bChapter /bb134 /b

    ra’s POV

    b“/bGod…” I threw myself into Cael’s arms, my body trembling as I buried my face against his chest. “I’ve missed you so much, Cael…”

    His arms tightened around me, his voice gruff but soft. “I missed you itoo/i.”

    He rubbed the back of my head, the warmth of his touch grounding me, but something inside of me twisted with guilt. I could feel the weight of his concern, the genuine worry, but there was no way I could exin everything right now.

    “How could you just leave without telling me?” Cael’s voice grew strained. “And into the rogue’s territory, of all ces? Christ, what were you thinking? Do you know how much I panicked when I heard the news?”

    I smiled weakly, the touch of his worry somehow soothing. It wasforting to know someone cared about me like this.

    “We didn’t have time to tell anyone,” I exined, my voice faltering. “But look at me–I’m fine. Safe and sound.

    His grip tightened on my arms, a flicker of frustration in his eyes. “You shouldn’t be out here. This kind of thing? It’s not for you. You’re Blood Moon’s princess. This dangerous life–it doesn’t suit you.”

    His words stung, but I shoved the thought away. I wasn’t some delicate flower to be hidden away. He didn’t get it.

    “Maybe you should leave all this ‘dirty work‘ to the men,” Cael added, his tone biting.

    I could feel a fire rising within me, one that wasn’t just about proving myself to him but to myself. “I don’t need a prince to protect me,” I shot back, pushing against his chest with a little more force than necessary. “I can handle it.”

    himbe

    Cael exhaled sharply, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes–uncertainty? He stepped back and grabbed my hands, his grip firm. “Forget this mission. Juste home with me. Live the life we had before. You deserve that–dresses, balls, peace. Juste back. Please.”

    His plea hit harder than I expected. It wasn’t just about the safety, or thefortable life–he was asking me to abandon everything. And Thorne. Butl couldn’t. Not yet.

    “No!” I snapped, shaking my head. “Thorne and I have a n. We’re not giving up now.”

    Cael’s face twisted with anger, and he growled, “Forget Thorne! He’s already ruined years of your life. I won’t let him ruin any more of it.”

    I froze. That was thest straw. Cael’s words stung more than I cared to admit, but I knew better than to let him control me. Thorne was a part of my past. Cael was right in some ways, but that didn’t mean I was going to let go. Not like this.

    I turned, my gaze catching Thorne as he walked toward us from the distance. He’d heard Cael’s words, and his eyes had gone cold. His jaw tightened as he looked at Cael.

    “Cael, stop,” I muttered, stepping away from him.

    Cael shot a challenge at Thorne, his voiceced with venom. “I was telling ra toe home with me, Thorne. A life of luxury. No more of t paused, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t you think that’s what she deserves?”

    There was a dangerous calm in Thorne’s eyes as he spoke, his voice low and unwavering. “There’s no second–chance mate for ra. She’s destined bto /bbe with me.”

    The words stung more than I expected, and I couldn’t suppress the heat rising to my cheeks. My heart sped up, but I pushed it down.

    Cael’s face reddened as he snarled, “You rejected her once. Now you’re bringing her into more danger? You call that ‘destiny‘? You’re a coward.b” /b

    Thorne ignored him. His focus never wavered from me. He stepped closer, his hand reaching out as if it could pull me toward him. “bI /bwant byou /bbwith /bbme/b, can’t imagine this life without you.”

    bA /btwinge of something I couldn’t name tightened in my chest. I felt his sincerity in my bones. “But you’re right,” he continued, bhis /bbvoice /bbdropping /bto a softer tone. “This life is too dangerous for you.”

    His gaze softened, and it made my heart swell. “If you decide to go home, I’ll respect that decision. It’s the right choice for you.”

    I looked at both of them. The weight of their expectations pressed on me, but then I saw the fireworks light up the sky. A signal. Kimberly’s bsignal/b. We were moving closer to the final stage.

    I didn’t look away from the fireworks. Instead, I turned back to Cael, my decision burning in my chest.

    “I stay,” I said, my voice clear and resolute.

    Cael’s frustration red. “If this is about Thorne-”

    “No!” I cut him off, my voice fierce. “This isn’t about Thorne! It’s about what I want.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You want me to live ba /blife of bluxury /bandfort, but that’s not me. I’m not some princess locked away in a tower. I love the thrill of the fight. The challenge.”

