Chapter 96
Elowen's POV
"I'm serious!" I screamed, glaring at Leo's massive wolf form hovering over Cassian's bleeding body. His golden eyes narrowed, fur bristling along his spine as he released a growl that shook the entire room.
Choose your words carefully, Juno whispered in my mind. He's not thinking clearly.
Neither am I! I shot back, my fingers pressing into Cassian's wounded side, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. The warm stickiness coated my hands, making me sick with fear. I couldn't lose him. Not now. Not like this.
We love them both, Juno insisted. You know that.
Look what he did! I mentally screamed at my wolf. Look what Leo did to him!
Leo prowled closer, his enormous paws silent despite his size. Blood—Cassian's blood—matted the fur around his muzzle. The sight made my stomach roll.
"Back off!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face. "The only person who ever looked like a father to me is lying there not moving! One mate is a fucking madman, and the other is dying beside me!"
Luna Ella hovered nearby, her face streaked with tears as she knelt beside Alpha Austin's lifeless body. "Elowen, be careful," she warned, her voice breaking. "He's not himself."
Leo approached again, trying to push his head against my shoulder. I jerked away, refusing his touch.
"Don't you dare," I hissed, pressing harder on Cassian's wound. His blood pulsed between my fingers, weaker with each beat. "If you can't control yourself, I will reject you. It'll hurt me too, but I'll do it."
Leo's growl intensified, ears flattening against his head. He paced restlessly, conflicted between his need to mark me and the threat I'd just delivered.
"I'm serious!" I screamed again. Luna Ella warned me to be careful, but I didn't care anymore. Fear and anger drove me forward as I glared directly into Leo's wild eyes. "You better check your fucking attitude or kill me, because I love you AND him!"
I pointed at Cassian's still form. "You don't even care your brother is dying! The same brother who protected you when you were children! The brother who's always had your back!"
Leo's massive head lowered, a whine escaping his throat.
"So I suggest you sit the fuck down!" I commanded, surprising myself with the authority in my voice.
I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by grief and panic. "Please," I whispered to the Moon Goddess, "help my people. Help my mates. One cannot succeed without the other!"
When I opened my eyes, Leo had backed up slightly. He was watching me intently, his golden eyes fixed on mine. I looked down at Cassian and felt a surge of relief when I noticed color returning to his face. His ice-blue eyes flickered open, focusing weakly on me.
"Now sit down!" I ordered Leo again, my voice firm despite my terror.
To my shock, the massive wolf lowered himself to the ground, ears still flat against his head. He whined softly, pushing his nose toward me like a puppy seeking attention.
"Good," I whispered, not releasing the pressure on Cassian's wound. "You can smell him, but don't touch."
You should tell him to stay! Juno remarked sarcastically in my head.
Leo cautiously crept forward, his nose twitching as he sniffed Cassian's body. Luna Ella screamed, thinking he was going to attack again, but I raised my free hand.
"It's okay!" I assured her, though I wasn't entirely convinced myself.
Leo nudged my hand, trying to move it away from Cassian's wound. I resisted, pushing back.
"No! I need to keep pressure on it!"
But Leo persisted, gently pushing my fingers aside. Before I could stop him, he lowered his massive head and began licking Cassian's wounds.
I froze, unsure what was happening. Was he... cleaning the wounds? Or was this some twisted wolf thing I didn't understand?
"What are you—" I started to ask, when Cassian suddenly groaned.
"Dude, that tickles," he mumbled weakly.
My eyes widened in shock as I realized what was happening. The wound under Leo's tongue was closing, the bleeding slowing to a stop.
"You're healing him," I whispered in awe.
Leo's eyes flicked to mine momentarily before returning to his task. There was intelligence there now—still wild, still dangerous, but purposeful.
Cassian's breathing grew stronger with each passing moment. His hand weakly reached for mine, squeezing my fingers.
"He's helping," Cassian murmured, his voice raspy. "Leo's always been good at healing."
Tears filled my eyes as I watched the massive wolf tenderly care for his brother. The same jaws that had torn Cassian open were now gently mending the damage. I stroked Leo's fur, feeling the powerful muscles beneath.
"Thank you," I whispered, leaning forward to kiss the top of his head.
Luna Ella watched in amazement from where she still cradled Alpha Austin's body. "I've never seen anything like this," she said softly.
"Will he be okay?" I asked Cassian, nodding toward his wounds.
Cassian nodded weakly. "Yeah. Leo's saliva has stronger healing properties than most wolves. Alpha's gift."
I felt a strange calm wash over me as I watched my two mates—one human, one wolf—connect in this primal, healing ritual. Despite the chaos around us, despite the grief and pain, there was something sacred in this moment.
Leo finished with Cassian's wounds and turned his attention to me. He nuzzled my hands, licking away Cassian's blood. His tongue was rough but gentle, cleaning me with the same care he'd shown his brother.
"I'm sorry I threatened you," I told him softly. "But you scared me."
His golden eyes met mine, and I saw understanding there. He knew what he'd done. He was sorry too.
Around us, pack members were gathering, trying to make sense of what had happened. The assassin was gone, disappeared into the night. Alpha Austin's body lay still and cold. Yet in our small bubble, healing had begun.
Cassian struggled to sit up, and I helped support his weight. Leo backed up slightly, giving us space but staying close.
"We need to find who did this," Cassian said grimly, looking toward his father's body.
I nodded, my heart heavy. "We will. Together."