Chapter 18

Korrin moved swiftly through the dense undergrowth of the forest, his breaths shallow and ragged. The scent of blood and ash from the destroyed den still clung to his fur, a grim reminder of what he'd lost. His pack was gone, his home reduced to nothing but memories.

But there was still hope.

Liam.

If anyone could rally the remnants of their kind and strike back against the forces that had taken everything, it was Liam.

Yet, as Korrin followed the faint trail Liam had left, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The scent was fading, muddled by other, unfamiliar ones.

When the trees finally gave way to the outskirts of Blackthorn, Korrin shifted into his human form. His muscles ached, and his wounds from the archer's attack throbbed with every step, but he pressed on.

Gas lamps lined the cobblestone streets, casting a warm glow over the rows of tightly packed buildings. He pulled his hood up, blending into the crowd. He didn't belong here, wolves rarely ventured this far into hunter territory. But desperation drove him forward.

He moved through the narrow streets, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of Liam. And then he saw her.

A figure with crimson eyes, her dark hair pulled into a loose braid stepped out of a shadowed alley. She was dressed in practical hunter's gear, her movements quick and purposeful.

Elena.

Korrin froze, his heart pounding. He had only seen her once briefly, the hunter who had been both a threat and an unlikely ally. Seeing her now, alive and unharmed, sent a rush of conflicting emotions through him.

He followed her at a distance, careful not to draw attention. She was heading toward the Blackthorn market, a sprawling collection of tents and stalls lit by strings of flickering lanterns.

Korrin waited until she stopped near a weapons merchant, inspecting a silver-tipped spear. Then he stepped forward.

"Hunter," he said, his voice low but firm.

Elena tensed, her hand instinctively going to the dagger at her hip as she turned to face him. Her crimson eyes locked onto his, sharp and wary.

"Who's asking?" she said, her tone cautious.

Korrin pulled back his hood, revealing his amber eyes and rugged feature. "I'm looking for Liam."

Recognition flickered in her gaze but she didn't relax. "And you are?"

"Korrin," he said. "I was part of his pack."

Elena frowned, studying him carefully. "What do you mean was?"

Korrin's jaw tightened, the memory of the attack flashing through his mind. "The den was destroyed. One of Baxter's men, An archer came and killed everyone."

Elena's expression darkened, her hand falling away from her weapon. "Everyone?"

Korrin shook his head, the weight of his loss evident in his voice. "Gone. All of them."

A heavy silence hung between them broken only by the distant hum of the market.

"I followed Liam's trail here," Korrin said, his tone desperate. "But it's gone cold. Do you know where he is?"

Elena hesitated. She couldn't tell Korrin about the lair, not without Dexter's approval. But she couldn't leave him wandering aimlessly.

"He's… safe," she said carefully. "But he's not here."

Korrin growled low, frustration flashing in his amber eyes. "That's not good enough. He needs to know what happened. He needs to know about Faye."

"Faye?"

Korrin's expression saddened. "She was pregnant with his child."

Elena felt her chest tighten. Liam had a baby?

"I'll tell him," Elena said firmly, despite the wave of emotions in her. "But you need to trust me."

Korrin's eyes narrowed. "Trust you? A hunter? After what your kind has done to us?"

Elena's expression hardened. "I am not your enemy, Korrin. Liam trusted me enough to let me live. That should count as something."

Korrin exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping. He didn't have the strength to argue, not when so much had already been lost.

"Fine," he said grudgingly. "But if you're lying to me…"

"I'm not," Elena interrupted, her tone firm. "Meet me here tomorrow night. I'll have answers."

Korrin studied her for a moment longer before nodding. Without another word, he pulled his hood back up and disappeared into the crowd.

As Korrin blended with the crowd, Elena let out a shaky breath. Her thoughts churned, the weight of his news pressing heavily on her chest.

His pack was gone, his child was gone and Liam didn't even know.

She tightened her grip on the spear she had been inspecting. Whatever was coming, she wouldn't let it claim anyone else.

***

The hidden entrance slid open as Elena placed her hand against the rune. The passageway felt colder this time, the weight of her thoughts making every step heavier.

When she emerged into the lair, the usual hum of activity surrounded her. Hunters sharpened weapons, poured over maps, and whispered among themselves. None of them looked at her directly, but she could feel their judgement lingering in the air.

She found Dexter near the central table, discussing strategy with Stacy and Kate. He looked up as she approached, his sharp crimson eyes narrowing slightly.

Dexter had refused to teach her, they ended up arguing and the news spread through the society like wildfire.

"Elena," he said, his tone unreadable. "You're back."

Stacy raised an eyebrow, leaning against the table. "Didn't think you'd return so quickly. What happened?"

Elena dropped the spear onto the table with a metallic clang, drawing both of their attention.

"Korrin," she said, her voice steady but laced with emotion. "I found him in Blackthorn."

Dexter frowned. "Who's Korrin?"

"A Beta wolf from Liam's pack." Elena sighed, bracing herself. "The den was attacked by an Archer. Everyone's dead. And Liam had a child with one of them."

Stacy's usual composure faltered, her eyes widening in shock. Dexter's jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists.

"Damn it," Stacy muttered under her breath, pushing the table.

Dexter's voice was low and sharp. "And Liam?"

Elena hesitated. "He doesn't know. Korrin was looking for him, but I didn't tell him where Liam is."

Dexter's expression darkened. "You shouldn't have gone to Blackthorn's forest alone. We wouldn't had to face all this if you just stayed put"

"I'm just fine on my own," Elena said sharply. "And I wasn't going to ignore what happened, I'm not you. Someone needed to find out the truth."

Dexter stepped closer, his tone softening but his authority clear. "You think I don't feel this loss, Elena? The pack was Liam's family. Just like you're family to me. But running off without a plan puts us all at risk."

Elena's hands curled into fists. "I'm not a child, Dex. I made a choice. And if you'd told me the truth about everything from the start, maybe I'd be better prepared to handle it."

Dexter's gaze softened, the anger fading as he sighed. "You're right. I should have trusted you with the truth earlier. But trust goes both ways. Next time, you don't go out there without backup. Understood?"

She nodded reluctantly, her shoulders slumping. "Fine."

Stacy cleared her throat, breaking the heavy silence. "Liam's not going to take this well."

Dexter's lips pressed into a thin line. "We'll tell him, but not yet. He needs to understand the stakes before he lets his grief take over."

Elena bristled. "You mean while he's locked up in a dungeon?"

Dexter's gaze snapped at her. "You think I wanted to do that? He's a liability right now, Elena. His connection to Behemoth makes him dangerous. If he loses control, he could destroy everything we're trying to protect."

"He's not a monster," Elena said, her voice rising. "He deserves to know the truth."

"And he will," Dexter said firmly. "But on my terms, not his. Now please leave, no one should come in."

Elena's eyes burned with frustration, but she bit back her retort. Arguing with Dexter wouldn't help Liam or anyone else.

"Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "But you'd better be ready to deal with the fallout when he finds out what you've been hiding."

Dexter didn't respond as she walked away, Stacy following her behind. He turned back to the map, his expression grim.

"Well that was harsh,"

"I thought I said no one should come in" Dexter said firmly, still looking at the map.

"Is that how you welcome your own brother?" the voice said with an icy tone.

Dexter paused, before slowly looking up. There he was staring right back at Dexter, in a cloak, his hood down, dark hair, crimson eyes and the expressionless pale face.

"I'm back home, Brother." The figure said coldly .