I’m going to fucking die.
Sarah’s going to die.
Reese…
I’m choking on blood, coughing as it pools in my chest and throat. He’s not relenting, clearly angry and avenging his friends. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the other wolf slowly start to lift itself on shaky legs. He snarls at me, stalking toward us as his friend continues to tear and ravage my body.
Please just do it. End this.
Let me die.
I’m so sorry, Reese, I think to myself. There’s no way I can bring myself to mind link. To be honest, I don’t think I remember how.
I don’t remember how to breathe. Or move. Or do anything.
Besides, he doesn’t need to hear this. I don’t want the last thing I hear to be his terrified voice or for his final memory of me to be my screaming.
I don’t want him to realize that his mate and best friend are both about to die.
I wish I could heartheirvoices though. The sweet, low and gravelly voices that have changed my entire world since my birthday. Hear them say my name one more time, to let them know I love them.
Cade. I haven’t even told him I love him yet.
And Maverick… we only just accepted this.Us. I wanted to tell him a million times more that I love him even in all his insufferable asshole self-righteous glory.
I wanted to meet Lex’s mom. To watch Lena’s face when she sees Summer Valley for the first time.
To love Lex for being the amazing alpha he is—for always accepting me just as I am and letting me love the others too without guilt.
Even if I had the strength to remember how to mind link, I can’t do it. I want them to remember me for the loveable, impossible stubborn person I am. Not like this.
Not in pain or about to die.
Maverick barely survived the guilt from what happened with Cade. They promised to protect me, to never let it happen again.
I’ve let them down. All of them.
Despite the shame I feel, I don’t regret it. I wasn’t going to abandon Sarah. This is my home, my pack, my family. You don’t turn your back on them, and you certainly don’t run when someone is in trouble. I can accept my fate because I stood tall and tried my best. That’s all we can really ask for.
They will be okay.They have to be.
Maybe this will rectify things. Perhaps this was my destiny all along.
If my joking was correct and I was just a defective wolf, the universe will fix this. They will find new mates to fulfil their alpha legacies, getting their own Lunas just as it was meant to be.
The pain of picturing them with new mates hurts even more than the agony in my body. But it also brings a sense of comfort as I convince myself they will be okay. They will survive, and that’s what’s important here. I’m replaceable in the universe, in their packs. As leaders, we must protect them. We must trust the Moon Goddess and our beliefs.
I’m shamefully aware that both Mira and I are still screaming as we’re literally shredded to pieces. Everything starts to fade, my vision and hearing becoming staticky.
When I hear Sarah suddenly yelp and shriek as one of the wolves turns its attention back to her, my chest tightens and explodes at the sound.
Leave her alone. Just take me.
Someone save her.
My white vision is rapidly spreading, everything almost glowing as I’m fully blinded.
Save her.
