Chapter 152
Kai POV
I had no time to dwell on it. The silver wound on my flank burned like fire, joining the chorus of injuries from my fight with Lucas. But Lily needed me, and nothing would stop me from reaching her.
“Kai p>
I turned at the sound of my name, surprised to see my cousin Kevin rushing through the trees toward me. He came to an abrupt halt as he took in the scene—two dead assassins, one barely conscious in my grip.
“What happened?” Kevin asked, eyes wide with what appeared to be shock and concern.
“Assassins,” I said shortly, releasing my captive who slumped to the ground, either unconscious or feigning it. “Someone sent them to finish what Lucas started p>
Kevin hurried to my side, his expression twisted with worry. “You’re hurt badly. Let me help you back to the pack house p>
“No,” I growled, pulling away from his outstretched hand. “I know where Lily is. I have to get to her now p>
“You’re in no condition to fight,” Kevin insisted, his hand on my arm. Was it my imagination, or did his fingers tighten just a fraction too much? “At least let me come with you. You’ll need backup p>
Something felt off about his sudden appearance, about the timing of this attack, but I couldn’t focus on that now. The bond with Lily was pulsing with urgency, her fear and pain flooding through me with increasing intensity.
“Fine,” I snapped, shifting back fully to my wolf form. Keep up if you can.
I tore through the forest at breakneck speed, ignoring the trail of blood I was leaving behind. Kevin followed, shifting into his sandy-colored wolf form. He was fast, but I was driven by something stronger than mere physical ability. The mating bond pulled me forward like a compass pointing north, Hud’s instincts guiding us unerringly toward the Moonlight Inn.
The house appeared through the trees—a single-story building– you could tell it was newly renovated. Even the painting still smelled fresh. I shifted back to my human form in the cover of the forest edge, Kevin doing the same beside me.
“The house looks big. How do we even begin to search for her? Which of the rooms is she in?” Kevin asked.
I closed my eyes, letting the bond guide me. “There,” I said, pointing to a room at the far end. “She’s in there p>
“I’ll check for guards,” Kevin offered, but I shook my head.
“No time.” I could feel Lily’s terror growing stronger. Whatever Lucas was planning, it was happening now.
I sprinted across the parking lot, ignoring the curious stare of a human at the opposite side of the road. The door to the house was solid, but I was beyond caution now. I threw my full weight against it, wood splintering around the lock as it gave way.
The scene inside froze my blood. Lily lay on the floor, face bruised, lip split, curled into herself as Lucas stood over her. His back was to me, but I could see his claws extended, ready to strike.
A roar tore from my throat, primal and savage. Lucas whirled, eyes widening in shock.
“You,” he snarled, shifting his stance to face me.
I didn’t waste breath on words. I launched myself at him, every injury forgotten in the rush of protective fury that consumed me. We collided with bone-crushing force, tumbling across the small room in a tangle of limbs and fury.
Lucas fought like a cornered animal, desperation giving him strength despite his previous injuries. His claws raked across my chest, adding fresh wounds to my already battered body. I countered with a strike to his wounded side, reopening the gouges I’d inflicted earlier.
“Lily, run!” I shouted as Lucas and I grappled, crashing into the motel room’s small table.
From the corner of my eye, I saw her struggle to her feet, her movements slow and pained. Lucas saw it too, and with a roar, he threw me off with unexpected strength, lunging toward Lily instead.
“No!” I bellowed, diving after him.
I caught him around the waist, driving him into the wall with enough force to crack the plaster. But Lucas twisted in my grip, bringing his knee up into my silver wound. White-hot agony exploded through my body, momentarily blinding me.
Lucas seized the advantage, his hand closing around my throat as he slammed me back against the dresser. The mirror shattered, glass raining down around us.
“I told you you’d never find her in time,” he snarled, his face inches from mine. “She’s mine now p>
“She will never be yours,” I choked out, fighting against his grip.
A flash of movement caught my attention—Kevin, standing in the doorway, watching the fight with an expression I couldn’t read. Why wasn’t he helping?
Lucas followed my gaze, momentarily distracted. It was all the opening I needed. With the last of my strength, I drove my claws upward, under his ribs, aiming for his heart.
Lucas’s eyes widened in shock, his grip on my throat loosening as blood bubbled from his lips. He staggered backward, looking down at the fatal wound in disbelief.
“You can’t… she’s mine he gasped, blood streaming between his fingers as he clutched at his chest.
“She was never yours,” I said, watching as he collapsed to his knees. “And now you’ll never hurt her again p>
Lucas fell forward, his body hitting the carpet with a dull thud. In the sudden silence, I turned to find Lily, my heart pounding with fear at what Lucas might have done to her.
She stood by the door, trembling, her beautiful face marred with bruises, tears streaming down her cheeks. But her eyes—those eyes I’d fallen in love with—were fixed on me with such hope, such relief, that it made my heart ache.
“Kai,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
I took a step toward her, then another, my own injuries forgotten in the miracle of finding her alive. But as I reached for her, darkness suddenly crowded the edges of my vision. The silver wound, the blood loss, the exhaustion of two brutal fights within three days—it all crashed down on me at once.
The last thing I saw was Lily rushing forward to catch me, her arms outstretched, her voice calling my name as the world went black.