Chapter 168 168
Aurélie’s POV
Somehow, Damien read my thoughts.
I took a step back, already preparing to turn and run, when his voice cut through me.
“No!”
He launched himself at me, slamming me to the ground, his heavier body pinning me beneath him.
“Do you hear me?” he snarled. “No.”
His face was so close his nose brushed my cheek.
“Get off me…” I struggled, shoving at his chest, panic and fury tangling together.
“I’m not letting you go!” He caught my wrists as my hands lashed out, claws scoring bloody lines down his chest. The sharp, metallic scent of his blood snapped me out of the haze of exhaustion and rage. My strength collapsed all at once, and I broke, sobbing into his chest.
He held me tight, unyielding, leaving me no room to bolt or relaunch my attack.
“Aurélie, it’s over! Where are you?” Fabrice’s voice echoed through the mind-link.
I forced myself to respond, assuring him I was safe.
“I was chasing the rogue Théo brought back. Where are you?”
“I’m at the Alpha house. Aurélie…”
The terror in his voice was raw, suffocating.
“The children,” I gasped, my breath catching as I looked up at Damien.
He understood instantly. He hauled me to my feet, gripping my hand and refusing to let go as we sprinted back toward the Alpha house.
I couldn’t process the destruction around us the ruined homes, the shattered lives not until my children were safe in my arms.
When we reached the Alpha house, Fabrice was at one of the shutters, desperately trying to force it open.
“Fabrice?”
“The shutters are broken, Aurélie! They won’t retract!” he shouted, panic thick in his voice.
“Move,” Damien commanded, stepping in front of him.
I had never seen strength like that. He didn’t stop until he tore the shutter away entirely, wrenching it free and giving us access to one of the sitting room windows. He smashed the glass with his elbow.
Screams erupted from inside.
Delphine.
My heart shattered. Every instinct screamed to reach her, to hold her, to tell her she was safe.
“Where are they?” Damien demanded, but my mind was useless, consumed by her cries.
“Aurélie!” he roared.
“The basement,” I said hoarsely. “I’ll show you.”
I climbed through the shattered window first, ignoring the way broken glass sliced into my already torn skin. Pain didn’t matter.
The house was pitch black, save for the thin beam of light spilling in from the broken window. I headed straight for my office, Damien close behind me. The entrance to the basement was concealed beneath my desk, which had been pushed back into place exactly as designed. A final safeguard to keep it hidden.
I shoved at the desk, but blood loss had stolen my strength. It felt impossibly heavy.
“Move,” Damien growled, his own urgency overriding everything else.
He shifted the desk with ease, revealing the hidden door and the steps leading down. He glanced at me then, something like impressed disbelief flashing across his face.
Within seconds, we were pounding on the basement door. I mind-linked Miss Lambert, ordering her to open it. As it swung open, Damien stepped in front of me without hesitation.
“What are you doing?” I whispered into his ear.
“You’ll scare them,” he murmured back. “You should’ve waited outside.”
I didn’t understand at first until I looked down at myself. My arms. My torso. I was covered in blood, a walking wound. He was right. I should have sought medical attention especially for my arm, where skin hung loose and torn.
“Damien?” Dominique’s small voice came as he emerged slowly from behind Miss Lambert.
“Hey, kiddo,” Damien said gently. “You all okay?”
Dominique nodded at him, then turned his gaze to me, his face falling as he took in my condition. A soft sob came from behind him, and he moved aside to reveal Delphine curled up in Roland’s lap on one of the beds.
“Delphine…”
Damien stepped into the basement, slow and careful, just as drawn to her as I was.
“Bunny,” she whimpered. “I left Bunny upstairs all alone.”
“Shall we go find him together?” Damien asked softly, holding out his hand to her. His voice was calm, gentle, nothing like the warrior who had torn through rogues moments ago.
“Is it safe?” Roland asked tensely.
I expected that to irritate Damien.
Instead, he simply patted Roland’s back reassuringly.