Bloodrose

Someone dropped to the ground next to me. Adne was on her knees, staring at me with wide, brimming eyes. Bryn was beside her, whining softly.

“Why?” Adne said. “Why did you have to leave too?” She began to reach for him, but I snarled, knocking her back. I didn’t want anyone else near him. They couldn’t help him. She stared at me, limbs trembling as the color drained from her face.

“Hey!” Connor was still standing over Logan, but he pointed the tip of his sword at me. “Back off, wolfie.”

Shay glanced from Connor to me. “Stay here.” He returned the Elemental Cross to its sheaths and then shifted forms.

Calla. He approached slowly, keeping his head low.

I bristled, a steady menacing growl rising from my throat. Stay away.

Let me help you. His voice was soothing and he dropped to his belly, still inching toward me. I only want to help.

I snarled again, showing him my fangs when he reached me. He lifted his muzzle and gently licked mine. It was soothing; his scent-fresh and hopeful, like rain that rinsed away the sludge of fear muddying my senses-reassured me. I stopped growling. He stood up, resting his muzzle against mine.

We can help him. But not like this.

He shifted to human form and I understood. Ren was a wolf; he couldn’t drink when he was unconscious. We’d need to bring him back, just like Gabriel had helped Nev breathe again. I shifted forms.

Bryn dropped to the ground, remaining a wolf. A quiet steady whine continued to rise from her muzzle.

“Help me,” I said to Shay. But he hesitated, not moving any closer to Ren. Something was flickering in his eyes, something he didn’t want me to see.

“Help me,” I said again.

Shay gazed at Ren’s still form. He stretched a hand toward me. His fingers were shaking. I turned my back on him with a growl.

“Fine.” I crawled closer to Ren. “I’ll do this without your help.”

When my father reached my side, there was no triumph in his eyes. Only loss.

“We need to wake him so he can drink,” I said. My father can fix this. He’s always led us. He’ll know what to do.

My father gave me a long look before he crouched beside Ren, resting his hand on the deep gray wolf’s neck. He bent down, laying his head against Ren’s chest. He let out a slow, regretful breath.

“What should we do?” I asked.

My father slowly turned his face to gaze at me. I couldn’t accept what I found in his eyes.

“There isn’t…,” Shay murmured from behind me; I felt his fingers encircling my upper arm. “Calla-” His voice was thick and he couldn’t manage any more words.

I wouldn’t look at him, asking my father again, “What should we do?”

“Emile broke his neck.” My father lifted his head, rocking back on his heels with a heavy sigh. “His heart isn’t beating,”

I’d already sunk my canines into my forearm. When I stretched my bleeding flesh toward Ren’s muzzle, Shay caught my shoulders, pulling me back.

He didn’t say anything when I snarled, craning my neck to glare at him. “Let me go.”

He shook his head.

“Calla,” my father said quietly. “Renier’s heart isn’t beating.”

“No.”

“You can’t save him. It’s too late.”

“No.”

Adne had begun to sob. She stood up, stumbling away from us and into Connor’s arms.

My limbs had gone numb. I let myself melt into the floor, stretched beside Ren’s body. My fingers twisted in the thick charcoal fur.

He can’t be dead. He can’t be.

I shifted into wolf form with the only will I could muster, settling my muzzle on top of Ren’s.

Shay didn’t try to approach me, but I glanced at him when I heard his shaky breath.

“I’m sorry, Calla,” he said. “I didn’t want it to end this way.”

I whimpered and turned my face away from him. Closing my eyes, I sent a final plea out, trying to touch Ren’s mind.

I love you.

But he was gone.

TWENTY-SIX

“LEAVE HER.” My father stepped between Shay and me. I was still curled against Ren’s body. I could hear my blood pounding through my veins, but I couldn’t feel anything.

“But-” Shay gazed at me, his features hardening with resolve. “We still have to face Bosque. We need her.” Adne was wrapped in Connor’s arms, crying quietly.

“Losing another alpha is like losing part of yourself.” Stephen bared sharp canines at Shay.

“I understand that.” A challenge flashed in Shay’s eyes, but he withdrew to stand beside Adne and Connor. “It doesn’t change what’s at stake. We can’t stop. This isn’t over. We still have to summon Bosque.”

Sabine approached us slowly. Ethan trailed close behind her, but kept a respectful distance as she knelt beside Ren.

I didn’t move, watching her stretch her hand to touch him. She bent forward, placing a kiss on the top of his head.

She turned her eyes to me for a moment, and I saw my sorrow reflected there.

I understood now why Shay had come to me in wolf form. Why he’d coaxed me to shift. He’d already known there was no hope for Ren, but he knew I wasn’t able to face that loss. That I would have attacked any intruders- just as I’d almost attacked Adne-that had come too close to Ren’s body.

But that time had passed, leaving me numb, exhausted. I wouldn’t attack anyone now. I wouldn’t do anything. The battle might not be over for Shay. But it was over for me. Doubt and regret stole my will to fight.

Sabine bowed her head and stood up, letting Ethan fold her into his arms.

“Come on,” Connor said, beckoning to Shay. “It’s time to end this.”

Shay nodded. “Get Logan up.” He turned to me. “Calla?”

I snapped at his fingers, unwilling to move from Ren’s side. So what if this battle was the last? We’d lost Ren. I didn’t want to fight. I couldn’t look at Shay.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Ren’s voice, his words warm against my skin. We were always meant to be together, Calla.

He’d loved me, but I’d found my mate in another wolf, another alpha. Had I been reckless because of my choice? Could I have done more to save Ren? I’d been fighting other Guardians, tasting wolves’ blood that flowed between my fangs, killing my own packmates. And now this. What could be worth losing Ren?

A warning growl slid through the space between me and the Scion. All I wanted was to be left alone. Shay gritted his teeth but turned away from me, following Connor to Logan’s side.

Bryn stayed in place, watching me, but she didn’t try to move any closer.

Connor kicked the Keeper, not too hard but enough that Logan finally lifted his face. “Is it over?”

“It’s about to begin,” Connor said. “And you’re the opening act.”

Logan didn’t move. He scanned the room, taking in Emile’s corpse and Ren’s. He swallowed hard and began trembling as he stared up at Connor.

“If I do this,” he whispered, “do you promise to let me live?”

His gaze slid onto me. I bared my teeth at him, snarling.

“Give me your word!” He rolled his eyes up at Shay.