Timing was fading quickly in favour of the other pack.
__and suddenly!
She heard the whistle of the arrow, the cutting bite of air, and instinctive peril. Her wolf howled inside of her, too late to move out of harm's way.
She turned, but the blow never materialized.
Lucas crashed into her, arms locked as the arrow bit into his shoulder, causing him immense harm to save her.
He groaned, struck the ground with her in his arms, blood already seeping through his shirt. A deep gash close to his heart.
"Lucas—!" She gasped, pushing herself up, attempting to see the wound, to act.
His expression contorted with agony, but his voice remained firm.
"Alright?" Are you all right? No, don't need to worry about pain.
"You're—bleeding, Gods—why would you—?"
"Because I couldn't bear to see you fall," or I couldn't let you suffer in pain.
She pressed down on the wound with trembling hands, attempting to stem the flow of blood.
"Oh, idiot. I was all right. I could manage it." Don't push yourself on my behalf.
"You were," he whispered, eyes locking with hers. "But still, I couldn't just let it occur."
You are precious to me!
Her airways narrowed.
The connection between them—once strained, almost severed—flared to vivid life in her heart, not commanding, but throbbing. Her wolf poured forth, answering the smell of his blood, the beat of his heart. She sensed Lucas hurting yet guarding her as a savior.
Their real yet vulnerable connection sparkled like a strand woven of light and hurt—of dark hurt in the heart of Lucas!
She swallowed hard. "I'm not ready to lose you. Not like this."
Not when I met the person I feel warm & comfortable with.
Lucas smiled weakly, wincing. "You're not going to. I've had worse." I've felt more agony, this is nothing to me. Just take care of yourself
"Liar," she screamed.
"Sometimes only"
Around them, the fighting had slowed down. Their warriors were maintaining the ridge. The enemy lines had thinned—but Viktor's main force had not budged.
There remained something among the trees.
Then Cade came, gasping, on his knees beside them.
"I've seen it," he replied. "There was an archer in the woods. Vanished after firing. Seemed to be targeting her."
Lucas grimaced. "It's not yet over. He's working on something else." He will get another chance once he senses the moment to fire.
She nodded, continuing to apply pressure to the wound, her thoughts already racing ahead, what to do next.!
"We must entice him out."
Cade glanced between them. "How?" How can we while Lucas is hurt?
She looked into his eyes. "Let's give him what he desires."
One hour on, the battlefield was empty. The enemy had retreated, regrouping still deeper in among the trees. Silver Pine's warriors occupied the ridgeline, weary but firm. The dead were borne away, wounds patched, names spoken in sorrow and pride.
Lucas sat against a tree, his arm tied tightly to him, the blood cleaned from his shoulder. Mia huddled beside him, refusing to budge, as others coordinated orders, because she couldn't bear to see Lucas, her love, hurt so seriously.
"You're not using me as bait," Lucas corrected, observing her pacing.
"I'm not," Mia stated. "I'm only using myself."
Frowning, he exclaimed, "That's worse."
You can't afford to have me used as bait.
"No," she said. "It's only fair. He's pursuing me. Let him get what he wants." Let him desire what he desires. Then we'll see what occurs, you trust me, so just allow me to take care of this thing.
She interrupted Lucas as he began to speak.
"This is my decision," she insisted. "I am not just someone to protect. Not again. You promised to fight with me—again, reciting the very thing, trust me this time."
He looked at her intently for a moment.
Then nodded once.
Night had fallen, and Silver Pine laid the trap.
Mia stood at the center of the ridge clearing, her blades sheathed, her stance open. Around her, scouts hid in the trees, and Cade's warriors crouched in the brush, waiting for the signal.
She breathed in deep.
This was home to her now. Her pack. Her battle. To choose what to do, what to give, what to sacrifice.
And if Viktor believed she was weak enough to take out in the dark, he'd see what it was like to deal with an omega who'd cast aside fear and discovered her Fire, Fire of love, Fire of loyalty and trust.
The wind shifted. Her wolf bracing. He was arriving,
He was arriving to catch her.
But he doesn't know the circumstances yet!