Three Weeks with the Wolf I Should kill Chapter 08
Because I Can’t Watch You Die
Aurora’s POV
We’re moving at full speed. Twenty elite warriors keep pace behind me, silent as shadows. The air feels heavy, like the pressure before a storm breaks. I know they don’t understand. I know they’re questioning my decision. But there’s no time to explain.
“How much farther?” I ask the scout leading us.
“Over that ridge ahead.” He hesitates before adding,” Alpha, are we really going to…”
“Keep moving.”
Ember paces restlessly in my mind. She can feel Ash’s presence, feel him fighting, bleeding. That bond between our wolves transmits pain like a live wire, raw and electric. It’s driving me insane.
“Hold on,” I whisper to her. “We’re almost there.”
When we crest the ridge, the battlefield spreads out below us and my heart stops. Bodies everywhere. The Ironridge wolves are badly outnumbered, rogues pouring over them like a flood. Blood stains the earth dark. The sounds of combat fill the air, snarls and whimpers mixing together.
Then I see him. Kieran’s massive silver–gray wolf stands in the center of the chaos, larger than any other wolf on that field. He’s directing the defense, but his left side moves slower than usual. The injury hasn’t healed. Three rogues circle him, looking for an opening. He tries to hold them off but I see him stumble.
“No.” The word tears out of me.
I shift without thinking, Ember taking over instantly.
My black wolf form launches down the slope, eating the distance in seconds.
Ember hits the battlefield like black lightning. I slam into the nearest rogue attacking Kieran, my jaws finding his throat before he knows what’s happening. Kieran whips around, shock written all over his wolf’s face even through the animal form. I can read those eyes. Disbelief. Confusion. Hope.
The Nighthollow warriors flood in behind me. For the first time in history, our two packs fight side by side. The tide turns immediately. Me and Kieran fall into a natural rhythm, like we’ve done this a thousand times. before. I cover his injured left side, the blind spot created by his wound. He adjusts his tactics to match my movements. Through the mate bond, we sense each other’s intentions before they happen.
Ember sends a warning and Ash responds instantly.
Ash charges forward and Ember understands, following his lead without hesitation. When we end up back to back against a surge of enemies, the completeness hits me so hard I almost shift from the emotion. This is what fated mates means. Two souls, one whole.
The rogues start breaking, running for the tree line in scattered groups. But in the center of the carnage, I spot him. The massive dark brown wolf from the ambush. Cain Mercer. He’s even bigger than Kieran, his power radiating off him in waves. Several Ironridge warriors try to bring him down and he tears through them like paper.
His eyes lock onto Kieran. The contempt in that gaze is obvious even from here.
Cain lets out a low, mocking growl. A wounded Alpha and a small female Alpha. His posture screams arrogance and confidence. He underestimates us completely. That’s his biggest mistake.
Cain attacks first, launching himself at Kieran. But Kieran’s injury doesn’t slow his reflexes. He dodges. and I hit Cain from the side, claws raking across his shoulder, Deep. Cain roars and spins toward me, giving Kieran the opening to sink teeth into his hind leg. Our coordination is flawless. Every time Cain focuses his strength on one of us, the other creates a lethal threat.
Through the bond, I know what Kieran will do before he does it. He anticipates my strikes before I make them. This synchronization is something Cain can’t comprehend. He’s never had a fated mate, never experienced what it means when two souls merge into one fighting unit.
I lock my jaws on Cain’s rear leg while Kieran goes for his throat. Cain thrashes desperately but we have him pinned. His confidence shatters piece by piece during the fight. Size and strength mean nothing against this kind of perfect unity. Finally, Cain wrenches himself free with a howl of frustration, his body covered in wounds. He turns and runs, limping badly. The remaining rogues see their leader fleeing and scatter into the forest.
I shift back to human form, covered in blood and mud. Can’t tell what’s mine and what belongs to the enemy. Kieran shifts too, standing a few meters away, equally filthy and exhausted. Around us, warriors from both packs collapse on the ground, breathing hard. I see confused looks. Suspicious glances. Thoughtful expressions.
Kieran walks toward me. Each step makes my pulse race faster. He stops in front of me and takes the clothing a warrior hands him, draping it over my shoulders. Those gray eyes pin me in place.
“Why did you come?” His voice comes out rough and raw.
I take a deep breath. Time to be honest. In front of everyone.
“Because I can’t watch you die.” The words feel right leaving my mouth. “The mate bond isn’t something I can choose to ignore, Valens. And maybe I don’t want to ignore it anymore.”
His expression softens immediately. He lifts his hand toward my face but hesitates just before touching me. I grab his hand and press it against my cheek myself.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you when my memory came back. But everything was so complicated. I didn‘ t know what to do. I hate your family, but my wolf chose you. My logic and my instincts were tearing me apart and I just…”
“I know.” He cuts me off gently, his thumb brushing my cheekbone. “I felt the same way. From the moment I saved you, I knew this would be a disaster. But I couldn’t let you go.”
Everyone’s watching us now. Nighthollow warriors. Ironridge warriors. All waiting to see what happens next. Jackson runs up, bringing news.
“Alpha, we found the real traitor.” His face is grim. ”
One of our own warriors. The rogues were holding his family hostage, forcing him to cooperate. All the intelligence leaks, all the framing, it was Cain’s plan from the start. He wanted to turn us against each other.” Jackson looks at me with genuine remorse. “I‘ m sorry I doubted you.”
Kieran speaks loud enough for everyone to hear. “I let anger blind me. I should have trusted you.”
“You had reasons not to.” I meet his gaze steadily. “I did deceive you.”
“Are you deceiving me now?”
“No.” I don’t look away. “Every word I’m saying right now is the truth.”
I turn to face the crowd, warriors from both packs mixed together for the first time.
“I know you’re all confused,” I call out. “Yes, Kieran Valens is my fated mate. Yes, our packs have been enemies for generations. But today proved that when we work together, nothing can defeat us. Hatred only makes us both weaker while the real enemy profits from our division. Maybe it’s time we made a change.”