Chapter 30
Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
Zara’s POV
The night bled into silence too quickly. One moment the streets had been fire and steel, the next only smoke and blood remained. My hand still trembled around the dagger, slick with crimson that was not mine.
Magnus’ arm was heavy around my shoulders as we staggered through the ruined alley, Viktor leading the survivors toward the woods at the edge of town. The apartment was gone, burned to ash. Half the warriors had fallen holding the line. The air reeked of smoke and death.
“Keep moving,” Magnus rasped, though his own body swayed with weakness. His wound had torn open again, fresh blood soaking through the bandages.
“Magnus—”
“I’m fine,” he cut me off, though his face was pale as bone.
No, he wasn’t. None of us were.
\---
We reached the cover of the trees, hidden from the human world by the dense forest. The survivors collapsed in a clearing, breathing hard, some nursing broken bones and gashes that glowed faintly with silver burns. The sight of them twisted my stomach.
“This wasn’t just a raid,” Viktor said darkly. “Ashen sent his scouts to draw blood and test our defenses. He knows exactly where we are now.”
The weight of his words pressed down on all of us. I glanced at Magnus, who had dropped heavily onto a fallen log, sweat glistening across his forehead. Even exhausted, even bleeding, his presence was enough to silence his pack. But silence wasn’t unity. I saw the doubt in their eyes. I felt it like knives in my back.
“This happened because of her,” one voice muttered from the shadows.
“She fights beside us, but she’s still Ashen’s bride.”
“She’ll bring him down on all of us.”
I stiffened. Every word was true and untrue at the same time. Magnus’ head lifted slowly, his eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
“Enough,” he said, voice rough but sharp as a blade. “Ashen would’ve come whether Zara was here or not. If any of you are too blind to see that, then you’re free to walk away now.”
The clearing went still. No one moved, though the bitterness lingered.
My throat tightened. I wanted to defend myself, but my words would mean nothing here. Only Magnus’ strength held them together. And even that strength was fraying.
\---
Magnus’ POV
Pain flared sharp in my chest, but I refused to let them see it. They had to believe I was unshakable, even if I was crumbling inside.
Ashen’s wolves had struck hard and fast. We’d survived, but barely. If he came with his full army, we’d be finished.
And Zara—gods, Zara. She had stood with a blade in her hand, fear in her eyes but steel in her spine. She’d killed to protect me. That image haunted me more than any wound.
When the others turned to tend to themselves, she came to me quietly, kneeling at my side with bandages she’d salvaged from the ruins.
“Let me,” she whispered.
I didn’t argue. Too tired, too heavy. She pressed cloth against my chest, her hands steady now where they had once trembled. Her scent filled my lungs, grounding me.
“You shouldn’t have fought,” I murmured.
Her eyes flashed. “You shouldn’t have bled for me. But here we are.”
A laugh escaped me, hoarse and broken. Even in ruins, she could still make me smile.
Her hand brushed against mine briefly, lingering. “I won’t be their weakness, Magnus. I promise.”
I wanted to tell her she was never a weakness, but the words stuck. Because the truth was cruel—she was both my greatest strength and the one thing that could bring me down.
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Zara’s POV
The night stretched long, filled with restless shifting and muted groans from the wounded. I sat awake beside Magnus, unable to sleep. His face in the moonlight looked carved from stone, his chest rising and falling slowly, each breath heavy with pain.
I turned away, guilt gnawing at me.
Maybe Doran was right. Maybe I was poison. Since the moment Magnus had taken me, his pack had begun to unravel. Nerissa had left. Doubt had festered. Ashen had drawn blood. And through it all, I had clung to him like I was worth the destruction.
A rustle at the edge of the clearing snapped me from my thoughts. Viktor emerged from the shadows, his expression hard.
“Scouts report movement again,” he said in a low voice. “Ashen’s forces are circling. He’s not retreating—he’s waiting.”
“Waiting for what?” I asked, my voice trembling.
Viktor’s gaze shifted to Magnus, sleeping fitfully. His silence was answer enough.
He was waiting for Magnus to break.
\---
Magnus’ POV
I woke to the sound of raised voices.
The pack was arguing again, louder this time, angrier. Doran stood at the center, his chest puffed, his eyes darting to me like he wanted me to hear every word.
“Look at us!” he shouted. “Half our warriors dead, our hideout burned, Ashen breathing down our necks. And why? Because of her!”
His finger stabbed toward Zara like a weapon. She flinched but didn’t move.
“If we cast her out, maybe Ashen spares us. Maybe he pulls back. But if she stays, we’re already dead.”
The crowd murmured, some nodding, others scowling. My blood boiled.
I pushed myself to my feet despite the pain. “You dare speak of casting her out? You’d rather crawl at Ashen’s feet than fight beside me?”
Doran’s eyes blazed. “I’d rather live.”
Silence fell. My wolves looked between us, torn.
For the first time, I felt the fragile threads of my command slipping. They weren’t just doubting me. They were close to rebellion.
Zara stepped forward before I could speak, her voice ringing through the clearing. “If you want me gone, I’ll go. But don’t think for a second Ashen will leave you alone. He’ll slaughter you all, with or without me.”
Her words cut sharper than any blade. I saw the pack waver, uncertainty in their eyes.
And in that moment, as if to prove her right, a distant howl rolled through the night. Deep, commanding, full of menace.
Ashen’s call.
Every wolf in the clearing stiffened, their heads snapping toward the sound. It was close—too close.
The air thickened with fear.
I met Zara’s eyes across the firelight. For the first time, I saw not fear in her gaze, but defiance.
The howl came again, louder, closer, shaking the trees around us.
Ashen was here.
And he wasn’t alone.