Chapter 78: In the Wake of Darkness

The world was a haze of pain and darkness as Jerome slipped in and out of consciousness. Her body felt weightless, floating somewhere between reality and the abyss. Faint sounds of the battle echoed in the distance—snarls, growls, and the unmistakable sound of bodies colliding—but they seemed far away, like a dream she couldn't fully grasp.

For a moment, everything went silent. The ground beneath her felt cold, and her entire body ached, but she couldn't bring herself to move. She wasn't sure if she even could.

"Jerome…"

A soft voice, familiar and urgent, broke through the haze. It pulled her out of the fog, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked, her vision blurry, but slowly the outline of a figure came into focus. Ian knelt beside her, his human form bloodied and battered, but his eyes were filled with concern.

"Jerome, stay with me," he whispered, his voice a low rumble of desperation.

Jerome's lips parted, but her voice was weak. "Ian…"

He exhaled sharply, his hands gently brushing her hair back from her face. "I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."

But even as he spoke, Jerome could see the tension in his posture. He was trying to keep her calm, trying to reassure her, but there was something dark behind his eyes—something that told her things weren't going well.

"I tried…" Jerome whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I know," Ian murmured, his gaze shifting briefly to the battlefield beyond. The fight was still raging, and Jerome could see the torn forms of wolves littering the ground. It was a bloodbath. Ian's wolves were fighting bravely, but they were outnumbered, and it was taking its toll.

Aiden's pack was relentless.

"Ian… you have to stop him," Jerome managed, her voice strained with pain. "You have to end this."

Ian's jaw clenched, his gaze hardening. "I will. But first, I need to get you out of here."

Before Jerome could protest, Ian scooped her up into his arms, cradling her gently against his chest. The warmth of his body against hers was comforting, but it couldn't erase the fear that gnawed at her insides. Aiden was still out there, still fighting, and she knew he wouldn't stop until he had what he wanted.

As Ian moved swiftly through the clearing, dodging the ongoing battle, Jerome's heart ached. She knew Ian was strong—stronger than any Alpha she had ever known—but Aiden was unpredictable. His obsession with power, his ruthless drive to dominate, made him a terrifying force to contend with.

Jerome clutched Ian's shirt, her grip weak but determined. "You can't let him win."

Ian's eyes flickered with rage as he tightened his hold on her. "I won't."

But even as he said it, Jerome could hear the doubt in his voice. This battle wasn't just about strength anymore. It was about survival, about holding on to the pack, the bond between them, and the very future they were fighting for. Aiden had pushed them all to the breaking point, and Jerome wasn't sure how much more Ian could take.

They reached the edge of the clearing, where Ian laid her down gently against a large tree. His eyes bore into hers, filled with an intensity that made her heart skip.

"Stay here," he commanded softly. "Don't move. I'll be back for you."

Jerome wanted to protest, wanted to stand by his side and fight with him, but her body refused to cooperate. She was too weak, too battered from the attack. All she could do was nod, her breath shallow as Ian stood up, his gaze never leaving hers.

"Ian…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Be careful."

His expression softened for a moment, the hardness in his eyes melting away as he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Always."

And with that, he turned and shifted back into his wolf form, charging back into the fray.

Jerome's heart pounded as she watched him go, her fingers gripping the ground beneath her. The fear gnawed at her insides, but so did the determination. Ian couldn't lose. He couldn't.

Not when they had come so far.

To be continued...