Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Trekking through dense forest and over rocky clifftops turned out to be a hell of a lot harder when traveling with an injured alpha. Distances that had taken us hours to cross now took full days.
But it wasn’t just Lash’s wounds that held us back. There was also the increased need for stealth as we backtracked through enemy territory.
Even though Nelissa had pulled half of her force from the field, the woods still seemed filled with enemy alphas. They were everywhere—east, west, high, low. It didn’t matter. No matter where Lash guided us, there they were.
But amazingly, despite their overwhelming numbers, Lash always managed to spot them first. Out here, surrounded by danger, it was clear just how impressive his skill set actually was.
He moved silently. Kept us downwind of detection. Spotted other alphas far in the distance. Traveled without leaving a trace.
No wonder his enemies hated him. Hunting him was like chasing after a ghost.
A ghost that would likely turn you into hamburger if you ever did catch up with him.
But there was another side to him—a protective side obsessed with keeping me safe.
His eyes were always on me, his hand wrapped around mine, or his arm slung over my shoulder.
Even injured, he foraged for our food and hunted for small game.
At night, he kept me close, curled in tight next to his chest as we hid from the elements in whatever shelter we could find.
It was rough travel, and honestly, it was still hard to believe that Lash had actually agreed to return to his old village to ask for help. But I could tell Valse’s attack had changed something inside him.
For the first time, he was willing to put his pride to the side. He wasn’t just thinking of himself. Or just about me. Or what felt right in the moment.
He was acting in a way that was best for both of us in the long term. Even if that way was far outside his comfort zone.
It didn’t matter that we couldn’t talk much as he hiked—it was far too dangerous with ferus ears hiding around every corner. I still felt myself growing closer to him. Somehow, his actions did more to strengthen the ties between us than words ever could.
People could lie. They could fill your head with all sorts of pretty ideas you wanted to hear. I knew that better than most.
The real test of character lay in what a person did day in and day out. That was the only way you could see what they truly cared about.
And after nearly a week slinking silently through the woods, it was crystal clear that Lash cared about me. Not just what I could do to him or for him. But me.
It was a strange realization. Other than Sophia and my family, there weren’t a lot of people who felt that way.
As someone who had always defined myself by what I could do and what I was capable of, knowing that someone accepted the most vulnerable version of me was astonishing.
In my mind, I’d never been enough, but apparently, to Lash, I was.
These were the thoughts that occupied my mind as we neared the Lash’s old village. I had no idea what was going on in his. All I knew was that with every step, his expression grew darker and more somber.
By the time the towering timbers of a massive defensive barricade came into view, his scowl was darker and more threatening than any thunderstorm.
He kept us tucked into the shadows as we neared the gate.
“I still don’t think this is a good idea,” he whispered against my ear.
“It will be fine,” I told him. Besides, it’s too late to back out now.
With one last muffled growl, he let go of my hand, and I stepped out into the light.
“Halt!” A deep voice shouted from the top of the wall. “Identify yourself.”
“H-Hi!” My voice cracked, so I cleared my throat and tried again. “My name is Felicity. Felicity Waite.”
The guard’s eyes narrowed, his gaze zeroing in on me, examining me from top to bottom, but he didn’t say a word.
O…kay.
“I’m, um, here to see Sophia Torres,” I tried, hoping that might clear things up. “Is she around?”
The guard still didn’t answer. Instead, he pursed his lips and let out a high-pitched whistle that brought a half dozen other guards racing over.
“Hi, guys.” I raised my hand in greeting, hoping that by acting as casual as possible, they’d do the same.
It didn’t work.
Like the first guard, they all just stared in silence as I rocked back and forth on my heels.
Yeah, this was going nowhere.
“So, again, I was hoping to talk to Sophia—short girl, brown hair, on the quiet side. I think she’s hanging out with someone named Kyre, if that helps.”
Still nothing.
“Right, I don’t want to tell you how to do your jobs, but could you maybe ask around?”
The guards looked at each other. There were a few whispers and a couple of nods before two of them peeled away, disappearing from sight behind the barricade.
Minute after minute of awkward silence passed—well, not total silence.
As time ticked on, more ferus arrived to peer over the gate. Guards at first, then a few older faces. Even a few women. The hum of gossip rose as the gathering crowd stared down at me.
It was a good thing I wasn’t the self-conscious type, or this would have been really uncomfortable.
After what felt like an eternity, the crowd started to part, making way for someone important. My heart sped up, eager to finally see Sophia again.
But it wasn’t her.
Instead, a regal-looking lady, well-dressed and middle-aged, appeared on the walkway. The corners of her bright eyes lifted as she smiled down at me.
“You must be the kirre Sophia has told us so much about.” Her voice was every bit as beautiful and crystalline as Nelissa’s, but without the dangerous edge. “Felicity, correct?”
I nodded. “And I’m guessing you’re Calindra.”
The woman’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “You know me?”
“Not really,” I admitted. “But I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“From who?”
I pursed my lips, pulling them to the side. For a second, I debated telling her the truth, but in the end, I went with the far more neutral, “It’s complicated.”
The Lykaon surprised me. Instead of probing for more, she simply nodded.
“I imagine it is,” she said. “Please forgive this less-than-warm welcome. You see, we all assumed you were long dead.”
An understandable assumption. “Well, I’m not.”
“So I see.” She nodded, even as her eyes narrowed in on my face with sharp intensity. “It’s hard to believe an inexperienced kirre managed to keep herself alive in the Wilds for so long. I must know how you managed it?”
Right.
So, Calindra didn’t trust me. Not fully anyway.
“Well, there’s a hell of a story behind it,” I said. “And I’d love to tell it to you—just as soon as Sophia gets here. She is in there, isn’t she?”
Calindra nodded. “She is. And promised to send someone to summon her as soon as?—“
The woman’s words were cut off by a commotion behind the wall. All along the gate, heads turned to see someone else pushing through the crowds.
“Move to the side!” A thunderous roar broke through the murmurs.
A few seconds later, my heart exploded with relief as Sophia’s face poked over the palisade. “Felicity!”
Oh, thank God!
“Sophia!”
“I’m so happy to see you. You need to come in,” she shouted, blithely ignoring the dozens of guards that stood between her and the gate. “I’ll come down and walk in with you.”
“No, wait!” I threw up my hands to stop her. “Keep the gates closed for now.”
Every guard along the wall stiffened. Calindra’s eyes narrowed. But Sophia just quirked her head to the side in confusion.
“I need to show you something first,” I continued, bringing my voice down to a far less panicked level. “You remember the promise you made to me the other night? You remember how you said you’d trust me?”
Sophia’s brow wrinkled. “Of course.”
“Good.” I sighed. “Because I’m really going to need you to keep that promise. I’m putting all my faith in you, Sophia.”
Her expression tightened. “You’re scaring me, Felicity.”
“I know,” I nodded. “But I’m going to need you to be brave because there’s someone I want you to meet.”
This was it.
My heart hammered as I turned to the shadows where Lash had tucked himself. I found his eyes through the darkness and latched onto the sight of his face. A world of hesitancy and doubt showed in his expression.
He didn’t want to do this.
He thought it was a terrible idea.
But nevertheless, when I gave him a nod, he stepped from the shelter of the brush and out into the open.
That’s when I knew he trusted me.
Just as much as I trusted him.
“Sophia,” I said, turning back to face her. “I’d like you to meet?—“
“Lash!”