Chapter 141 Chapter 141
LUCIAN
Blood.
That was all I could see. Blood on her skin and blood on my hands as I held her limp body. For a single, suspended second, the world went silent.
I couldn’t hear anything.
“Ailsa!”
My hands hovered over her, trembling despite everything I was, everything I had been trained to be. An Alpha.
A leader.
None of that mattered now. Nothing did. Not when her blood was on my hands.
“Look at me” I said, my voice rough, breaking despite my effort to steady it.
“Look at me, Ailsa” Her eyes fluttered, unfocused, struggling.
“Lucian…” she whispered.
That one word nearly destroyed me.
“I’m here. I’m right here” I said quickly.
My gaze dropped to her side.
Blood.
It was too much. My chest constricted. Rage surged through me so fast it felt like my veins were on fire. Slowly, I lifted my head and I looked at him.
Lorcan.
He stood a few feet away, chest heaving, blood staining his skin but he was still standing. Still breathing.
Alive.
A growl tore from my chest, low and inhuman.
“You…” My voice came out dangerous. “You touched her”
Lorcan didn’t flinch. In fact, he smiled.
“She stepped into it”
Something inside me snapped completely. Ailsa’s weak hand brushed against mine.
“Don’t…” she whispered.
Too late.
I stood slowly. I tried to mind link Aiden so the rest of the troops could come. My body felt wrong. My wolf surged forward, no longer asking for control, taking it. This time, I let him. The shift ripped through me violently. My eyes fixed on Lorcan. The target and enemy
Finish him.
I lunged. The distance between us disappeared in an instant. My jaws snapped toward his throat, he dodged. We collided again, our bodies slamming into each other with bone-crushing force. My claws met his flesh, my teeth tore his skin. The taste of blood flooded my mouth.
His or mine.
I didn’t know, It didn’t matter. All that mattered was ending him. Ending the one who dared touch my mate. He fought back hard but I didn’t care who was winning. I cared about destroying him. I had come here knowing that one of us was going to die.
We rolled across the ground, tearing into each other as the wolves around us hesitated. He lunged for my neck. I twisted, slamming him into the ground, hard.
A snarl ripped from his throat as he shoved me off, claws raking across my side. Pain flared. I ignored it.
Pain meant nothing compared to what she was feeling. I went for him again. Faster and harder. This time my jaws closed around his shoulder. He roared.
I shook him violently before throwing him aside like he weighed nothing. He hit the ground, sliding, struggling to get back up. Then, I jumped on him, digging my claws into him, blood spilling.
“Alpha!”
The voice cut through the chaos faintly but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Not until he was dead.
“Lucian!”
That voice cut through everything.
It cut through the rage, the bloodlust and my wolf.
Ailsa.
My head snapped toward her. She was still on the ground, her breathing shallow.
No.
I had completely forgotten about her in my quest to end Lorcan’s life. I turned back to Lorcan. He was trying to get up again.
I lunged one last time. This time, I pinned him. My claws pressed into his throat. One move and I would end him. His chest heaved beneath me. His eyes met mine.
For the first time, there was no amusement in his eyes. He knew how this would end.
“Do it” he rasped. My claws pressed deeper. His skin split.
Kill him
My grip tightened.
“A… Lucian…”
Everything stopped. My head snapped back toward her.
Ailsa.
Her hand twitched weakly against the ground. Her eyes barely open. I released him. Lorcan gasped beneath me, sucking in air as I stepped back.
I didn’t look at him again. I shifted back instantly, ignoring the pain that came with it, my body barely settling before I was at her side again.
“Ailsa”
I dropped beside her, gathering her carefully into my arms. Her body was too light.
Too still.
“No” I muttered. “No, no, no—stay with me”
Her head lolled slightly against my chest.
“Lucian…” she breathed.
“I’m here. I’ve got you” I said quickly.
Her blood soaked into me. My chest tightened violently.
“Don’t you dare leave me. Do you hear me? I live you” I whispered, my voice breaking.
I finally said those words and I meant it. I hated myself for taking so long to tell her. Her lips parted slightly.
“I…won’t…”
I knew it was a lie. She was fading. I could feel it. Panic clawed at me. I stood, lifting her carefully into my arms.
“Alpha!”
This time I turned. Aiden. He was there, surrounded by our warriors, blood on his hands, his chest heaving. Relief flickered across his face when he saw me.
Then—he saw her. Everything in him shifted.
“Is she…”
“She’s alive” I cut him off sharply. “But not for long if we stand here talking.” His expression hardened instantly.
“We need to move”
“I know”
I adjusted my hold on her, pulling her closer to my chest. Her head rested against me, her breathing uneven.
“Aiden, finish up here. Have the men bring in all the traitors and Lorcan. Make sure none of them escapes. I’ll deal with them later” I said, my voice low, deadly calm. He nodded once.
“Warriors!” he barked. “Move!”
The pack surged into action immediately. Blocking and fighting, holding off Lorcan’s wolves. I didn’t look back. I didn’t care. Let them come. I would kill every last one of them if they got in my way.
The world blurred around me as I moved at full speed, the forest rushing past in a haze of motion and sound. All I could feel was her in my arms.
“Stay with me” I muttered under my breath. “Stay with me, Ailsa.”
Her fingers twitched weakly against my chest.
“I’m… tired…”
“No,” I said immediately. “You’re not sleeping.” Her breathing hitched.
“Lucian…”
“I’m here”
Always.
“…don’t… let go…” her voice was barely a whisper now.
My throat tightened painfully.
“Never” I said. “Not in this life. Not in any life.”
“Look at me” I urged. “Stay with me.”
Her eyes fluttered open slightly. Just enough A small, fragile smile touched her lips and it terrified me because it looked like goodbye.
“No” I said sharply. “Don’t do that.”
Her eyes began to close.
“Ailsa.”
Nothing.
“No—Ailsa!”
Panic surged violently through me. I ran faster. I didn’t know how long I ran but I didn’t stop. The pack came into view. Guards shouted.
“ALPHA!”
“Get the healer!” I roared, my voice shaking the entire grounds. “NOW!”
I didn’t slow down or stopped. Not until I reached the healer’s quarters.
“Save her” I demanded, placing her carefully down as they rushed forward.
They moved with immediate effect. I stepped back reluctantly, my hands still stained with her blood. My chest heaved. My wolf was restless. I was terrified.
If she dies…
No.
I didn’t let the thought finish.
Because if she did…there would be nothing left to save. Nothing left to rule and nothing left of me. I turned slowly, my gaze dark, deadly.
“If anything happens to her, I’ll have your heads”