“He’ll be the last one,” I told Cassian firmly, my eyes drifting to the darkening corridor behind him. Thick gray smoke had already filled the passageway, billowing forward in heavy, suffocating waves. I didn’t have to see the flames directly to understand how far the fire had spread. The dense smoke was evidence enough, making the air hazy and hard to breathe.
“I’ll come back as soon as I can,” I added, my voice strained from the acrid smoke filling my lungs. This time, I didn’t wait for Cassian’s response. We both knew we had no time to lose.
Outside, the poisonous miasma remained thick, lethal enough to endanger anyone who ventured into it without my protection. To safely get the children out, I had no choice but to escort each child individually, enveloping them in my healing energy to neutralize the toxins. This meant multiple trips, each one exhausting, each one leaving Cassian behind inside the cave to guard the others and hold back any attackers.
But I wasn’t concerned about Cassian’s ability to fight. He was strong, perhaps even the strongest warrior that I had ever seen.
My true fear was the fire he had set. After securing the critical documents he needed, Cassian had deliberately ignited the area, intending to destroy all remaining evidence. Now, the flames had grown faster and larger than anticipated and it forced us into this frantic race against time.
“This poison came from the West,” a small voice suddenly said, breaking through my thoughts. I glanced down and realized the last child I needed to rescue was the boy with Alpha blood. He stared at the smoke–filled passage, his expression solemn. “It was used to destroy my family.”
The West, again. Everything involving my father and our pack seemed tied to that region. Could this poison be the reason Cassian had come here?
“Even the strongest wolves would die quickly after inhaling this poison,” I muttered quietly. We were fortunate that I could neutralize its effects, healing the children before it caused permanent internal damage.
“We need to hurry,” I said urgently, lifting the boy carefully. We had no more time to waste.
I tightened my grip on the small boy, holding him securely as I navigated the treacherous path through the forest. I had already memorized a narrow route around the edges of the poisonous miasma, twisting carefully around trees and dense bushes, each step taken with precision. Even though my body was exhausted from repeatedly using my healing energy, I
refused to slow down.
Chapter 34
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The moment we stepped beyond the toxic cloud, I felt the immediate relief of fresh air, sharp and cleansing, despite the heavy downpour soaking us to the bone. The rain fell in torrents, turning the ground into thick, slippery mud that clung to our feet, making every step arduous. The sky above remained dark, offering no hint of morning’s approach. Visibility was poor, shadows cloaking the forest in uncertainty.
I pressed forward until we reached the large boulder that marked our safe point, just beyond the Nightfall territory. The rock was enormous, nestled inconspicuously against a slope, its surface hidden beneath thick layers of ivy and tangled vegetation. To anyone unfamiliar with this area, the boulder would appear as nothing more than a natural part of the landscape.
Carefully, I placed the child down beside the boulder, kneeling so that our eyes were level. “Stay right here, and don’t move, no matter what happens. Remain hidden, and stay silent. I promise I’ll come back soon.”
His golden eyes locked onto mine. Aries, who stood protectively nearby with the other rescued children, stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Atasha,” Aries said softly. Despite the pouring rain, he looked calm and collected. “Come back quickly.”
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