Chapter 169: Chaos
Lucas stared at her. His heart thudded hard in his chest, and he smiled. "You," he said, "will always be my formidable Luna."
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her recklessly. Lucas held Ava as though he could press all the things he couldn’t say into her lips. Her fingers curled into his hair, anchoring herself to this moment, grounding the chaos of everything around her in the only thing that felt real.
*****
Kade’s paws pounded against the ground, the scent of blood and danger sharp in his nostrils. He moved like liquid fury, driven by loyalty, by rage, and perhaps a touch of showmanship because if anyone was going to rescue Zoe, it had to look impressive as hell. The two guards hadn’t even finished blinking before Kade pounced on the first, claws slashing, teeth tearing. It wasn’t a fight; it was an annihilation. The second one, sensing death in the air, shifted into his wolf form, growling, crouching, ready to strike. But Kade was faster. He pivoted, let the idiot throw himself off balance, then lunged in for the kill, his fangs sinking deep. Within seconds, it was a canvas painted in fur and blood.
The scent of death hung thick in the air as Kade shifted back into his human form, panting, blood smeared across his chest. He glanced down, winced, then reached for one of the guard’s shirts. "No one wants to see all this glory right now," he muttered, yanking it over his head, his hair still wild and damp with sweat. Then, with newfound urgency, he approached the platform where Zoe hung, bound and still as a forgotten statue.
"Zoe?" he called gently. "Zoe, come on. Wake up. It’s me, Kade."
But Zoe wasn’t there. Not really. Her body was present, bruised and broken and barely breathing, but her mind had flown somewhere safer. Somewhere where Dennis was smiling at her in the sun, holding her hand. In that place, there were no chains, no whips, no guards, no agony. Just Dennis. Her tormentors had shattered her ribs, but her mind remained untouchable.
Kade turned at the sound of hurried footsteps, his eyes lighting up when he saw Dennis racing toward them. "Zoe?" Dennis gasped, slowing just enough to take her from Kade’s arms.
"She’s alive," Kade said, placing a steady hand on Dennis’s shoulder. "Just unconscious. You’ve got her now. I’ve got to rally the troops and get us inside before we lose ground."
Dennis nodded once, sharp and full of purpose. "Go. I’ll keep her safe."
As Kade turned to sprint away, Dennis cradled Zoe. "Zoe, it’s me," he whispered, brushing hair from her bloodied face. "You’re not alone anymore. I’m here now. You’re safe. It’s going to be okay. It has to be."