CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 71

Kael’s POV.

I burst through the packhouse doors, my boots slamming the stone floor, Aria limp in my arms, her wet dress heavy, her silver hair dripping, her face pale as moonlight.

My heart pounded, my chest tight, my side burning from the unhealing wound, but my fear for her was sharper, my wolf, Zeus, whining, his panic loud.

The river’s cold clung to me, my ash-gray shirt soaked, my arms shaking as I held her close, her body cold, her breath so faint it scared me.

Guards froze, their eyes wide, maids gasping, their hands over their mouths. "Get the physician!" I shouted, my voice booming, my eyes burning, my heart racing.

"Now!" The guards nodded, their armor clinking, running off, their steps quick.

My heart broke, my fear choking me, Aria’s life slipping, my love for her pushing me forward.

I carried her to our room, the halls dim, torches flickering, my boots heavy, my arms tight around her, her weight light but heavy with meaning.

I kicked the door open, the wood creaking, laying her on the bed, the blankets soft, the air cool. She was soaked, her dress clinging, her chest still, her lips blue.

My heart sank, my hands trembling, my eyes stinging with tears I wouldn’t let fall. I locked the door, the click loud, my hands moving fast, peeling off her wet dress, her skin cold, her body bare.

My body tensed, my breath catching, desire stirring, Zeus growling, his heat rising, but I pushed it down, my fear for her stronger, her danger real.

I covered her with a blanket, my hands shaking, my heart begging her to wake, to breathe, to live.

A knock came, sharp and loud, my heart jumping, Zeus growling, sensing urgency. "Alpha, the physician’s here," Gamma Torren said, his voice low, his gray eyes nervous through the door’s crack.

I nodded, my jaw tight, unlocking the door, letting the physician in, his bag heavy, his white hair messy, his face calm but serious.

He looked at Aria, his eyes narrowing, his hands checking her wrist, feeling her pulse. "Wait outside, Alpha," he said, his voice firm, his eyes meeting mine.

My heart raced, my anger flaring, my protectiveness fierce.

"No," I growled, my voice hard, my eyes burning, my fists clenching. "I’m not leaving my Luna." My chest heaved, my fear loud, my love for her keeping me rooted, Zeus roaring, urging me to stay.

The physician’s face softened, his voice pleading, his hands raised.

"Please, Alpha," he said, his eyes serious. "Delaying could hurt her. I need room to work." His words cut, my heart sinking, my fear spiking, knowing he was right but hating it.

I growled, my voice low, my eyes on Aria, her pale face, her still body, my heart breaking.

I stepped back, my boots heavy, my hand lingering on the door, my eyes locked on her.

"Save her," I said, my voice rough, my tears close, turning to leave, my back against the door as it shut, the wood cold, my heart pounding.

I stood outside, my breath short, my wound throbbing, my fear choking, Zeus whining, his love for her desperate.

The hall was quiet, guards far off, their eyes down, the air heavy with my worry.

Brian approached, his armor clinking, his brown eyes tense, his face grim. "How’s the Luna?" he asked, his voice low, his hands clasped, his worry clear.

My heart sank, my eyes dropping, my voice shaky.

"I don’t know," I said, my hands clenching, my fear loud, my anger at myself, at Torin, at Celeste, burning.

"Did you catch the driver?" My voice hardened, my eyes burning into his, my rage rising, Torin’s running figure at the riverbank flashing in my mind, his guilt clear, his betrayal sharp.

"Yes," Brian said, his voice steady, his eyes meeting mine. "He’s in the dungeon." My heart raced, my anger exploding, my fists shaking, Zeus growling, his rage hot.

I nodded, my jaw tight, my boots moving fast.

"Take me to him," I said, my voice rough, my steps quick, Brian following, the halls blurring, my heart pounding, my need for answers, for justice, driving me.

The dungeon was dark, the air damp, the stone walls cold, chains rattling, torches weak. Torin sat in a cell, his face bruised, his eyes scared, his hands cuffed. My anger boiled, my eyes glaring, my voice low.

"Why’d you do it?" I asked, my words sharp, my fists clenching, my heart racing. "Why’d you drive her into the river?" My voice shook, my anger hot, Zeus roaring, his strength surging, my mind on Aria’s still body, her pale face, her life in danger because of him.

Torin’s eyes darted, his voice shaky, his lie weak.

"It was an accident, Alpha," he said, his hands waving, his face pale. "The car slipped, I swear." His words were false, his guilt clear, his running at the riverbank proof, my rage fueling.

I grabbed a whip from the wall, its thorns sharp, my hand tight, my heart pounding.

"Liar!" I growled, my voice booming, my arm swinging, the whip cracking, its thorns biting his skin, his scream loud.

I didn’t stop, my anger blinding, my heart racing, my wound burning, Zeus roaring, his rage matching mine.

"Tell the truth!" I shouted, the whip striking again, his blood dripping, his cries sharp, but he stayed silent, his eyes scared, his lies holding.

My patience snapped, my anger unstoppable, my hand dropping the whip, my claws extending, my body lunging, ripping his throat, his gasp cut short, his body slumping, my heart pounding, my rage spent but my fear for Aria alive.

I turned, my boots heavy, my hands bloody, my heart racing, leaving the dungeon, the air cold, my anger still hot.

Guards approached, dragging a woman, her green dress torn, her dark hair messy, her face pale, her eyes scared.

They called her Aria, their voices loud, pushing her to her knees before me, her groan sharp, her pain clear.

My heart stopped, my anger exploding, knowing it was Celeste, her lie as the innocent maid, wanting to help my Luna fading, her scheme to kill my Luna clear, her begging Brian, it was all a trap.

Before she could speak, my hand snatched her neck, my grip tight, my eyes burning, my rage blinding, Zeus roaring as his anger became fierce.