"None of the mercenaries leaves here alive," Cayden declared, his voice as cold as ice. "I don't care if they surrender. They die."
The mercenaries and anyone who sympathised with Alpha Hawk didn't hold anyone's interest anymore. The war's end was imminent; all that remained was salvaging what little remained.
Max arrived, bearing Kylie's injured form. With gentle care, he placed her beneath the shelter of a nearby tree. Selena hurried to Kylie's side.
"What happened to her?" she asked, her concern clear.
"I'm fine," Kylie responded.
"No, you're not," Max interjected sternly. "She took bullets."
"I've endured worse," Kylie replied, her voice determined. "Most of my bones are on the mend. Just a few more ribs, and I'll be ready for battle again."
Selena gazed at Kylie, worry etched in her eyes. "Are you sure? We should get you to a doctor," she urged, with Max nodding in agreement.
"Look after her, and I'll find you some clothes if you're uncomfortable," she whispered to Kylie, aware of her reservations about nudity.
She turned her gaze towards the ravaged mansion. Her once-strong pack was devastated. Healers tended to the wounded, and the fallen.
"Selena!" Cayden's soft voice broke her reverie.
She turned to look at him. He clutched her face and stroked a thumb over a scratch on her cheek. He was nude and covered in blood. Her father's blood.
"Let's go home. It's all over."
"David and Rose? Did you find them?" Selena asked with concern.
"Yes, they are hurt and have been taken to a temporary hospital. They'll be okay."
"Can I see them?" Selena asked.
*******
Holding hands, they walked to the makeshift infirmary. Jennifer and Doctor Colin were already there, tending to the wounded. Selena moved over to the table, looking down at Rose. She was pale; her breathing laboured. The doctors had put an oxygen mask on and had IV's in, and they were talking about how to reduce her heartbeat.
Machines were beeping away, and EKG pads were attached to David's body in about ten places. While they talked about what to do next, Selena sighed with relief as she saw Rose's chest rise and fall with each laboured breath. She knew the doctors were doing everything they could to stabilise her condition. Selena couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos and uncertainty surrounding them.
"They are stabilising," the council doctor said as they watched the monitors.
"I can't believe he did that to his son!" Jennifer's voice carried a mix of anger and disbelief as she expressed her disapproval of Hawk's actions.
Had David and Rose been humans, they would have never survived the fire and been buried under the rubble.
"Mum, they will make it, lest you go home. You are injured as well." Selena pleaded with her mother, trying to convince her to leave the scene and seek medical attention.
"I am fine. Selena, my pack needs me." Jennifer replied. Her one sentence proved that she still cared for her pack. Selena's eyes filled with tears as she realised her mother's unwavering dedication to her pack, even in the face of danger. She knew that convincing Jennifer to leave would be an arduous task.
"Take her home; she's carrying your child. Look after her." Jennifer said this to Cayden.
Cayden nodded, understanding the weight of Jennifer's words. He gently guided Selena away from the scene, his protective instincts kicking in as he vowed to keep her safe.
**********************************************
Cayden couldn't wait to get his mate home. All he wanted was to get back to their house. He couldn't possibly go through another night like this. The one they'd just had. He could never feel the horror he felt when he saw Selena lying on the floor, when he believed she was dead for a second. If she had died, he couldn't even imagine what he would have done.
He shuddered slightly, turning his head briefly to view his mate sleeping in the passenger seat of the Jeep before turning into their driveway. She blinked as he carefully lifted her up, her drowsy blue eyes smiling up at him as she put her arms around his neck. As he looked into her eyes, his breath came to a halt in his chest. Her near-death experience had somehow made him fall deeper in love with her. She went there to save him. She had been trying to save him from the beginning. He was a fool to realise it later.
Selena cuddled into his chest as he carried her into the house and up to their bedroom, where he carefully placed her on the bed and stood up to gaze down at her. He grimaced as he looked down at his hands, seeing a speck of blood on her top. He believed he was clean, but he clearly still had some of Hawk's blood on him. He turned and walked into the bathroom, ran the shower, and took off his clothing. He would not touch her with that prick's blood on his hands. He'd never pollute his Selena in that way.
Selena sighed quietly as the shower began and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Cayden was so quiet, his demeanour intentionally neutral, as if he were earnestly contemplating something he didn't want to share with her. She had expected some sort of lecture, some long, drawn-out monologue about how stupid she had been. His silence concerned her. Only God knew what was going through her man's mind.
She sighed again and took off her clothes, noting that she had some blood on them. Another set of clothes for the garbage, and most likely the reason her mate felt the need for a shower. Selena entered the restroom, stretching her tired body.
Cayden leant against the shower wall, one hand braced against the wall, his head lowered as hot water cascaded over his chiselled back and ass. Selena gulped hard as her gaze moved across his nude physique. He had an incredible body, taut and hard and full of hardly contained passion. She slipped into the shower, aware that he was aware of her presence, but was unresponsive to it. She placed her arms around his chest, her cheek against his back, and felt him tense at her touch.
"Cayden?" she whispered uncertainly, some of her fear leaking into her voice.
He buried his head in the crook of her neck.
"I almost lost you," he said, clutching her so tightly that he knew he must be hurting her, but could not ease his grasp on her fragile body.
"Don't do this again. Never defy my orders." His voice was filled with a mix of relief and anger as he spoke.
Selena's heart broke as his fear and pain flowed over her. She gripped him fiercely, ignoring the minor discomfort of his grip.
"I'm so sorry, love," she sobbed. "Please forgive me." She drew his head up, her mouth desperately seeking his to console him.
He kissed her desperately, his mouth hard and insistent, demanding everything from her, which she gave willingly. Finally, he raised his head, his expression tortured as he stared into her face.
"Never do that again." He growled.
She cradled his face lovingly, tracing each delicate feature until she totally smoothed out the look of misery. "I am sorry. You killed him. It's over; thank you for that," she whispered, turning her head and drawing his kiss to her neck.
As his lips grazed her neck, she could feel the tension in his body slowly dissipating. She knew that their shared pain had brought them closer together, and at that moment, she vowed to always be there for him, offering solace and understanding.
"Please take me, love. I'm yours for life." With those words, she surrendered herself completely to him, knowing that their love had withstood the test of tragedy and would only grow stronger from there.
Cayden groaned loudly as she offered him all he'd ever wished for and desired. His lips brushed against her soft skin, her smell tantalising him fiercely, his powerful pulse pounding against his lips. He slightly adjusted her so that his cock could align with her moist heat. "Forever," he murmured, digging deep into her flesh.
Selena screamed in delight as her mate took her deep within her body with one rapid, forceful stroke. He sucked and rode her body in perfect unison, sending chills of pure ecstasy through her body.
He rocked into her body with long, loving strokes, stretching her open for his invasion and grinding against her clitoral area to evoke deep gasps of ecstasy from her. His mouth was pressing on her neck. It was the most erotic encounter she had ever had. It was practically making her dizzy because it was so enjoyable.