In the end, only a few packs chose to leave.
Kane let them go, and Brielle wished a blessing on each and every one before they left. They harbored no hard feelings, even unto death.
I, on the other hand, found them selfish.
They stood only to gain if we won, and by choosing not to fight with us, they could be the ones who tipped the scales out of our favor.
But I bit my tongue and stood guard, hovering at Brielle’s shoulder as the moon climbed steadily across the sky, as the sea of torches began to gutter out, and finally, the last of the attendees had left the clearing.
Only then did we all tramp back to the castle, bone weary but successful.
The word was out, the mission was spread, and we’d gained the loyalty of so many packs. So many wolves had tears in their eyes as they spoke to Brielle; quite a few had even asked her one-on-one to make an appointment.
Brielle was going to be run off her feet every second of the time left between now and the blood moon. But from the set of her shoulders, I could see she didn’t mind. She was a true healer, a trained doctor, and a gifted omega. She would pour her soul into the packs until she had nothing left to give.
It was our job to make sure she didn’t give too much, and I intended to watch her closely over the coming days.
A sharp pain cut across my midsection, stealing my breath with its intensity. I gritted my teeth to keep it to myself, but I couldn’t take another step until the flaying sensation eased.
Valens’s arm slid around my shoulders in the next second.
Brielle must have heard me hiss despite my efforts to stay silent because she spun, eyes wide—until she saw him holding me up.
“What’s wrong?” She stepped forward, palm raised, despite her own exhaustion.
“Nothing, I’m okay. I’m just due for my next round of meds. It was a longer night than we planned.”
Leigh clucked off to the side, rubbing her belly. “You overdid it, chica. We need to get her to bed,” she said, turning to Bri.
“I will happily go to bed. Galyna’s on hall duty tonight.” I hoped the promise would be enough to convince her not to overexert herself healing me.
“I can still help you take the pain away,” Bri offered again, worry deep in her tired eyes.
“If it’s bad tomorrow morning, I’ll let you. Promise. Tonight I just need to take my meds.” And I meant it. I needed to be sharp to guard her now that the word was well and truly out. We all did.
“That’s understandable. I’m sorry we pushed you so far. Maybe you should take tomorrow off, just rest? We’ve all been pushing to our limits, and the battle hasn’t even started yet.” Brielle ran a hand through her hair, the first hint of her despair leaking through.
That only made memoredetermined not to leave her side.
“We all just need a good night’s rest and a big fat breakfast. Tonight was draining. Tomorrow will be better.”
She smiled softly at me. “You’re always cheering us up, no matter how dire the circumstances.” She sighed.
“Elodie’s right. To bed with all of us. The rest of the group already went in,” Kane said, scooping Brielle up and chuckling as she squeaked with surprise.
I hadn’t even noticed the others had left—a cardinal sin, being unaware of my surroundings for even a second while on duty—and when Valens scoopedmeoff my feet, I didn’t squeak.
“Fuck! Valens, put me down. I’m on duty.”
“No.”
I woke to the annoying sound of something buzzing.Repeatedly.
My groggy brain realized, finally, that it was my cell phone. Shit. No one had that number but the pack and the maidens, which meant if it was buzzing in the middle of the night, it was urgent. I slung my legs over the side of the bed, feeling immensely better after the meds I’d swallowed the second we walked into our bedroom, and the two hours of sleep I’d snatched in Valens’s arms.
The screen lit up, showing multiple texts from Dakota.
Kota: Galyna told me you were exhausted, so I took myself out to the festivities. Feel better!
