Chapter 102. The Offer

Chapter 102. The Offer
Lia

My broken ribs screamed with every step. My body was barely holding together after the hybrid transformation. But I pushed through it because that howl, that specific pitch of fury and fear, meant only one thing.

Kai was in trouble.

And despite everything, the cell, the trial, the damaged bond, I would die before I let anything happen to him.

Even if it meant running straight into hell.

Even if it meant choosing him over everything else.

Even if Theron was right, and that choice would destroy me.

We burst through the treeline to find the main Eastern Pack camp in flames.

And at the center of the inferno, locked in combat with three enemy Alphas at once, was Kai.

Losing.

The main camp was a slaughterhouse.

Kai fought like something already dead, no strategy, no defense, just pure savage aggression against three Alphas who were coordinating to bring him down. Blood soaked his fur, some his, most theirs. But he was outnumbered and I could see the moment coming when sheer numbers would overwhelm even his strength.

"FERILIS REGROUP!" Viktor's roar cut through the chaos. "Protect your Alpha!"

Kai's warriors rallied, breaking off their individual fights to form a protective circle. But it wasn't enough, the Eastern Pack had reinforcements streaming in from somewhere, and we'd lost too many in the ambush.

Theron's wolves hit the enemy flank like a silver avalanche, and suddenly the tide shifted. I watched him tear through Eastern warriors with brutal efficiency, working his way toward Kai with clear intent.

Not to challenge. To help.

The two Alphas, one black, one silver, fought side by side against the enemy commanders. It should have been impressive, this display of allied strength. Instead, all I could see was Kai's reckless desperation, the way he threw himself at danger like he was trying to die.

Like watching me nearly break Ronan's mate bond had broken something in him.

"LIA, GET DOWN!"

I ducked on instinct. An Eastern wolf sailed over my head, Viktor's knife protruding from its spine. He yanked the blade free and shoved a spare weapon into my hand.

"Stay close. Kai sees you here, he's going to lose his fucking mind."

Too late.

Kai's head snapped up, his wolf's eyes finding me across the battlefield. I watched fury and terror war across his features, fury that I'd disobeyed, terror that I was here in danger.

The distraction cost him.

One of the enemy Alphas lunged, claws raking across Kai's exposed flank. Deep. Possibly fatal if the wound hit organs.

"NO!" The scream ripped from my throat as Kai stumbled.

But Theron was there, his jaws closing on the enemy Alpha's throat, ending the threat with a savage twist. He positioned himself over Kai's fallen form, protecting him while he recovered.

The remaining Eastern Alphas saw their opening disappear and retreated, calling their surviving warriors with them. The battle wasn't over, but this round had gone to us.

Barely.

I ran to Kai, dropping to my knees beside where he'd collapsed. His wounds were extensive, the flank, his shoulder, deep gashes across his chest. He'd fought like he had nothing to lose.

"You stupid, stupid man," I breathed, my hands hovering over the worst injury, not knowing how to help without hurting him more.

Kai shifted back to human with a pained grunt. Naked, bloody, and glaring at me with those silver eyes that held both rage and relief.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Each word was forced through gritted teeth. "I told you to stay with the northern team…"

"Which we completed successfully, by the way." I tried to keep my voice steady. "Then we heard you were dying and came to save your ass. You're welcome."

"You could have been killed."

"So could you." I gestured at his wounds. "What the hell was that? You fought like you were trying to commit suicide."

"I was trying to end this war before…" He stopped himself, jaw clenching.

"Before what? Before I could prove I'm useful? Before Theron could save me again?" Anger flooded through me, hot and cleansing. "You don't get to lock me in a cell one day and then martyr yourself for me the next. That's not how this works."

"You broke those bonds." Kai's voice dropped to something raw, vulnerable. "I felt it through our connection. You snapped those wolves' pack bonds like they were nothing. Like you were nothing."

"I stopped myself."

"Because he stopped you." Kai's eyes found Theron, who was organizing the wounded nearby. "Not me. Not the mate bond that's supposed to connect us. Him."

The accusation hung between us, sharp as silver.

"That's not fair…"

"Isn't it?" Kai tried to sit up, gasped with pain, fell back. "Every time you're in trouble, he's the one who reaches you. Every time you need support, he's there. What the fuck am I supposed to think, Lia? That I'm enough? That this bond is enough?"

"You're being ridiculous."

"Am I?" His laugh was bitter. "He knows how to handle your power. Knows how to talk you down from the edge. Knows…" His voice cracked. "He knows who you are better than I do. And I hate it. I hate that I'm watching you slip away to someone who deserves you more than I do."

"Kai..." I touched his face, felt him lean into my palm despite everything. "You're hurt and exhausted and…"

"And in love with a woman who might be better off without me." He caught my wrist, holding my hand against his cheek. "Tell me the truth. If the bond wasn't there, if you had a real choice, would you choose me?"

The question stole my breath.

Because how could I answer honestly without destroying us both? Yes, I'd choose him, flawed, controlling, terrified Kai who'd locked me in a cell to keep me safe. Who'd marked me without permission but would die to protect me. Who saw my power as something to contain rather than celebrate but loved me with an intensity that burned.

But did that make it right? Did love excuse the cage?

"I…"