skin and filling my lungs. My boots sank into the wet ground with every

ered. The smell alone

hing about "causing another apocalypse," but I ignored him. My mind kept rep

nage. When his eyes met mine for a second, something flickered there. I didn't know what it

s, windows covered with boards. A place we could fortify, maybe even survive the night. We'd turned worse ruins into shelte

icades. Traps. Clear the streets.

es ma'am. Try not to die before I g

nd fine, you might save me again,

. She trusted me too much. That scared

my pack, watched me. He only spoke when it mattered,

ut it didn't feel beautiful. It felt like a warning. I felt every pair of ey

hecking every corner twice. I was tightening a rope trap when I h

e stood behind a burnt car, tall

xt to me, whisperi

id softly. "Do

link. "Yes. And

y, smooth speed. Kaelen fired a warning shot. The creature

pine. He wasn't scare

," I muttered. "He's

eath and turned on my pack. "No fear

oved with us, fixing things quietly, tightening ropes, reinforcing walls. He barely touched anything, but every time he

ssibly thick. I gathered my pack

. A whistle. Lo

grabbed my arm, his

said. "Don't mak

lpha's voice slic

ut. I'm tired

knew exactly what he was doing. Trying to pull me out. Trying

ay," I w

tened and it felt.

you run, I'll kill him first. And t

t just need to survive anymore. I needed co

gain. Shadows mov

d, "Lyra... the

he fog. Then the hybrid alpha stepped forwa

orever," he said. "You ca

enough to hurt. Damian stood beside me

'll make sure we're t

rled deep i

asn't

meone was g