Nathan's POV
Fredrick ca into my room quietly.
Too quietly.
I was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, my hands resting uselessly in my lap. The collar around my neck felt heavier than before, like it knew I was getting weaker.
"You haven't eaten," Fredrick said calmly, holding a tray of food. "You need to."
I lifted my eyes slowly. "I'm not hungry."
He sighed, like a disappointed partner, and stepped farther inside. "You always say that when you're upset."
That made my stomach twist.
We were not a couple.
We would never be a couple.
Before I could say anything else—
A loud crash echoed through the house.
Then another.
Shouts followed.
Fredrick froze.
So did I.
"What was that?" I whispered, my heart jumping into my throat.
Fredrick's eyes darkened instantly. He turned toward the door, listening.
Then the sound ca again—closer this ti.
Breaking glass.
Heavy footsteps.
Voices.
"They found us," Fredrick muttered.
My breath hitched. "Who?"
His jaw clenched. "My enemies."
Before I could ask more, the door to my room burst open.
n flooded in.
Not wolves.
Not humans.
Vampires.
Their eyes glowed red. Their fangs showed as they smiled at like I was prey.
One of them stepped forward. "Fredrick," he said mockingly. "Hand her over."
I shrank back instinctively, fear crashing over .
Fredrick stepped in front of imdiately, spreading his arms wide.
"Over my dead body," he growled.
The vampire laughed. "That can be arranged."
Everything happened fast.
Too fast.
Fredrick moved first.
He attacked them with a roar, fists flying, strength exploding through the room. He fought like a man possessed—blocking blows, throwing bodies into walls, protecting with everything he had.
For a second…
I was confused.
He was saving .
But then one of the vampires struck him hard across the side.
Fredrick staggered.
Another slashed him across the chest.
Blood sprayed.
"Fredrick!" I cried out before I could stop myself.
He grunted in pain but stayed on his feet, turning back toward them, breathing hard.
"You will not touch her," he snarled.
More vampires poured in.
Too many.
Fredrick was strong—but he was outnumbered.
I pressed myself against the wall, panic rising.
This was my fault.
Because of , this place had been found.
Because of , he was bleeding.
Then—
A roar shook the entire house.
Not human.
Not vampire.
Wolf.
My heart leaped violently.
That sound—
I knew it.
The walls exploded inward as a massive black wolf burst into the room.
Nathan.
Relief crashed into so hard my knees almost gave out.
"NATHAN!" I scread.
He didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
He was already killing.
He tore through the vampires like they were nothing—ripping heads clean off, snapping necks, slamming bodies into the floor with brutal force.
Peter followed right behind him, already shifted, his wolf just as fierce.
The room beca chaos.
Blood.
Cries.
Screams.
And then silence.
Bodies hit the floor one by one.
Dead.
All of them.
Nathan shifted back instantly, naked and breathing hard, his eyes wild as they locked onto .
"Hailee."
He rushed to and pulled into his arms so tight I couldn't breathe.
I didn't care.
I buried my face in his chest and sobbed.
"You ca," I cried. "You ca for ."
"Always," he said fiercely. "Always."
He touched the collar around my neck, anger flashing across his face.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I should have never left you alone."
I shook my head. "You did nothing wrong."
He pulled back just enough to look at my face, his eyes filled with guilt and relief.
Then he looked past .
At Fredrick.
Fredrick was slumped against the wall, injured, blood staining his clothes. He looked at Nathan with a strange expression—pain, anger, and sothing else I couldn't na.
Nathan's face hardened.
He walked over and punched Fredrick so hard his head snapped to the side.
"This isn't over," Nathan said coldly. "I will co back for you."
Fredrick laughed weakly, blood on his lips. "I know."
Nathan didn't say another word.
He turned back to , lifted into his arms like I weighed nothing, and carried out.
The night air hit my face as we reached the cars.
I relaxed instantly against his chest.
Safe.
