Chapter 270

Chapter 270
 Nathan's POV

The pain was constant, a burning fire in my veins that made every breath feel like inhaling glass. But I'd learned to work with it, to use it as fuel rather than letting it break me.

Stay conscious. Stay alert. That's the only way we survive this.

I'd noticed something important over the past few hours - the guards had a pattern. They were giving more wolfsbane to Sean and Rolex because they were showing more visible signs of distress. Meanwhile, I'd been pretending to be weaker than I actually was, groaning and slumping in my chains while secretly conserving my strength.

The result? My last injection had been smaller, and my wolf healing was starting to kick in, slowly burning through the poison in my system.

Just a little more time. I need just a little more time to get strong enough to break these chains.

I tested them subtly, pulling with just enough force to gauge their strength without alerting the guards. The metal was thick, designed to hold even an alpha in his prime. But I wasn't at full strength yet, and forcing it too early would just result in them giving me another massive dose of wolfsbane.

Patience. Xavier escaped. He's out there somewhere, and he's not going to abandon us.

The thought of my brother free and planning our rescue was the only thing keeping me sane. Xavier was smart, resourceful, and absolutely ruthless when it came to protecting family. If anyone could mount a successful rescue operation, it was him.

Beside me, Sean let out a low groan, his head lolling to the side. On my other side, Rolex was completely unconscious, his breathing shallow and irregular.

They're in worse shape than me. I need to do something.

"Sean," I whispered, keeping my voice low enough that the guards outside wouldn't hear. "Sean, wake up."

His eyes cracked open slowly, unfocused and glassy with pain. "Nathan?"

"Yeah, it's me. Listen, you need to stay awake. Both of you need to stay conscious."

"Why?" he mumbled. "Easier to just... sleep..."

"Because Xavier escaped," I said urgently. "He's out there, and he's coming for us. But we need to be ready to move when he does."

That got through to him. Sean's eyes sharpened slightly, and I saw him fighting to pull himself back from the edge of unconsciousness.

"Xavier... he made it out?"

"Yes. Which means we have hope. We just need to hold on."

Sean managed a weak smile. "Always the optimist."

"Someone has to be." I turned my attention to Rolex. "Help me wake him up."

Together, we whispered Rolex's name until he stirred, groaning as consciousness brought renewed awareness of his pain.

"What's happening?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Xavier's free," I repeated. "And Mia's alive. She came to see us, remember?"

At the mention of Mia, all three of us fell silent. The memory of her standing there, watching us suffer, claiming she wanted revenge on us - it had been like another knife to the heart.

"Do you think she meant it?" Rolex asked quietly. "About wanting us dead?"

"Of course she didn't mean it," I said firmly. "She was trying to convince that masked bastard that she didn't care about us. It was an act to protect us."

"How do you know?" Sean challenged weakly.

"Because I know Mia," I replied. "She's incapable of that kind of cruelty. Even after everything we put her through, she still has a good heart. She was buying time, trying to figure out a way to save us."

"I hope you're right," Rolex said.

"I am right. Don't you dare slander her when she's risking everything to keep us alive."

The conversation was interrupted by voices outside our cell. The door swung open, and three guards walked in, all of them wearing the same smug expressions.

"Look at the mighty alphas now," one of them sneered. "Not so tough when you're chained up and poisoned, are you?"

"Come a little closer and find out," Sean growled, showing more spirit than I'd expected.

The guard laughed. "Tough talk from someone who can barely hold his head up."

They continued their taunting, clearly enjoying our helplessness. I tuned them out, focusing instead on conserving my strength and planning our next move.

That's when I felt it - a presence in my mind, tentative and familiar. The mind link, connecting with someone outside our cell.

Nathan? Can you hear me?

Xavier! I projected back, relief flooding through me. Where are you?

Outside the facility with reinforcements. We're planning our assault now. How many guards are in your immediate area?

I looked around carefully, using my peripheral vision. Three in the cell with us right now, probably more outside. Sean and Rolex are in bad shape - they'll need immediate medical attention when we get out.

Understood. Can you fight?

I'm stronger than they think. I've been pretending to be weaker than I am. Give me a signal when you're ready to breach, and I'll break these chains.

Good man. We move in ten minutes. Be ready.

The connection faded, but the knowledge that rescue was imminent filled me with renewed energy. I tested my chains again, more deliberately this time, calculating exactly how much force I'd need to break free.

The guards were still mocking us, too caught up in their sense of superiority to notice the subtle changes in my posture or the way I was positioning myself for action.

Ten minutes. Just hold on for ten more minutes.

That's when the door opened again, and a figure in a maid's uniform entered carrying what looked like cleaning supplies. The guards barely glanced at her - just another servant going about her duties.

But I recognized that walk, that presence, that scent immediately.

Mia.

She kept her head down, her face partially obscured by the cap she was wearing, but there was no mistaking her. She'd somehow disguised herself and infiltrated the facility.

What the hell is she doing? She's supposed to be secured upstairs, not sneaking around in enemy territory.

Our eyes met for just a fraction of a second, and I saw the message there clearly: Trust me. Play along.