POV: Lucian
Three days of waiting ended with silver chains.
They came for us at moonrise—guards in ceremonial armor, faces hidden behind wolf-skull masks that made them look like death given form. Neither spoke as they bound our wrists with chains that glowed faint silver in the darkness, as they led us from the vaults toward whatever waited above.
Lior's hand found mine despite the restraints. Through the bond I felt his fear, his determination, his absolute certainty that we would survive this.
I wished I shared it.
The three days since our arrival had been endless. Healing under Millie's care. Watching Araya pace the vaults like a caged wolf, torn between Alpha duty and mother's love. Feeling the pack bonds hum with hostility every time my hybrid power flared.
And waiting. Always waiting for Ronan to appear, to speak to me, to take back words that had carved themselves into my chest like scars.
He never came.
