Page 192 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)
KNOX
I clutched Audrey against my chest, my wolf howling and raging inside me.
I hadn’t wanted to be mated to anyone, hadn’t thought with my issues that I deserved a mate, and I’d tried so hard to force her away.
I’d told myself we had to break our bond because I couldn’t give her the kind of life she deserved. I couldn’t stand large crowds or be indoors for more than a handful of hours depending on the size of the space, and it would be cruel to force her to spend the rest of her life with that.
Having a mate meant change and I’d been barely holding onto my humanity as it was.
But in truth, I was afraid. If I opened up to her, she’d know just how afraid I was. She’d see the scared pup who’d been trapped in that cave-in, pinned under all that rock for days. She’d see the beast I’d let myself become to protect that pup.
“Knox,” she whispered, her breath warm against my skin.
“I’ve got you,” I said, trying to not let my panic color my tone or bleed through our mating bond. She had to be scared enough by being filled with all that evil magic. I couldn’t add the feralness screaming through my soul threatening to completely take over. I love you.
Sisters, I loved her so much.
Audrey had become an irreplaceable part of my life. I hadn’t told her the truth about my claustrophobia but I had no doubt that she saw the real me. And still, she embraced our accidental mating bond, loving me softly, deeply, and wholeheartedly.
Before her, I’d preferred the wild isolation of my wolf. I’d even let my humanity slip to the background and let my wolf take over. But now, with her by my side, I found myself more comfortable in my human skin, able to spend more time around people and indoors. It was a change I never expected, but one I welcomed for her sake.
Because I wanted to do all those things I couldn’t do for her. I wanted to spend the night, every night, indoors in her bed loving her, wanted to meet with her friends and be social. I wanted to give her the world.
The feralness heaved and my wolf snarled.
I had to protect her, save her. Something. Gods damned something. Now.
“Knox, please,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
“Stay awake, Audrey,” my wolf growled, my grip on her tightening. “Stay awake.”
Stay with me.
I needed to say more, engage her in conversation to keep her from falling asleep while Bishop, Cyrus, and Whil figured out how to save her. But all I could think of was holding her tight and screaming.
Mine. She was mine. I refused to let her go. If she slept forever, so would I. My wolf and I both agreed.
The feralness could have us. We’d let it consume our consciousness and become the beast everyone thought we were. We were nothing without Audrey.
We didn’t want to be anything without her.
Audrey moaned, reminding me that we hadn’t lost her yet. She was fighting the gods’ curse and we needed to fight for her too.
“I saw your wolf,” I blurted out, saying the first thing that came to mind, determined to keep her awake.
Her eyelids drooped, and I gave her a little shake, waking her up.
“Your wolf,” I said. “She’s beautiful. You have to see her. All white and small. Fast as lightning. We’re going to run together through the pack’s primary grove once this is over.”
My throat tightened as she fought to open her eyes.
“Promise me we’ll run together,” I insisted, my voice breaking. “Audrey, promise me.”
I gave her another soft shake and she groaned, dragging her gaze back to me.
I promise, she said in my head, her telepathy awakening with her wolf.
Love and sadness poured through our mating bond and I pressed my lips to her forehead.
Please, don’t leave me.
“Knox.” Cyrus’s voice jerked me out of my thoughts, reminding me that I was a ferocious beast who’d do anything to protect his mate.
Why the fuck was I sitting there panicking and wallowing?
Because I couldn’t save her. We were already mate bonded, so I couldn’t make an incomplete bond with her, and I wasn’t a sorcerer and couldn’t just rip the magic out of her.
I couldn’t do anything except cling to her like my life depended on it… because it did. Life wouldn’t be worth living without her.
“We can’t stay in Anakar,” Cyrus said, his brow furrowed with concern. “Tzanagoth’s spirits could still come out once night falls, and I don’t want to risk them screwing everything up.”
“Then let’s go,” I said as I stood.
With Tzanagoth’s power rushing into Audrey, I didn’t know if his spirits still existed, or if they’d follow us when we left, but it was still smart to leave.
Bishop nodded his agreement, and the four of us marched to where the rest of our party had gathered.
“Deacon,” Cyrus said, capturing our betas attention. “You’ll need to take charge of the pack while we save Audrey.”
The big man nodded, his alpha power stuttered over us like it always did. “You got it.”
“We may not return,” Cyrus said, his tone thick with emotion. “This could be a one-way trip for the four of us.”
