Her Mates

35

The night air was crisp against my skin, the moon casting long silver streaks across the ground as I made my way through the quiet woods. I should have turned back. I should have listened to the unease curling in my stomach.

But I didn't.

And that was my mistake.

Because later that night, when the trap finally sprung, I realized I'd underestimated just how far Lena was willing to go.

A rustling sound behind me made me turn, but before I could react, a sharp pain exploded in my side. My breath hitched as fire burned through me, my knees buckling as I looked down at the glint of silver buried deep in my ribs.

A blade. A silver blade.

My vision blurred as I sucked in a sharp breath, trying to force my body to move, to fight. A cold hand pressed against my shoulder, shoving me down to my knees. My heart pounded as I looked up, and the sight in front of me stole the air from my lungs.

"Y-You?" My voice was barely a whisper, horror creeping in as I stared at the face of someone I once trusted. Someone who had been a part of my past, a friend—no, family.

Jaxon.

I swallowed hard, pain making my vision flicker. "Why?"

Jaxon crouched down in front of me, his eyes dark with something I didn't understand. "You don't belong here, Maeve." His voice was almost gentle, but there was venom underneath. "You never did."

I tried to push myself up, but the blade sent agony ripping through my body. 

Lena's footsteps crunched over leaves as she stepped into view, her smirk smug and victorious. "Poor little Maeve," she cooed mockingly, tilting her head. "Did you really think you could just take everything? That they'd actually love you?"

I grit my teeth, tasting blood as I fought to keep my head up. "They do love me."

Lena's expression darkened, and she leaned in close. "Not for long."

Before I could react, her hand gripped the hilt of the blade—and twisted.

A strangled cry left my lips as white-hot pain consumed me, my body slumping forward as darkness began to creep in at the edges of my vision.

"No one is coming for you," Lena whispered. "You're all alone, Maeve."

My body screamed in agony, but my heart... my heart refused to believe that.

Because I knew better.

They would come.

They always did.

The world felt distant, like I was floating somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. The pain was a dull throb now, muted by whatever medication or healing efforts had been given to me. But I could still feel the phantom burn of silver where it had pierced my skin.

My eyelids were heavy, but I forced them open, blinking against the dim light in the room. The scent of my mates surrounded me—warm cedar, crisp rain, dark spice, and wild honey. They were close. I could hear the steady rise and fall of their breaths, some deeper, slower, as if they had fallen asleep beside me.

A slight shift of my fingers sent a ripple of awareness through them. Before I could even attempt to move again, strong hands gently enclosed mine.

"Maeve?" Zac's voice was rough, tinged with exhaustion and relief.

My lips felt cracked when I parted them, my throat dry. "Hey," I managed, voice barely above a whisper.

Instantly, there was movement—Emilia shifting closer to brush my hair back, Juri adjusting the blankets around me, Dorian standing at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed as if he was forcing himself not to touch me. Hunter was on the other side, his brows drawn tight, the tension in his shoulders not easing even as he exhaled sharply.