Chapter 22 Twenty Two

Chapter 22 Twenty Two
Chapter 22

Ella’s POV

The scream tore from my throat before I even knew I was making a sound.

The world was fire and smoke. The air burned my lungs, and every step sent daggers of pain through my ribs. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Benjamin’s name was the only thing in my head.

“Benjamin!” I cried, stumbling through the collapsed hallway, my hands brushing against the broken walls for balance. The ceiling above groaned like it was ready to give way, and I ducked as sparks rained down. “Please, answer me!”

Nothing. Only the roar of flames and the echo of chaos outside.

I pushed through the smoke, tears cutting lines through the soot on my face. My chest ached not just from the beating I’d taken days ago, but from the unbearable thought that my son could be gone. My baby. The only good thing I ever had left.

“Ella!” a voice shouted through the haze. I turned sharply, heart pounding.

It was Chloe.

Her usually calm face was wild, her hair undone, eyes darting around like a cornered animal. “You need to get out of here!” she screamed, grabbing my arm.

“What about Benjamin?” I rasped, my voice breaking. “I can’t find him Chloe, I can’t ”

Her grip tightened, nails digging into my skin. “He’s safe!” she said quickly. “Sam’s got him. He went after the rogues.”

I froze. The words sank into me, disbelief and confusion warring in my chest. “Sam?” My voice was barely a whisper. “He went after them? Alone?”

Chloe nodded, her eyes flicking nervously toward the exit. “You can’t stay here. The rogues are still close.”

I hesitated. There was something in her tone too sharp, too urgent. “How do you know?” I asked slowly.

For a second, something flickered in her expression. A flash of fear. Or guilt.

“I just do,” she snapped, tugging harder. “Come on!”

I tried to pull free. “Wait Chloe, why are you ”

The floor between us exploded.

The blast threw us apart, sending me crashing against the far wall. Pain erupted through my back, and for a moment everything went black. My ears rang, my limbs heavy. I forced my eyes open just in time to see Chloe rising to her knees, covered in dust but still moving.

And smiling.

Not relief. Not fear. A smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

My stomach dropped. “Chloe…” My voice was a rasp. “What did you do?”

Her smile widened, a touch of madness bleeding through. “I told you, Ella. I was going to get you out of here.” She gestured around at the burning walls, her laughter low and bitter. “Just not the way you thought.”

I stared, my heart pounding. “You helped me escape once,” I whispered. “Why now? Why ”

“Because,” she cut in, her tone suddenly sharp, “you were never supposed to come back. You ruined everything.” Her eyes flashed red for the briefest moment, demonic, otherworldly and it all clicked.

Half-demon. Her brother. The Demon Alpha who was my father.

“You…” My breath hitched. “You’re his daughter too.”

She tilted her head. “Smart little Luna,” she sneered. “Took you long enough.”

The air around us seemed to thrum, dark energy rolling off her in waves. I pushed myself up, every part of me screaming in pain. “You poisoned them, didn’t you?” I said slowly. “The illness. It was you.”

Her lips curled into a cruel smile. “You really think your precious Sam and his perfect pack didn’t deserve it? They burned my brother alive. They laughed while his screams filled the forest.”

Tears stung my eyes, both from the smoke and her words. “He murdered children,” I hissed. “He destroyed lives ”

“And they destroyed ours!” she screamed, the veins in her neck glowing faintly red. “You think I care who died? Every one of them will pay.”

A tremor shook the ground as part of the ceiling caved in. I shielded my face from falling debris, coughing violently. When I looked back, Chloe was gone.

I stumbled toward the broken corridor, my mind spinning. I had to warn Sam. I had to tell him who the real enemy was. But before I could move, a low growl echoed behind me.

I froze.

A figure emerged from the shadows a rogue, eyes glowing amber, blood dripping from his claws. His scent hit me like ice. Wolf. Death. Smoke. He lunged.

I barely had time to dodge. His claws grazed my shoulder, sending pain shooting down my arm. I grabbed a broken pipe from the floor and swung wildly. It hit him across the face, but only angered him. He snarled, pinning me to the ground.

I screamed, shoving at his chest, trying to reach for the lamp nearby. He opened his jaws, teeth descending toward my throat

A snarl ripped through the air.

The rogue’s head jerked to the side and then Sam’s wolf slammed into him, tearing him away from me.

Blood splattered the wall. I gasped, scrambling backward as Sam’s massive wolf form loomed over the rogue’s broken body. His fur was matted with ash, his amber eyes burning with fury. He growled once more, a sound that made the ground tremble, before turning toward me.

He shifted back, breathing hard, sweat and blood streaking his skin. “You’re hurt,” he said, voice rough, raw, his eyes scanning me.

“I’m fine,” I whispered, shaking my head even as pain throbbed through my arm. “Where’s Benjamin?”

Sam’s chest rose and fell heavily. “Safe. With Cole.” His eyes softened, but only for a second. “You shouldn’t have stayed here.”

“I wasn’t going to leave him!” I shouted back. “He’s my son!”

The words hung in the air between us sharp, undeniable.

Sam froze. His eyes locked on mine, confusion flashing across his face. “What did you say?”

My mouth went dry. I hadn’t meant to say it. Not like that. Not now.

But the truth was out, hanging between the firelight and the smoke.

“He’s my son,” I said again, softer this time. “My son, Sam.”

His expression shifted, something breaking behind his eyes. “What are you saying?” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Ella… what are you ”

Before I could answer, the ground beneath us cracked. The floor split open, a deep fissure tearing through the wreckage. Sam lunged for me, grabbing my hand as I slid toward the opening.

“Hold on!” he shouted.

The edge crumbled. My fingers slipped, my nails scraping his skin. “Sam!”

“Don’t let go!” he growled, straining to pull me up. His muscles trembled with effort.

But a shadow moved behind Chloe again, her face twisted, eyes glowing crimson.

“This ends now,” she hissed, raising a jagged blade of pure black energy.

“Sam!” I screamed.

He turned too late.

The blade struck his shoulder, dark energy burning into his flesh. He roared in pain, his grip loosening.

And I fell.

The world tilted, the flames above shrinking i
nto distant orange stars as I plunged into darkness.

The last thing I heard was Sam’s voice, hoarse and breaking.

“Ella!”