Kira's POV
I ran down the stairs so fast I almost fell.
Dane was on the floor in the main room, curled up on his side. His whole body was shaking. Sweat poured down his face even though the room was cold.
"What happened?" I dropped to my knees beside him.
"We don't know," Maya said. She was kneeling on his other side, her hand on his shoulder. "He was fine ten minutes ago. Then he just collapsed."
Mei pushed through the crowd of worried wolves. She took one look at Dane and her face went pale.
"Move back," she ordered. "Everyone give him space."
The wolves stepped back, but I stayed where I was.
Mei knelt down and put her hand on Dane's chest. She closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened them again and looked at me.
"It's the bond," she said. "The Kindred bond between you two. It's trying to complete itself, but something's blocking it."
"I don't understand," I said. "What does that mean?"
"When a Kindred bond forms, it needs to be sealed," Mei explained. "Usually, this happens naturally over time. The two people spend time together, build trust, and the bond settles into place. But you two formed your bond during a moment of extreme stress. The bond latched on too fast. Too hard. Now it's unstable."
"How do we fix it?" Maya asked.
"The bond needs to be completed," Mei said. "Properly this time."
"How?" I asked desperately. Dane's shaking was getting worse. His eyes were squeezed shut like he was in terrible pain.
Mei looked at me seriously. "You need to accept the bond. Fully. Right now, part of you is fighting it. Pushing it away. The bond can feel that rejection, and it's tearing Dane apart."
"I'm not rejecting it," I said. "I'm just... I'm confused. I don't know what I'm supposed to do!"
"You need to stop thinking," Mei said. "And start feeling. Close your eyes."
I closed my eyes.
"Now," Mei said. "Focus on Dane. Not what you see. What you feel."
I took a deep breath and tried to focus.
At first, I didn't feel anything. Just fear and worry and confusion.
But then, underneath all that, I felt something else.
A thread. Golden and warm. It stretched from my chest to Dane's, connecting us.
"I feel it," I whispered.
"Good," Mei said. "Now follow it. Let it guide you."
I followed the golden thread in my mind. It led me deeper, past my fear, past my doubts, to a place I'd never noticed before. A place in my heart that felt empty. Lonely.
And at the other end of the thread was Dane.
I could feel his pain. His fear. Not fear of dying. Fear that I would reject him. That I would push him away.
"I won't," I said out loud. "I won't push you away."
I reached for the thread with my mind and pulled it closer.
The moment I did, green light exploded around us.
I opened my eyes.
The light was pouring from my chest and Dane's, weaving together like two rivers joining into one. It was beautiful. Like watching the northern lights dance in the middle of the room.
Dane's eyes snapped open. They were glowing pure gold.
"Kira," he breathed.
"I'm here," I said. "I'm not going anywhere."
The light grew brighter. Warmer. Then it sank into our skin and disappeared.
Dane stopped shaking. His breathing slowed. The color came back to his face.
"It worked," Maya said, relief flooding her voice.
Dane sat up slowly. He looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time.
"I can feel you," he said. "Inside my head. Inside my heart. It's like... like you're part of me now."
"I can feel you too," I said. And it was true. I could sense his emotions. His relief. His gratitude. His... affection?
I blushed and looked away.
Mei smiled. "The bond is sealed. You're true Kindreds now."
"What does that mean exactly?" I asked.
"It means you're connected," Mei said. "You'll be able to sense each other's emotions. Feel each other's pain. And in time, you might even be able to share thoughts."
"That sounds intense," I said.
"It is," Dane said. He stood up and offered me his hand. I took it, and the moment our skin touched, I felt a rush of warmth. "But it also means I can protect you better. I'll know if you're in danger, even if we're miles apart."
"And it works both ways," Mei added. "Kira will know if you're in danger too."
Maya cleared her throat. "This is all very touching, but we have a problem. The Coalition knows where we are. We need to leave. Now."
"She's right," Dane said. "Everyone pack up. We move out in fifteen minutes."
The wolves scattered.
I started to follow them, but Dane caught my arm.
"Wait," he said. "There's something I need to do first."
"What?"
Dane looked uncomfortable. "The Coalition will be tracking us. They're good at it. Really good. And they have your scent now. They'll be able to follow you anywhere."
"So what do we do?"
"I need to mark you," Dane said.
I blinked. "Mark me? Like... with a pen?"
Dane almost smiled. "No. With my scent. If I mark you as pack, the Coalition won't be able to tell your scent from ours. They'll lose your trail."
"Oh," I said. "Okay. How do you do that?"
Dane's expression got even more uncomfortable. "I have to... it's a wolf thing. I need to rub my scent on you. Specifically on your neck and wrists. Where your pulse points are."
My face went hot. "That sounds really... personal."
"It is," Dane admitted. "And I understand if you don't want to"
"Do it," I said quickly. "If it keeps me safe, do it."
Dane nodded. He stepped closer to me. Really close. So close I could feel the heat coming off his body.
"This might feel weird," he warned.
Then he leaned down and pressed his face against the side of my neck.
I froze.
Dane was right. It did feel weird. His skin was warm against mine. I could feel his breath on my throat. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it.
