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Chapter 85
Summer’s POV
Every second in this dank basement felt like an eternity. The musty air clung to my skin like a second layer, and the dim lighting only heightened my anxiety. I paced the small confines of my prison, my wolf restless beneath my skin. The cold concrete floor numbed my bare feet, but I barely noticed. All I could think about was Felix.
My baby. My pup. Was Alexander able to reach him in time? The mere thought of what Foster might have done to him caused my chest to constrict painfully. I closed my eyes, trying to calm the storm of terrifying scenarios playing through my
mind.
He’s going to be okay. Alexander promised. He promised.I repeated the words like a mantra–trying to anchor myself, trying to believe them.But no matter how many times I said it, the images wouldn’t stop. (1
Terrible, vivid flashes of what Foster might be doing to my son kept clawing their way back into my mind, refusing to let go.
I leaned against the wall, sliding down until I hit the floor. My fingers traced the outline of the concrete blocks, searching for any weakness, any escape route. The tactical part of my brain knew it was futile. The basement had been specifically designed to hold rogues when necessary–no wolf, not even an Alpha, could break through these walls.
Hours passed. Or maybe it was minutes. Time lost all meaning in the darkness. Every sound made me jump–a creak overhead, footsteps in the distance. Was it Foster returning? Had Alexander failed? Would I be forced to watch as Foster punished me by hurting our son?
I pressed the heels of my hands against my eyes, willing away the tears that threatened to fall. No. I wouldn’t break. Not now. Not after everything.
The distant sound of scuffling feet and muffled shouts filtered through the heavy door. My heart rate accelerated, and I pressed myself against the wall, ready to fight if necessary. The noises grew closer- distinct thuds, a grunt of pain, then silence.
The lock on the door clicked.
I tensed, prepared to lunge at whoever entered–until the door swung open, revealing the one person I’d
been desperately waiting for.
Alexander stood in the doorway, his powerful frame silhouetted by the light from the hallway. His clothes
were torn, his knuckles bloody, but his eyes–those penetrating eyes–found mine immediately.
“Summer,” he breathed, the single word carrying a thousand emotions.
I didn’t hesitate. With a strangled cry, I launched myself across the room and into his arms. The nightmare was finally over.
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He caught me effortlessly, his strong arms wrapping around me so tightly it felt like he was trying to absorb me into his very being. I buried my face against his chest, inhaling his scent–pine, musk, and home. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured into my hair, his lips pressing against my temple. “You’re safe now. I’ve got
you.”
The dam broke. All the fear, the pain, the anxiety I’d been holding back came rushing forth in a torrent of tears. My body shook with sobs as Alexander held me, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other pressed firmly against my lower back.
“Felix,” I managed to choke out between sobs. “Where’s Felix? Is he okay?”
Alexander’s slight hesitation sent ice through my veins.
“We found him,” he said carefully, his voice a low rumble against my ear. “Carson and the team got him
out. He’s with Dr. Miller now.”
I pulled back, searching his face. “But? I hear a ‘but‘ in your voice, Alexander.”
His jaw tightened, a muscle working beneath the skin. “He’s unconscious, Summer. He was… hurt.”
The world tilted dangerously beneath my feet. “How bad?” I whispered, already knowing the answer from
the shadow that crossed Alexander’s face.
“He’s stable for now,” he said, clearly choosing his words carefully. “But we need to get you both back to Blackwood territory immediately. My medical team is waiting.”
“Take me to him,” I demanded, pulling away and heading toward the door. “Now.”
Alexander didn’t argue. He simply took my hand and led me up the stairs, past several Silver Creek wolves who were either unconscious or submissively averting their gaze. I barely registered their presence, my focus singular: get to Felix.
As we emerged from the main house, the reality of what had happened hit me full force. Bodies lay scattered across the lawn–none dead, I noted with relief, but many injured. Alexander’s warriors moved with military precision, securing the area. The Silver Creek Pack members who remained conscious were being herded into groups, their expressions a mixture of shock and fear.
“What happened?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Justice,” Alexander replied simply, guiding me toward a waiting SUV. “Come. We need to hurry.”
The drive to the Blackwood medical facility was a blur. I vaguely remember Alexander’s arm around me, his voice a constant reassurance in my ear, but my mind was with Felix. What had they done to my boy? The question looped endlessly, each iteration more horrifying than the last. 1
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