toward her.