Mira stumbled into the dense woods, her heart pounding and her breath coming in short gasps. The burst of power she had used to escape Gareth still lingered in her veins, but it left her body trembling and weak. She knew she couldn’t rest yet. The forest closed in around her, the shadows deep and unfamiliar.
Her escape had been narrow. Gareth’s fury was still fresh in her mind, his threats echoing as she pushed forward. She didn’t know where she was heading—only that she needed to be as far from the pack as possible.
But something gnawed at her, an ache that wasn’t just physical. The bond she shared with Kaelan tugged at her heart, a faint and persistent pull that made her falter. She stopped, leaning against a tree to steady herself.
“Kaelan,” she whispered, clutching her chest.
It was then she felt it—a sharp, piercing pain that wasn’t her own. It shot through her like a blade, leaving her breathless. She gasped, her knees buckling as the sensation overwhelmed her.
“No,” she muttered, shaking her head. She knew what it meant. The bond between them was reacting to his pain, his injury. Kaelan was hurt.
Panic surged through her. She couldn’t leave him—not like this. She turned, retracing her steps as quickly as her shaking legs would allow.
***
The pack grounds were in chaos when Mira arrived, her clothes torn and her face pale with exhaustion. The guards barely glanced at her as she pushed past them, her focus singular.
“Where is he?” she demanded, her voice hoarse.
One of the maids, startled by her sudden appearance, pointed toward the infirmary. “He returned not long ago. He’s badly injured.”
Mira didn’t wait to hear more. She sprinted toward the infirmary, her heart pounding. The sight that greeted her when she entered nearly brought her to her knees.
Kaelan lay on a cot, his chest bandaged and his breathing labored. His face was pale, and his normally commanding presence seemed diminished. Several healers worked around him, their faces tight with concentration.
“What happened?” Mira asked, her voice trembling.
One of the healers glanced at her, his expression grave. “He went after you. When he realized you were gone, he took a small search party into the forest. There was a confrontation—he took a blade meant for one of his men.”
Mira’s knees buckled, and she gripped the edge of the cot to steady herself. “Kaelan,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
He stirred at the sound of her voice, his eyes fluttering open. When he saw her, a faint smile touched his lips. “Mira,” he rasped, his voice weak.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “I never should have left. This is my fault.”
Kaelan shook his head slightly. “You… came back. That’s all that matters.”
Mira leaned closer, her hand brushing against his cheek. “I’ll stay. I promise. I’ll never leave again.”