ter how much blood he spilled or how many enemies he buried, that memo

l. Every time someone said her name...or someone dared to love him. That battlefield was his grave long before his

the scream of burning trees and the h

arms. Bleeding. Convulsing. Dying. He remembered the way her body jerked violently, the way

his coat, then sliding down like silk when her

hat never left...the part that killed him every time...was the way

d, her voice soaked in blood, so soft he had to lean in to hear it

he said it like a secret only they shared. He pressed both hands ag

and glimpses of bone under all that slick, warm

arm and wet. Sticky. Endless. "No, no, no...baby, look at me," he'd pleaded, cradling he

you. You're safe." Her eyes fluttered. Blood ran

omething again. So faint. He leaned in, ears ringing, mouth dry. "I'm

ive. She wasn't scared for herself. She was sorry for him. "

r forehead. Her mouth. Tasted iron and smoke. "Help is coming," he lied. "Evans is coming. Diego and Amos too. They're all on their way. Just hold on a little longer

Please! Moon goddess please let her leave! I beg you!" Her eyes softened. She tried to smile. And that destroyed him. That little

mate. You're my future. You said we'd go to the coast, remember? You said yo

ze. His hands stopped pressing. His breath caught in h

thing moved. No breath. No pulse. No twitch. Just... gone. "

rom the pit of his soul. It ripped out of him like a beast being exorc

care. He pulled her body tighter, buried his fac

I love you. Come back to me. Please. Fuck...please." No gods answer

with her until the fires began to die. Until the blood

hen he laid her down gently. As if she might break. As if s

hed at his sides. He didn't wipe the blood off. Didn't fix his coat. Di

ey didn't see him yet. Didn't know what was com

by the jaw, lifted him clean off the ground, and crushed his skull ag

bare hands. Then it was carnage. He didn't shift. Didn't use a bl

kept punching long after he was dead. He broke necks w

humanity. And when the last one tried to run, crying, begging, say

nd left him screaming blind in the dirt. When the su

walked back to her. Dropped to his knees beside her. She was cold now. Her blood dry

r tree. The one by the lake. The one she loved to sit beneath. The one she once said sh

ed. He kissed her once more. Then buried her. Alone. He sat there with the di

n't sleep for eight. And when he returned to the pack, th

ide? Inside the monster was born. "He said she wasn't your

hreatened to break free from behind his teeth. He did

stitched threads, but it had been forged in fire. Pain. Loyalty. Choice

faint. "Lucien!" He blinked. Didn't breathe. "Lucien!" Louder this time. Sh

ll on the wheel, the other hovering cautiously in the air li

ter. "You alright?" Lucien stared at him

ned back into his seat with a stiffness that suggested he didn't buy

e rain-streaked window. "I was thinking," Lucien murmured. "You were

ines in the dark. "Was it... what that bastard said? About her not being your one true mat

an's with eyes that would kill. "She was everything. My calm. My

ll said I was. Like I was worth saving." A pause. So long it hurt. "She was the only thing that made me be

. Just listened. Good. He knew better. He swallowed hard and nodded. N

said he's coming tomorrow... to pay off his debt". He ran his

's been dragging his feet long enough." "It's fine," he added, qu

e turn signal, and merged them onto the main road. Lu

ebt complete if not i