Chapter 25
“Quinn
take care of yourself. Love you “I
Theard it in my head like a whisper cutting through the wind I was already running, deep in the forest, paws hitting the ground hand shifted the second I lost sight of Callan’s blood Now Ecranded food burn. His pom. His weakness: My woll hisse
mund link him, but his connection was barely there
Then the vision hit X
Like he was slipping
The vision showed a cave, not far from where I was Inside, Callan was chaned and bleeding Zane stood over him like a shadow
I didn’t waste time: 1 followed the scent, nose to the wind My paws moved fast, dodging roots and crashing through brush. The nit was thick with blood, metal, wolfshine And then I saw the cover 30
But outside, there were warriors. A lot of them. More than I’d seen even during the joint training between Stormbane and Indgeford This wasn’t just Zane’s personal quand. This was an army
I stepped out of the trees. I couldn’t fight them all, Hot even with my magic. Hot unless.
I remembered. One of the spells. A command, older than blood and bone s
I shifted back and stepped into the glade, walking straight toward the entrance. They noticed. One group moved fast, charging me. “Stop!” I yelled.X
They froze, Mid–run. Eyes wide. Muscles locked X
Another wave ran toward me.&
“Stop” I shouted again.
Same reaction. They halted like statues. }
command their bodies, 1
This wasn’t Alpha power. It wasn’t Luna authority. This was something else. Something divine. I didn’t just co reached into their spints
men had families. Mates, Kids
I could tell them to kill each other. I could end this whole thing with a word. But I wasn’t Zane. These me wading at home. I wouldn’t be the reason sumeone didn’t make it back.
So I raised my voice, firm and clear. “Go back to your families. I declare you all free. You are no longer under Zane’s control. You will never take orders from him again. You are free “X
They blinked
And then it was like they woke up from a nightmare. One by one, they turned to each other. Some looked at their hands like they didn’t recognize them. Then they looked at mu
And they kneeled i
something like awe or relief.K
They dropped to their knees in front of me. Some whispered “moon deity” Others just stared, eyes wide with se Then they stood and walked away. Silent, steady, like men hunding home after a long work When the last one left, I turned to the cove X
I walked forward, slowly but without hesitation. The ground was littered with broken branches and bloody footprints. The closer
eavier the air felt like it was pressing down on my chest Inside, I could hear faint breathing. A groan. Then a low, mocking voice
got,
stepped into the cave entrance. The light behind me cast my shadow long and sharp across th Callan, and my chest tightened painfully. He was slumped in chains against the rock, blood drying on his chest, his skin pale and across the stone walls. My eyes locked onto Grused Soming him like that–my mate–hurt more than anything else over had. My wolf wispered, and i had to fight the instinct to fall apart. He looked up, barely able to lift his head, and I saw the flicker of recognition in his eyes.li
doing
“Quinn,” Callan said in a weak voice, trying to lift his head to look in my direction. His voice was rough, barely there. “What are you d
You’re really stubborn“:
You know I am” I said softly “But Im not going to let something happen to
gyes widened in surprise. He blinked slowly, struggling to keep focus “What do you mean? Did you-
fore he could finish, Zane struck him again, cutting him off mid sentence &
na tumed slowly
pure arrogance. “You came I knew you would “t
“Why would I do that? If he dies, there’s no one left standing between us. With him gone, you’ll have no choice but to see Tourfore me. You were always meant to be mine. Quirin “S
and slowly planting each step with purpose. “You don’t have me. You never did ”
His fare tested, but something about it was off. The change in tus expression was sudden, simsi aratic His pupils ditated, his
and quick I caugi
he air, and my wolf growled E
ong one. Probably something to dull fear, maybe heighten