Lily’s Perspective "We won’t make it back in time." I heard my own voice with a barely perceptible tremor. Looking at the thick smoke rising from the direction of my distant home, I felt as if my heart was being clenched by a cold hand. Aurora...... My little Aurora... Ethan’s arm was tightly wrapped around me, and his body was equally tense. Alpha’s pressure was restless due to anger and worry. "Lily..." he murmured hoarsely. I forced myself to calm down. Witch Maya had just relayed good news through some spirit message. The children were safe and the cabin is intact. It was the best news I could bear. But what of the townspeople? Brett? Nate? "We can’t go back directly. It could be a trap." I took a deep breath and looked around at the anxious and angry faces of Adrian, Jacob, Xaver, Kyle, the twins... "These hunters love dirty tricks. He destroyed our home, so he’s counting on us rushing back like mad. We need to turn the tables and cut off their retreat to base!" Ethan instantly grasped my plan, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Then we split up. Ambush them where they least expect it." "I’m in." Kyle’s voice was as cold as ice. He really wanted to vent the pain of losing his mate. The teams were quickly divided. Ethan and Keith led a team to be in charge of the road. Kyle and his pack of wolves blocked another one. And I, along with my old buddies, Xaver, Adrian, the twins, and... I looked at Jacob. "Jacob, you’re with us. I need you." His combat skills and composure were vital to our squad, and I sensed the pent-up urge within him to do something for Celena. Jacob nodded immediately, his eyes sharp beneath his brown lashes. But Max stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Celena like a protective wolf guarding its pups. His protective stance was quite obvious. "No. Lily, your team faces the most dangerous confrontation. Natalie (he still used to this name) has just recovered. She can’t take risks!" He looked at Jacob with a warning in his eyes, "Besides, I’m her brother. I want her to stay with me." I watched Celena. She looked stronger than before, but her eyes still held a trace of fear. She looked at Jacob again, her eyes extremely complicated, with dependence, worry, and a hint of stubbornness eager to prove herself. Jacob pursed his lips tightly. Clearly, he wanted Celena to be within his sight, but he also understood Max. "Lily, I..." He hesitated. I sighed. Celena was his mate, but Max and her were siblings. The bond of blood was stronger than any relationship in moments . We couldn’t, and shouldn’t, stand in their way. "Alright. Max, Celena, you’re with Kyle. Stay safe." Ethan stepped before me, cupping my face with his large hands, his forehead pressed against mine. "You be careful too, Lily. If anything happens to you..." He didn’t finish, but we both understood. The bond between mates allowed us to feel each other’s deepest thoughts. I rose onto my tiptoes and kissed his taut lips, tasting earth and blood. "I’m not that easy to take down, Mr. Alpha. You too, don’t push yourself." My heart pounded like a drum as we split up. We lurked on both sides of the tree-lined path, and the air around seemed to have frozen. Time passed second by second, and each second felt like a torment. Then, the familiar sound of the engine grew closer and closer. They were coming. This text is hosted at NoveIＦire.net