“You killed Malvina?”
His eyes soften when they land on me. There’s something tender there hidden beneath the murderous rage still fueling him. Something that slips past all the damage between us and brushes right against my rib cage.
“Of course I did,” he says. “She hurt people you care about. Hurtyou. That’s a death sentence.”
I don’t know what to say to that.
But my wolf does.
She practically hums, absolutely tickled pink by his vicious display of devotion. It’s like she’s going,‘He murdered someone for us? Be still my heart’.
I press my lips together and glance away, trying to bury the strange heat rising in my body.
Seren clears her throat, lifting her hand to the bandage on her shoulder. I haven’t had the opportunity to ask about it yet, but I’d clocked it the second I reunited with her.
“She might be dead, but the two other sisters aren’t.” This information settles in my stomach like stone. “Canaan got there right before they could shove us into the waiting van. Bought me just enough time to shift and go for the compeller. I figured if I lunged for her, Rhosyn, Edie, and Siggy might snap out of it. It worked, but I took a fucking blade to the shoulder for it. Then another witch showed up, hit us with a gust of wind strong enough to send us flying. By the time we got up, they were gone.” Her gaze slides to the bassinet sat just outside the room’s arched doorway. “I would’ve tried to track them,” she adds, her voice now taking on a distant sound. “But I needed to get to my daughter.”
Ivey hasn’t stirred since this meeting started. Earlier, when I’d peeked into her little crib, needing to see she’s safe with myown two eyes, she’d looked so peaceful. I’m grateful her young age will stop her from remembering what happened today.
“Those two got away, along with a good portion of their reinforcements as well. We took out a handful, but not before they returned the favor in kind.” Canaan winces at this information. “Four Craddock Pack wolves, including Lowri, and five from the Ashvale Coven’s ranks were killed.”
“And three of our pack’s unbonded omegas were taken,” Lena snaps, her wolf’s anger flaring. “Don’t forget about them. Jade, Diana, and Uma.”
I resist the urge to lean forward and expel whatever contents are in my stomach on the floor.
In my heart I knew we’d lost more than Lowri today, but hearing the final total—hearing their names—makes the damage to our community real in a way I haven’t fully let myself face. And it’s a tough pill to swallow, especially knowing that somewhere out there, three Craddock Pack omegas are about to be thrown into a hell most people would rather die than endure.
And a big part of me can’t help but feel like it’s my fault. The triplets came here for me, and taking other omegas was nothing more than a bonus for the job they were already paid to do. They’d said as much.
Sensing my rising distress, Siggy’s cold fingers wrap around mine and hold tight. I squeeze back while simultaneously hating she thinks she needs to comfort me. That’s not her job. She shouldn’t be the one holding me together right now.
“What do we do now?” Edie asks no one in particular. She just tosses that question into the room hoping someone will catch it. “Are we even safe here anymore?”
A cold chill runs down my spine at the same time the weight of my Nightingale’s question lands on my shoulders.
Are we still safe here? CanIkeep them safe?
“They know our town now. They’ve mapped out our response times, seen our strengths and weak spots. Their void might be dead, but even if Amara reestablishes the perimeter’s ward and next time we know they’re coming…if they bring more witches with them, I don’t know if we can hold them off or stop them from taking more of our omegas.” Lena admission sounds like it pains her to say aloud.
“We can make plans, up our patrols and train harder…” one of the other Craddock she-wolves offers up. “The witches can maybe work on creating more safeguards with their magic.”
It’s a fair idea in theory. Rational. But in my gut, I know it won’t be enough if they come back.
Seren sighs, running her hand through her white-blonde bob. She’s let it air-dry and it has more of a wave in it than usual. “Yeah…but that doesn’t solve one of our more immediate problems.” Her gaze shifts to me, and something in her expression makes my pulse quicken. “Another club was dismantled in Northern California a few days ago. They’re sending us a handful of the omegas who were rescued. They’ll be here tomorrow.”
My jaw drops. I stare at her, stunned.
“Wh-what?” I stammer, looking around the room like someone else might explain what I just heard. “Why didn’t?—”
“We got the notification last week, but Lowri and I didn’t want to say anything yet.” Her eyes flick to where Rennick stands across from us. “You’ve had a lot on your plate…to put it mildly. We weren’t trying to keep it from you, Noa. We just didn’t want to overwhelm you. The plan was to loop you in once we got their ETA and had their admission handled. We figured you’d step in when you could.”
This time it’s me jumping up from the couch, the panic and dread mixing in my veins forcing me to move. I shove my still damp hair out of my face, no doubt making the shorter hairs ofmy bangs stick up wildly, but I don’t care. My mind’s already spinning with logistics, trying to find a way to make this work.
“Can you call them, Seren, tell them that coming here isn’t an option anymore?” Rhosyn asks. I’m envious of the level of calm she’s able to maintain while I’m standing here sweating.
“We don’t have a way of contacting them,” Seren admits. “The handlers use burner phones. They text a time, a number, and we prep. That’s how it’s always been. Thalassa said it was safer for everyone that way…”
I whirl around, hands dropping limply at my sides. “They can’t stay here,” I almost shout, my own anxiety getting the better of me. “Not when I can’t guarantee their safety in this townorthis house anymore. Or their basic comfort, for that matter. The sanctuary is uninhabitable. All the supplies we keep stocked to help Nightingales are damaged. The nest rooms are torched.” I regret the word the second I use it, wincing as the image of the fire snaking toward Lowri’s body flashes through my head. I risk a look at Amara, but she’s still staring absently out the big window. “They can’t come here,” I repeat, basically whispering this time.