Peter opened the door quickly.
Inside the car, Nathan sat with pulled close to him, his arms wrapped around like he was afraid I might disappear again.
"Are you okay?" Peter asked from the front seat, his voice full of worry.
I nodded. "I am now."
Nathan exhaled shakily. "I'm sorry I didn't co sooner. I felt it too late. I—"
I lifted my head and kissed him gently.
"It's okay," I whispered. "You're here."
His eyes softened instantly.
The drive ho felt quiet.
Different.
Like the world was holding its breath.
When we arrived, Nathan carried straight to my room. He laid gently on the bed, pulling the blankets over carefully.
The healer ca not long after we got back.
She moved quietly, like she didn't want to scare , her hands already glowing faintly as she stood beside the bed.
"Easy now," she murmured. "Let see."
Nathan stayed close. Too close to move away from. His hand never left mine.
The healer's fingers brushed the collar around my neck—the cold tal that had caged my wolf for so long. My body tensed instantly, fear flashing through .
"It's all right," she said softly. "You're safe now."
She whispered a few careful words and pressed her palm against the lock.
There was a sharp click.
Then—
Freedom.
The collar loosened and fell away from my neck, hitting the floor with a dull sound.
I gasped.
Not in pain.
In relief.
My wolf surged inside like a flood breaking free from a dam. She howled—not in rage this ti, but in pure relief. I felt her stretch, breathe, live.
Tears spilled down my cheeks as I pressed a hand to my throat.
"I can feel her," I whispered. "She's back."
Nathan exhaled shakily and pulled into his arms, burying his face in my hair.
"Thank the Moon," he murmured. "I was afraid that thing—"
"It's gone," I said softly. "It can't hurt anymore."
The healer nodded. "The collar suppressed her wolf and weakened her spirit. Removing it was necessary. But she'll need rest. A lot of it."
She checked my pulse, my eyes, my breathing, then finally stepped back.
"She'll be fine," the healer said. "Physically."
Nathan nodded, but I could tell he wasn't fully convinced.
When the healer left, silence filled the room.
I shifted slightly and looked up at Nathan.
"There's sothing I need to ask you," I said quietly.
His jaw tightened. "What is it?"
I hesitated, then took a breath.
"Please… let Fredrick go."
His body went still.
"What?" he asked, his voice low.
"He didn't hurt ," I said quickly. "Not physically. He was obsessed—yes. Wrong—yes. But when those vampires attacked, he fought them. He protected ."
Nathan's eyes darkened.
"He kidnapped you."
"I know," I whispered. "And that was wrong. I'm not excusing that. But killing him—or locking him away forever—won't fix what happened."
My hands trembled as I gripped his shirt.
"Please," I begged. "For ."
He looked away, anger and conflict warring across his face.
"That man put a collar on you," he growled. "He took your freedom. I should tear him apart."
"I know," I said, tears forming again. "But I don't want more blood. Not because of ."
Silence stretched between us.
Finally, Nathan sighed heavily.
"Fine," he said through clenched teeth. "I'll let him go."
Relief rushed through so fast my chest hurt.
"But," he added sharply, "you are not staying here."
I looked at him. "What do you an?"
"This place isn't safe anymore," he said firmly. "Too many people know where you are. Too many eyes. I'm taking you back to my pack."
My wolf stirred, calm at the idea.
I nodded slowly. "Okay."
But then sothing else hit .
"There's one more thing," I said.
He frowned. "What now?"
"I need to see Callum," I said softly. "And Oliver."
Nathan stiffened.
"Hailee—"
"I need to talk to them," I insisted. "I owe them that much. Especially Oliver. He's hurting. And Callum… what happened between us ended badly. I need to say so things."
Nathan studied my face for a long mont.
"You're sure?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," I said. "Before we leave. I need closure."
He sighed again, then nodded once.
"All right," he said. "We'll go see them. But after that—we leave. No argunts."
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