Deacon grabbed his shoulder and gave him a fierce grin. “If I found my mate, I’d do whatever it took, too.”
“Get our men out of Anakar by nightfall,” Cyrus commanded then he called for Folmar to help us return to Stonehaven.
Without question, Folmar called over two other gryphon shifters, and they all shifted and knelt so we could climb onto their backs. With a screech, they took off into the air, racing back to Stonehaven.
It was my first time flying — and from the way my stomach lurched my last — but I couldn’t even try to enjoy the trip. My focus remained solely on my mate who was completely limp in my arms, her breathing slow and steady.
The landscape below blurred together, and it felt like an eternity before we finally arrived at the sacred grove on the Residence’s property even though it had probably only been a few hours.
Nova and Finn waited for us. Once we’d gotten close enough to town, Cyrus must have told Nova what we needed. They greeted us with fresh clothes and wet towels, so we could clean up after our fight. They’d also packed three packs that included a few healing elixirs, changes of clothes, rations, and a purse with some small gems in case we needed to pay the fae sorcerer to save Audrey.
Carefully holding Audrey, I climbed off Folmar, thanking her gruffly and joining the others. Audrey needed to get cleaned up and changed, she’d be mortified if we took her anywhere unconscious and naked, but I couldn’t make myself let her go.
“Here,” Nova said gently, handing me a cloth before dribbling two healing elixirs into Audrey’s mouth.
“Thanks,” I murmured, my attention devoted to Audrey as I wiped away the traces of blood and dirt from her fragile body.
Her eyelids fluttered, making my heart leap, and I gave her a gentle shake, waking her up.
That’s it, beautiful, Bishop said. Stay with us. Just for a little longer. Cyrus needs to profess his love to you for this to work.
She groaned and, with great effort, opened her eyes wide.
“When you get through the rip, you’ll need to find a powerful fae sorcerer capable of extracting the dark magic,” Whil instructed. “I can only create a rip to Audrey’s realm because our realms are so closely linked, and I can’t open a gate directly to Faerie, so you’re going to have to find someone who can get you there.”
“If you can—” Audrey sucked in a deep breath, struggling to stay awake, while Nova bound her wounds and helped me slide on Audrey’s dress — which was easier than trying to dress her in a shirt and pants. “Find a JP agent. They’re watchmen for supers in my realm. If they can’t get us through a gate to Faerie, they’ll know someone who can.”
We’ll find one, Bishop promised, and I could feel a determination coming through our twin bond that matched mine. Cyrus, let’s do this.
Cyrus moved to kneel before Audrey, still clutched in my protective embrace. He raised both hands and cradled her face, urging her to meet his gaze. His eyes were filled with sorrow and love and my wolf howled for him.
Cyrus was Audrey’s mate as well and even I could tell he’d been an idiot, pushing her away to protect her then putting our pack first, trying to clear up the mess with the merchants before telling her how much he cared.
And now here he was, finally telling her the truth when we could lose her forever.
“I’m so sorry for ever making you doubt yourself and for scaring you,” Cyrus said, his voice low. “I swear to spend every day showing you how much you mean to me.”
Audrey raised a trembling hand and brushed his cheek, her smile soft and sad.
The vow, Bishop reminded, and Cyrus drew in a steadying breath.
“Blessed be the Great Sisters and her children, and blessed be my sacred vow,” Cyrus recited, his eyes turning glassy with tears. “You’re my love, my life. My soul recognizes yours as my mate, and I, without reservation, bind my soul with yours for eternity. I love you, Audrey.”
“Mine,” Audrey said, her words slurred, “Finally.”
Whil drew close and gestured for Nova and Finn to give us our packs.
“Get ready.” She raised her hands, and her soft, perpetual golden glow exploded in a brilliant light.
A sharp gust of wind swept through the grove and the ground trembled. Whil groaned and dropped to her knees, her eyes squeezed tight and her jaw clenched shut. Her breathing turned short and sharp, and her body shook.
Then, with a sharp crack , the air in front of us ripped open revealing a dark field and a forest in the distance. Just like the rip in Anakar, this one was tall, with shimmering edges, but thankfully it was also wide enough to go through.
I tightened my grip on Audrey and stepped up beside Cyrus with Bishop, still in his wolf form, on my other side.
We’ll save you, I swore.
Even if I had to let my beast consume me to do it.