Chapter 39: Fractures

Chapter 39: Fractures

Ella’s POV

The night reeked of blood and smoke.

When I found him, he was barely standing, leaning against the courtyard wall, one hand clutching his ribs, the other still slick with blood that wasn’t all his.
Darius was gone. The air still hummed with the violence they’d left behind.

For a heartbeat, I couldn’t move.
The moonlight made him look unearthly; wild, dangerous, beautiful in a way that hurt to look at. His chest heaved, his jaw tight, his eyes still burning faint gold.

“Alex…”
My voice broke around his name.

He turned slightly, the sound of it pulling him back from somewhere far away. The fury in his face wavered, just for a second, replaced by something raw. “You shouldn’t be here,” he rasped.

“You’re hurt.”

“It’s nothing.”
He tried to straighten, but his legs faltered. I rushed forward just in time to catch him. The weight of him hit me hard, solid and shaking. His skin burned under my hands, hot with fever and blood.

“Nothing?” I snapped, feeling my throat tighten. “You’re bleeding everywhere.”

He gave a low laugh that sounded more like pain. “You should see the other guy.”

“This isn’t funny, Alex.”

He looked down at me then, and for a heartbeat, all the walls fell away. His eyes softened just a flicker, just enough to make me forget to breathe. “I told you I’d protect you,” he said quietly. “Guess I forgot to protect myself too.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You can’t keep doing this—”

He flinched when I touched his side. My hands came away red. I bit back a gasp.
“Oh Moon,” I whispered. “You need help.”

“No healers,” he said quickly. “No one can know what happened tonight.”

“Alex—”

“I mean it.” His voice hardened. “If they find out Darius was here, if they know I fought him, they’ll ask questions we can’t afford.”

We.
The word made my chest ache.

“Why?” I asked. “Why protect him after what he’s done to you? To your family?”

His eyes darkened, jaw tightening. “Because if the council learns what he’s planning, you’ll be the first person they suspect. You’re Lyra to them, remember? Darius’s daughter. His blood.”

The words hit like a slap.
Right. I was still wearing someone else’s face.

I looked away, biting my lip hard enough to taste blood. “This is my fault.”

“Stop.” His tone softened again. “Don’t do that.”

“I should’ve warned you,” I said, voice trembling. “He’s been watching us. I felt it. I just didn’t want to believe…”

“Ella.” He said my name so quietly it almost undid me. “You’re not responsible for what he does.”

I shook my head, tears burning behind my eyes. “He’ll come back.”

“I know.”

“What if he hurts you again? What if he…”

“He won’t.”
His voice was steady now, too steady.
But his hands were trembling.

He sank to his knees before I could stop him, his strength finally giving out. I dropped beside him, pressing a hand to his chest to steady him. His heart was racing too fast.
His wolf still lingered close to the surface, restless, wild.

“You need to shift,” I whispered. “Let your wolf heal you.”

He shook his head slowly. “If I shift now, I’ll lose control.”

I hesitated. “You won’t hurt me.”

His gaze lifted to mine, pained and sincere. “That’s exactly why I can’t.”

I didn’t argue. I just stayed there, holding him as the night went quiet again. The wind moved through the trees, carrying the scent of iron and pine and smoke.

Then, from somewhere near the main hall, I heard voices; guards, shouting orders, footsteps echoing in the corridors.
My stomach dropped.

“They’re coming,” I whispered. “The patrols must’ve heard the fight.”

Alex’s jaw clenched. “You need to go back to your quarters. Now.”

“No.. ”

“Ella.” His voice turned sharp, commanding. “If they find us together, covered in blood, they’ll start asking questions neither of us can answer. Please. Just go.”

I froze. He’d never said please before.

“Promise me you’ll go,” he pressed.

My heart twisted. I nodded once, fighting back tears. “I’ll come back as soon as it’s safe.”

He didn’t answer, just gave a faint nod, eyes half-lidded, exhausted.

I hesitated a second longer, then turned and ran, heart pounding and shaking, his blood still warm on my skin.

By the time I reached my chambers, the courtyard was alive with movement; guards with torches, voices shouting that the Alpha’s son had been attacked. I closed my door quietly, pressing my back against it.

Outside, chaos. Inside, silence.

But my reflection in the mirror wasn’t silent at all.
It whispered with guilt. With fear.

And under it all…the faintest echo of a growl.

Because somewhere deep in the woods, I knew Darius was still out there. Watching. Waiting.
And next time, he wouldn’t come for Alex.

He’d come for me.