“Ryder,” I said, turning to the Moonfang Alpha. “Would you be able to handle Lucio’s imprisonment? He was working with Mira, and I think it would be appropriate for Moonfang to deal with him, considering his crimes against your pack as well.”
Ryder nodded, his expression grim but satisfied. “We’ll take him back to Moonfang. He’ll face justice there for what he’s done.”
“Thank you.”
I looked around at the assembled wolves, at the mixture of Ravenshollow and Moonfang fighters who had come together to rescue my family. Some of them were injured. Some of them were grieving for packmates who hadn’t survived the battle with the rogues. All of them were exhausted.
“We’ll deal with Mary’s imprisonment ourselves,” I said. “She’s committed crimes against Ravenshollow, and she’ll answer for them in our territory.”
Mary whimpered something from her position on the ground, but I ignored her. She had lost the right to speak when she threatened my children.
“Thank you all for coming to aid us,” I continued, my voice softening slightly. “Moonfang, Shadowcrest, you didn’t have to be here. You didn’t have to risk your people for our fight. Wewon’t forget this. Our packs were allies before tonight, and now those bonds are even stronger.”
Nods and murmurs of acknowledgment rippled through the crowd.
“Healers are on their way,” I said, raising my voice again. “Let’s gather the injured inside and prepare the fallen for transportation. We’re going home.”
Wolves began to move, carrying out my orders. As they did, warmth pressed against my back. Arms wrapped around my waist, careful to avoid my injuries but firm enough to let me know he was there.
Knox.
I turned in his embrace, looking up at my mate’s face. He was pale, his shoulder bandaged hastily, blood still seeping through the white cloth. He looked like he’d been through hell.
But his eyes were bright, burning with emotion as he stared down at me.
“Never,” he said, his voice rough, “scare me like that again.”
Then he kissed me.
It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was desperate and fierce and full of all the fear and relief and love that had been building since this nightmare began. His good hand tangled in my hair, tilting my head back, deepening the kiss until I forgot about the pain, forgot about the blood, forgot about everything except the feeling of my mate’s lips on mine.
When we finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard, Knox pressed his forehead against mine.
“You were so fucking awesome, baby,” he murmured. “So awesome I’m fully, completely hard in front of two other Alphas and countless guards.”
A laugh bubbled up from my chest, surprising me. After everything that had happened, after all the terror and pain and violence, I was laughing.
“You’re a pervert,” I told him, stretching up to press a quick peck against his lips.
“Only for you.”
I pulled away from his embrace, turning toward Noah, who was standing a few feet away with Blake still cradled in his arms. My brother-in-law was still making faces at my daughter, silly expressions that had her giggling and reaching for his nose.
The sound of Blake’s laughter was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard.
I walked over to them, my arms already reaching out. Noah handed Blake over carefully, and the moment my baby was in my arms, something inside me finally settled.
“Hi, gorgeous,” I whispered, tears pricking at my eyes. “I missed you so much.”
Blake looked up at me with her big brown eyes, so like mine, and made a happy cooing sound. She seemed okay. No visibleinjuries, no signs of distress beyond the crying from earlier. But I needed to be sure.
I examined her carefully, checking her tiny arms and legs, her soft belly, her little feet. Looking for any sign that Mary or Mira had hurt her. Any bruise or scratch or mark.
“We need to have Dr. Hartley look her over,” I said, looking up at Knox. “Run tests, just in case. I want to make sure she’s completely okay.”
Knox nodded, his expression fierce and protective. “She will be. Whatever she needs.”
“Thomas too,” I added, glancing over at Cole.
