Chapter 92 Chapter 92
_Leah’s POV_
The first thing I felt was relief.
It rushed through me so fast that my knees almost gave out. Kayden was alive. He was breathing. His heart was beating strong under my palm. I clung to him as if he might disappear if I let go.
“Kayden,” I whispered again and again. “You’re here. You’re really here.”
His arms wrapped around me tightly...too tightly. Like he was afraid the world would steal me away the moment he loosened his grip.
“I thought I lost you,” he said hoarsely. “I thought he hurt you.”
I pulled back just enough to look at his face. There was blood on his cheek and along his jaw. His eyes were filled with fear that hadn’t faded yet.
“I’m here,” I said softly. “I’m alive.”
He cupped my face with trembling hands and kissed my forehead. Then my hair. Then my temple. His kisses were desperate and unsteady.
“I won’t ever let that happen again,” he said. “Never.”
Athena stirred inside me. He means it. He is bound to us. He will fight the world if he must.
I swallowed hard. I could feel his emotions as clearly as my own. There was fear, guilt and love....so much love that it almost hurt.
“I was so scared,” I admitted. “I could feel your pain. I thought…” My voice broke. “I thought I was too late.”
“You weren’t,” he said quickly. “You saved me.”
Before I could reply, footsteps echoed through the broken hallway.
“Alpha!” Fred’s voice rang out. “We found him!”
I turned sharply as Fred appeared with two warriors beside him. Between them was a man I recognized at once.
“Ray,” I whispered.
He looked terrible.
He was thin...too thin. His cheeks were hollow. His clothes hung loosely on his body. His wrists were red and raw, marked by ropes or chains. His eyes were sunken but they were alive....very much alive.
Ray lifted his head slowly when he saw Kayden.
“Kayden,” he said weakly. “You came.”
Kayden stood and went to him at once. He gripped Ray’s shoulder firmly. “You’re safe now.”
Ray let out a shaky breath. “Thank you,” he said. “I didn’t think… I didn’t think I would make it.”
Athena growled softly. He was starved and hurt by Tariq. He is such a monster.
My chest tightened painfully.
“We need to get him food and water,” I said quickly. “He can barely stand.”
Fred nodded. “We’ve got blankets and supplies waiting outside.”
Kayden helped Ray walk. “You’re going home,” he said. “You’re free.”
Ray looked confused as Kayden guided him forward. “Natasha?” he asked suddenly. “Is she safe?”
Kayden’s jaw tightened. “She’s completely safe.”
Ray exhaled in relief. “Thank the Moon Goddess.”
Kayden hesitated, then said quietly, “You don’t know what your wife has done for you.”
Ray frowned. “What do you mean?”
Kayden didn’t answer right away. He glanced at me, then sighed. “We’ll talk later,” he said. “Right now, let’s get out of here.”
I nodded quickly. “Please. I don’t want to stay here another second.”
The building felt heavy and dark....as if it was watching us leave.
As we stepped outside, the cold night air hit my face. I breathed it in deeply. Freedom tasted sharp and clean.
We got into the cars quickly. Ray was laid down carefully and given water. He drank slowly. He was shaking with every sip.
Kayden sat beside me in the back seat. The seer sat in front. She was silent and thoughtful.
Kayden turned to me. His voice was gentle. “Did he hurt you?”
I shook my head. “Not like that. But he and Susan…” I hesitated. “They did something to me.”
His body went rigid. “What kind of thing?”
“A ritual,” I said quietly. “It is some sort of dark wedding. He said that I am bound to him and after the ritual, a strange symbol has appeared on my palm.”
Athena growled. He has bonded us to him. We are chained.
Kayden’s hand tightened around mine. “Show me.”
I lifted my hand slowly. The symbol glowed faintly on my skin. It was dark and twisted. It felt wrong.
Kayden sucked in a breath. “What is that?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “But it burns sometimes. And it makes me feel… weird.”
The seer turned around sharply. “Let me see.”
I stretched my hand toward her. She took it gently. Her fingers brushed the mark. She closed her eyes at once.
The air inside the car grew heavy.
“This is dark energy,” she said after a moment. “Very dark. It binds you to Tariq through blood and power.”
My stomach dropped. “Can it be removed?”
She opened her eyes. “I will find a way.”
Kayden leaned closer. “Whatever it takes,” he said. “We’ll do it.”
He turned to me and brushed his thumb over my knuckles. “Don’t worry. I’m not leaving your side again. Not for a moment.”
I felt tears sting my eyes. “You don’t have to...”
“I do,” he said firmly. “I will attend every meeting, every patrol and every gathering with you by my side. You will never be alone again.”
Athena hummed softly. He is choosing us fully.
I nodded slowly. “All right.”
When we reached home, my heart finally began to slow. The familiar lights and the scent of the pack made me feel safe.
Natasha was standing by the door.
The moment she saw Ray, she ran to him and fell into his arms. She was sobbing. “You’re here. You’re alive.”
Ray held her tightly despite his weakness. “I’m here,” he whispered.
Then Natasha turned to me. Her face crumpled.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “Please forgive me.”
I stared at her. “So, you were the one behind all of this? I felt something fishy about you. My intuition was right.”
I looked at Kayden.
He sighed heavily. “Tariq kidnapped Ray,” he said. “He used him to force Natasha to help him. So, she came to our pack and lied to us so that we allow her to stay with us. Then, she staged the kidnapping for Tariq. She even stole your amulet to make you vulnerable.”
My breath caught. “That’s how he was able to kidnap me?”
Kayden nodded. “She was threatened. She panicked and did all this. She needs a severe punishment. She put you in danger. This could have been avoided if she had acted sensibly."
Natasha fell to her knees. “I had no choice,” she cried. “He said he would kill my husband.”
Kayden’s anger flared. “You could have told me,” he snapped. “You could have trusted me.”
“I was scared,” she sobbed.
I stepped forward. “Kayden,” I said gently. “Please.”
He turned to me, surprised.
“I understand her,” I said softly. “She was desperate. Tariq is cruel. He twists people.”
Natasha looked at me with tear-filled eyes. “Thank you.”
The seer spoke then. “Natasha, do you still have the real amulet?”
Natasha nodded quickly. “Yes. I do.”
“Bring it to me,” the seer said. “I must bless it again.”
Natasha hurried away.
Kayden muttered angrily, “You should not defend her. She has committed a big mistake. What if something had happened to you?"
I touched his arm. “Kayden. Stop please. Nothing has happened to me. I am fine.”
He clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Natasha returned with the amulet.
The seer took it and opened several small vials. She poured clear liquid over it. Then silver powder. She murmured ancient words under her breath.
“By moon and light. By truth and flame. Cleanse what was tainted. Restore what was broken.”
The amulet glowed.
She stepped closer and lifted it toward my neck.
The moment it touched my skin...
I screamed.
Pain exploded through me. It was sharp and burning. I collapsed as darkness rushed in.
Athena cried out inside me.
Something was very wrong.