Chapter Eighteen: The Ultimate Sacrifice
NATHAN
“Kill every last one of them.”
That was the single order that had ignited the carnage happening around me. My wolves tore through the mediocre army Gerald and Nadia had scraped together as if they were nothing. The heads of the guards who had dared to betray me, trying to smuggle my son out of the territory, were the first message I had sent after I endured Daniel’s safety. But now, their deaths seemed hollow. None of it mattered.
I just had to find her. Find Nicole.
I had felt it the moment I stepped into the hallways after she hadn‘ t returned. My wolf stirred, restless, sensing that
something was wrong. Then her scent had hit me, but it wasn‘ t alone. It was tainted -Nadia. My heart lurched, my instincts
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Chapter Eighteen: The Ultimate Sacrifice
screaming one word: Daniel.
Yet even as my wolves dismantled the army around me, I was too late.
I stepped into the room, my breath catching as my eyes locked on her still form. Nicole’s body lay in a pool of blood at the center of the room, her lifelessness cutting through me like a blade. My legs felt rooted to the spot, my chest tightening as though the air itself refused to cooperate.
Then I heard it—a voice, cold and mocking.
“Quite an interesting turn of events, wouldn’t you say?”
I turned sharply, my vision narrowing on Gerald as he stepped out from the shadows of a hidden door just as the sharp sting of an arrow pierced my side.
Silver.
I stumbled back, my wolf retreating instantly as the poison seeped into my
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Chapter Eighteen: The Ultimate Sacrifice
veins. Gerald chuckled, circling me like a predator savoring his victory.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t account for this possibility? This place is loaded with arrows filled with silver. Just like that cabin should have killed you, these walls will be your grave.”
With a growl, I snapped out of the shock, reaching down and yanked the arrow out, the burn of the silver fueling my rage. “You underestimate me,” I hissed.
But before I could lunge, the door behind me swung open. Nadia appeared, her expression tight but calculated. Gerald turned to her, “Nadia, perfect timing. Set off the traps and—”
“I’m sorry to do this last minute,” she interrupted smoothly, “but this is where you and I part ways.‘
99
Before either of us could react, she stepped back and slammed the door shut, locking us both inside. Gerald’s eyes widened as
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Chapter Eighteen: The Ultimate Sacrifice
he pounded against the door.
“Nadia!” he shouted, panic creeping into his voice. “Open the door! What are you doing?”
Her laughter echoed faintly through the door. “Every man for himself, Gerald. Good luck.”
The betrayal stunned him just long enough for me to recover. My wolf surged forward, pushing past the poison, and I let him take over. Gerald turned just as I lunged,
shifting into his wolf mid–air. We collided in a clash of claws and fangs, the sound of ripping flesh and snarls filling the room.
He was strong, fueled by desperation, but I was stronger. The sound of a distant hum reached my ears, and I knew the arrows were coming. I had to make this quick. With a vicious swipe, my claws tore through his throat, his blood spraying across the room. He collapsed in a heap, his lifeless eyes staring back at me.
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Chapter Eighteen: The Ultimate Sacrifice
But there was no time to savor the victory. My wolf turned immediately, rushing to Nicole‘ s side. The first volley of arrows struck my back, piercing my fur, but I didn’t care. I covered her body with mine, shielding her from the onslaught. Pain
exploded through me, but it was nothing compared to the agony of seeing her like this. Dead. Gone.
For the faintest moment, I felt her brush against my mind but before I could grasp it, it was gone, leaving only emptiness.
My vision blurred as more arrows struck, but I held firm, my wolf refusing to let go.
“I love you, Nicole Myers,” My mind brushed against hers, one last time.
The silver was winning, and my wolf’s fight was fading. But even as my vision. blurred and the world began to slip away, one final thought anchored me.
Daniel.
I prayed my son would grow up to know
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Chapter Eighteen: The Ultimate Sacrifice
But there was no time to savor the victory. My wolf turned immediately, rushing to Nicole’s side. The first volley of arrows struck my back, piercing my fur, but I didn’t care. I covered her body with mine, shielding her from the onslaught. Pain exploded through me, but it was nothing compared to the agony of seeing her like
this. Dead. Gone.
For the faintest moment, I felt her brush against my mind but before I could grasp it, it was gone, leaving only emptiness.
My vision blurred as more arrows struck, but I held firm, my wolf refusing to let go.
“I love you, Nicole Myers,” My mind brushed against hers, one last time.
The silver was winning, and my wolf’s fight was fading. But even as my vision blurred and the world began to slip away, one final thought anchored me.
Daniel.
I prayed my son would grow up to know
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Chapter Eighteen: The Ultimate Sacrifice
happiness even if I couldn’t be there, I hoped my sacrifice would give him that chance.
As I let my fur cover her one last time, I closed my eyes and surrendered.
Maybe in death… there would be a chance for us.
And with that, I let it claim me.