He moved slowly, carefully, rubbing his cheek along my neck. Then he moved to my wrist, holding my hand gently as he did the same thing there.
"Other side," he said quietly.
I turned my head, giving him access to my other neck. He repeated the process.
By the time he was done, I felt dizzy.
"There," Dane said, stepping back. "You smell like pack now. The Coalition won't be able to track you specifically."
"Good," I managed to say. My voice came out squeaky.
Dane's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," I said. "Totally fine. Not weird at all."
Now Dane did smile. "Come on. We need to go."
We joined the others downstairs. The wolves were ready to move, bags packed and waiting by the door.
Maya handed me a backpack. "Basics," she said. "Water, food, first aid. We'll get you more supplies when we reach the temple."
"Thank you," I said.
Dane moved to the front of the group. "Listen up. We're traveling fast and quiet. Stay in pairs. Watch each other's backs. If the Coalition finds us, don't engage. Run. We can't afford to lose anyone tonight."
The wolves nodded grimly.
We slipped out the back door of the Den and into the night.
The city was dark and quiet. Most people were asleep. But I could feel eyes watching us from the shadows. The Coalition was out there somewhere. Waiting.
We moved through alleys and side streets, avoiding the main roads. Dane led the way, with me right behind him. I could feel the bond between us, pulling me forward like an invisible rope.
We'd been running for maybe twenty minutes when I heard it.
A whistle. Sharp and high-pitched.
"Down!" Dane yelled.
We all dropped to the ground just as bullets whizzed over our heads.
"They found us!" Maya shouted.
"How?" someone else yelled. "We were careful!"
"They must have been tracking the building, not us," Dane said. "Run! Split up! Make it harder for them to follow!"
The pack scattered in different directions.
Dane grabbed my hand. "Stay with me."
We ran.
Behind us, I could hear boots pounding on pavement. Shouts. More gunfire.
We turned down an alley, and Dane pulled me toward a high fence.
"Can you climb?" he asked.
"I think so," I said.
"Go. I'll boost you."
Dane laced his fingers together. I stepped into his hands and he lifted me up. I grabbed the top of the fence and pulled myself over.
I heard a gunshot. Very close.
"Dane!" I screamed.
He jumped and grabbed the top of the fence with one hand. But I could see blood on his shoulder.
"I'm fine," he grunted. "Keep moving!"
We dropped down on the other side and kept running.
But the hunters were faster than I expected. They were already climbing the fence behind us.
"We're not going to make it," I said.
"Yes we are," Dane said. "Trust me."
He pulled me into a narrow gap between two buildings. We pressed ourselves flat against the wall.
"Don't breathe," Dane whispered in my ear.
I held my breath.
The hunters ran past our hiding spot. I counted six of them. All heavily armed.
We waited until their footsteps faded.
"Okay," Dane breathed. "We need to get to higher ground. Find the others."
We started moving again, but slower this time. Dane was favoring his injured shoulder.
"You're hurt," I said.
"I'll heal," Dane said. "Wolves heal fast."
But I could feel his pain through the bond. It was worse than he was letting on.
We turned a corner and ran straight into someone.
I almost screamed, but Dane covered my mouth with his hand.
It wasn't a hunter.
It was a woman. Young, maybe twenty-five. She was wearing normal clothes, not Coalition armor.
But her eyes were terrified.
"Please," she whispered. "You have to help me. They're going to kill me."
"Who?" Dane asked.
The woman pointed behind her with a shaking hand.
I looked.
Standing in the shadows at the end of the alley was Scarface. And he was smiling.
"Hello, Kira," he said. "Miss me?"
He raised his gun.
But he wasn't pointing it at me.
He was pointing it at the woman.
"Here's the deal," Scarface said. "You come with me quietly, or I shoot her. You have three seconds to decide. One..."
"Don't do it!" the woman cried. "He'll kill you!"
"Two..."
I looked at Dane. Through the bond, I could feel his rage. His helplessness.
"Three."
"Wait!" I shouted. "I'll go with you. Just don't hurt her."
"Kira, no!" Dane grabbed my arm.
But it was too late.
I stepped forward, away from Dane, toward Scarface.
"Smart girl," Scarface said. "Now come here. Slowly."
I walked toward him.
Behind me, I heard Dane growl. A low, dangerous sound.
"Don't try it, wolf," Scarface said. "I've got twenty men surrounding this block. If you shift, they'll fill you so full of silver you'll look like Swiss cheese."
I reached Scarface. He grabbed my arm roughly.
"Good," he said. "Now we're going to take a little trip. There's someone who's very eager to meet you."
"Who?" I asked.
Scarface's smile got wider.
"Commander Vane," he said. "The leader of the Coalition. Your uncle."
My blood turned to ice.
"What did you say?"
"You heard me," Scarface said. "Commander Vane is your mother's brother. He's been looking for you for twenty-three years. And now, finally, he gets to finish what he started the night your parents died."
He dragged me toward a waiting van.
I looked back at Dane. Our eyes met.
Through the bond, I felt his promise. I'll find you. I'll save you.
Then Scarface shoved me into the van and everything went black.