    I punched his shoulder lightly, but the smirk I got in return told me he knew I was serious. “If I grew up in Blood Moon, I might be Alpha by now. Don’t underestimate me because I’m a woman.”

    Cael’s expression softened, and for a moment, he let out augh, the tension breaking between bus/b.

    Thorne’s lips curled into a small, approving smile as he looked at me.

    “Alrightb, /balright. You win.”

    I couldn’t help but grin, despite myself. “Okay then, enough of the joking. Can we get back to the n now?”

    “Right,” Cael saidi, /inodding. “Jory filled me in. We’re still on rogue territory, but we need to move south. We’ll reach the borderline in five miles. Jory and Vessa are waiting for us, and we’ll ambush Lance there.”

    Thorne nodded, his voice quiet but decisive. “We’ll wait here for Lance, then lead him to the border.”

    Cael snapped his fingers. “Exactly. He won’t even notice we crossed the border. We’re setting the ambush in the wilderness–no road signs to give bus /baway.”

    “But how will we know we crossed the border?” I asked. “If there are ino /isigns, how can we be sure?”

    Thorne’s eyes darkened, his voice a whisper. “You’ll know. You’ll feel it.” He paused. “Your wolf will shift once we cross.”

    My heart skipped. I hadn’t felt her since stepping onto roguend, and I missed her terribly. I nodded slowly.

    “Alright,” I said. “Let’s wait for Lance, then.”

    “Two hoursi, /imaybe less,” Thorne said, checking his watch, “Let’s head into the woods.”

    Cael moved first, and I followed, but before I could catch up, Thorne grabbed my wrist. b“/bbIs /bthis about me?” His voice was suddenly vulnerable.

    I stiffened, a twinge of heat rising to my cheeks. “What?”

    “You’re making it sound like ithis /ihas nothing to do with me,” Thorne said quietly, looking at me with those piercing eyes of his. “But it does, doesn’t it?”

    I shook him off, augh escaping my ilips /idespite the nerves gnawing at me. “Don’t tter yourself.”

    His gaze never left mine, and a dangerous warmth lingered between us. He smiled softly, then said, “I’m happy, ra. I just want byou /bbto /bbknow /bbthat/b.b” /b

    I couldn’t answer. Instead, I spun on my heels, too flustered to stand there any longer, and quickly caught up with Cael. bWe /bmoved bto /bbthe /bbitrees /i/bband /bbsat /bdown to eat, but I couldn’t shake the thought of Thorne from my mind.

    I was trying to forget him, but somehow he was always therei. /i

    Cael sat down beside me, his voice cutting through the tension. “You’re making a huge mistake,” he said bluntly.

    I exhaled. “Again with the lecture?”

    He shook his head. “Not about staying. About Thorne. He wants you back. He’s wearing you down, getting closer to you with every step. biYou /i/bbused /bbto /bbbe /bso sure about moving on.”

    I felt the sting of his words more than I let on. He wasn’t wrong. About a year ago, I’d wanted nothing more than revenge. But now, standing here with Thorne, I wasn’t sure anymore.

    “You know he’s going to break your heart again,” Cael pressed, his voice low. “Once a cheater, always a cheater.”

    I clenched my jawi. /ii“/iI know,” I muttered.

    “But you’re still thinking about him, aren’t you?” Cael said. “You’re not as over him as you think.”

    I remained silent, the weight of his words sinking in.

    “And you’ll get a second–chance mate,” he added with a yful grin. “A much better guy than Thorne.”

    I groaned in frustration. “Why is everyone bringing that up? First Jory, now you?”

    “You do get one, ra. Trust me,” Cael said, his tone light but serious. “A brother’s instinct.”

    I didn’t want to deal with it. Not now.

    I rolled over, my back to him. “I’m going to get some sleep. Wake me when Lance arrives.”

    I closed my eyes, but sleep didn’te. My mind raced with thoughts of Thorne and the future. What if we killed Lance? What if everything changed?

    I didn’t have the answers, and I hated it.

    About an hour passed, the quiet of the woods surrounding us like a nket. And then, the ground shook beneath me.

    I jolted upright. “Did you feel that?” I called out.

    Thorne stood motionless, his eyes focused on the horizon. “They’reing,” ihe /isaid. “It’s them.”