Chapter 80
Skye’s Pov
Relief surged through me as I watched Hyder half–carrying Nadia toward our vehicle.
Every stinct screamed at me to rush forward, to throw my arms around her and conftim she was really here, really alive.
But I renamed rooted in place, hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white, Kane’s warriors were watching our every mor waiting for the slightest opening to strike.
Behind Ryder and Nadia, several Onishorn waition energed from the rocky terrain, moving in a protective formation. I counted quickly–unim, right… undy nine altogether. My heart sank as I realized one was missing from the original rescue team.
“Where’s this?” I whispered, move to myself than
Adrian’s eyes met mine in the rearview mint, his expression confirming my worst fears before he returned his attention to Kane, maintaining his chokehold on the Alpha,
Kane’s labored breathing filled the tense silence of the SUV. “Can you release me now?” he rasped. “You hair what you c
Adrian didn’t bother responding, instead gesturing sharply for Ryder to hurry. I threw open the driver’s side door, keeping my moments deliberate and controlled despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“Get her in the car,” Adrian ordered as Ryder approached with Nadia. Then call Marcus. We need immediate extraction.”
Ryder nodded grimly, easing Nadia into the backseat of the second SUV before pulling out his phone. Behind them, our warriors maintained a defensive perimeter, weapons brained on Kane’s approaching forces.
Through the dusty haze, Kane’s Beta approached, keeping his hands visible as he stepped into the no man’s land between our groups.
- n. Now release our Alpha.”
“Alpha Adrian,” he called, voice carrying across the barren landscape. “We fulfill our end of the bargain.
Adrian’s grip on Kane didn’t loosen. “Not until my people are safely across the border.”
Ryder stepped forward unexpectedly, his young face hardened with grief and rage. “We’re missing a warrior,” he announced, his voice carrying the weight of authority beyond his years. “Elias fell during the extraction.”
My breath caught. Elias–one of our first warriors, a quiet man who joined Oasisbor during its earliest days. He’d been kind to me when I first arrived, showing me the packs borders without judgment or suspicion.
“We demand the return of his body, Ryder continued, standing tall despite the blood staining his shirt–not
all of it is
“We won’t leave him in een
Kane’s Beta hesitated, eyes darting between Ryder and his captive Alpha. After a tense moment, he nodded curtly
“Bring the body,” he called over his shoulder.
Minutes that felt like hours crawled by as we waited, the desert wind swirling dun between our tense standoff. Finally, two of Kane’s warriors appeared, carrying between them a body wrapped in a simple black tarp.
They laid their burden gently on the ground before retreating. Ryder and anotfier warrior moved forward, verifying it was indeed Elias before carrying him back to our waiting vehicles.
It’s him,” Ryder confirmed, his voice tight with contained emotion.
Adrian nodded, then addressed Kane’s Beta again. “We re leaving now. Your Alpha will be released once we’ve
we’ve crossed safely into our territory.”
The Beta’s face twisted with barely suppressed rage, but he stepped back, signaling his warriors to hold their positions.
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Chapter 80
With practiced efficiency, our people loaded into the vehicles–Nalia carefully placed in the back of the lead SUV with me, while Elias’s body was securi the second vehicle. Adrian maintained his grip on Kane until the very last moment, showing the partially paralyzed Alpha roughly toward his writing Beta before jumping Into at vehicle.
“Drive,” he commanded, and I didn’t hesitate, slamming my foot on the accelerator.
In the rearview mirror, I watched Kane stagger, the wolfshone making his movements uncoordinated as his warrion rushed to support him. His eyes, however, remained fixed on our retreating vehicles, banning with a hatred that promised this confenntation was far from over.
The tension in the vehicle only eased marginally as we crossed into Oasistom territory, where Marcus waited with a heavily armed escort. The blind security
-we weren’t truly sale until we were deep within our borders. chief gestured for our convoy to continue toward the compound without stopping-
In the backseat, Nadia leaned against my shoulder, her eyes half open, breathing shallow but steady. Despite her obvious weakness, her hand found mine, squeezing with surprising strengthL
“I knew you’d come back,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from what I suspected was screaming–
(—or wome. 11 knew you
wouldn’t leave me three.”
Tears burned my eyes as I gently squeezed her hand in return. T’m so sorry it took so long. I choked out, unable to keep my voice steady as I took in the full extent of her injuries. Bruises in various stages of healing covered my visible inch of skin, and dried blood matted her short black hair. What they did
to you
Ryder’s fist slammed against the door panel, startling all of us. “This isn’t right,” he growled. “Elias is dead. You two tortured within an inch of your lives. And what did Kane lose? Nothing! That bastard walks away with a slight headache from the wolfsbane, while we bury one of our own.”
will answer for this. I’m filing a formal complaint with the North American Werewolf Council and requesting an audience with the Alpha King himself.” Adrian’s voice out through Ryder’s rage
*If they cannot provide justice, I will publicly challenge Kane to a formal duel. And I will finish this–permanently.”
blood ran cold at his words.
The public duel was an ancient werewolf tradition, rarely
rely invoked in modern times but still binding under pack law.
When conflicts between packs couldn’t be resolved through normal channels, an Alpha could issue a formal challenge, requesting combat under the Council’s supervision.
It was a desperate measure, often ending in death for one of the combatants
“You can’t.” Ryder protested immediately, leaning forward in his seat. “You’re our Alpha. The pack needs you. I’ll represent Oasisborn in the duel.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “You’re not ready to face Kane. He’s been Alpha for over fifteen years–he’s killed challengers before.”
“Stop. Both of you, I interjected, forcing reason through my exhaustion. “We need to focus on healing Nadia first, then strengthening our defenses. Kane might be licking his wounds now, but he didn’t actually lose anything today. He’ll be planning his retaliation already. We need to be prepared.”
Ryder reluctantly nodded, his attention shifting to Nadia, his expression softening with undisguised contem. He had grown up under Nadia’s strict training and despite their frequent bickering, his devotion to her was obvious.
Adrian kept his eyes on the road ahead, but I could see the tresion in his shoulders.
te the tense silence. My head whipped around to find Nadia convulsing beside me,
We were approaching the main compound when a pet, chuking sound broke dark blood spilling from her lips, staining her abgady ruined clothes.
“Nadial” I cried, gripping her shoulders as she seized. “What’s happening? Nadia!”
