Through the mindlink, Timothy discovered roughly twenty Valerium warriors had infiltrated the pack house. After issuing commands to his own warriors, he turned his attention back to Harlow, who watched him with curious eyes.
"Are you using that mindlink thing?" she asked.
"Yes." Timothy scooped Harlow into his arms. Her slight weight surprised him—the little girl felt almost fragile, and he frowned at how thin she seed. "Where’s your mother? I’ll take you back to her."
Timothy couldn’t abandon Harlow when enemies lurked nearby. Though he doubted they’d bother capturing a small child, the re possibility of her being in danger unsettled him.
"Momma’s in the greenhouse," Harlow said, pointing toward the structure.
"Alright, I’ll get you there," Timothy replied, carrying the little girl in that direction. But soon he sensed sothing wrong. Soone was watching them.
His instincts proved correct when two beasts burst from the bushes, lunging straight at him and Harlow.
The rogues’ scent confird his suspicion—these were Valerium’s remaining warriors.
Harlow shrieked as Timothy dodged with lightning speed. She clung to his neck and buried her face against his shoulder while the beasts snarled nacingly.
"Stay down for a mont, okay? I need to deal with these idiots," Timothy told Harlow, simultaneously mindlinking for backup.
"No," Harlow whimpered. "I’m scared."
"Don’t be afraid. I’m here. Nothing will hurt you." Timothy ant every word—he’d die before letting these scum touch a hair on this child’s head.
But before he could set Harlow down, one beast launched its attack.
Without hesitation, Timothy shifted. Harlow tumbled onto her bottom—unhurt but terrified by the violence erupting around her.
She pressed herself against the wall, watching everything unfold while fighting back tears.
Timothy faced two beasts simultaneously. He wasn’t worried about himself, but the little girl behind him made concentration impossible. One enemy leaped onto his back, tearing away a chunk of flesh.
Timothy spun around and ripped the beast’s throat out.
This wasn’t sothing Harlow should witness—she was too young for such brutality—but he needed to end this quickly. He could sense three more rogues approaching. Just as he killed the second beast, all three remaining enemies attacked at once.
Outnumbered and badly wounded, only sheer determination kept Timothy standing. He had to protect Harlow.
He had to hold out until his warriors arrived.
But one beast slipped through his defenses and grabbed Harlow.
The dying rogues must have inford the others that Timothy was protecting this child—that’s why they targeted her instead.
——
**Phoebe’s POV**
"What is it?" I let Dominic enter the room, noting his serious expression. "What happened?"
Dominic explained the situation, quickly adding reassurance. "Not many managed to enter the pack house, and we’ve captured so already. You don’t need to worry, my queen."
"Good." Relief washed over . I was still in my bedroom with Patricia—we’d planned to visit the Myrthella tree, but now Perry definitely wouldn’t let leave the pack house. "But why do you look troubled?"
Sothing else was bothering Dominic. I could feel it.
"Tell what it is."
"The gamma is wounded. He fought five beasts."
"What?" I shot up from bed, wobbling as my legs remained weak, but Patricia quickly steadied .
"My queen, are you okay?"
I shook my head. "Where’s Timothy? I want to see him."
Worry consud . Once I confird Perry was safe and well-protected, I headed to the infirmary to check on Timothy, who was being examined by the healer.
At tis like this, Perry faced the greatest danger—those people were hunting for the king. They’d co for revenge against him, after all.
When I reached the infirmary, I saw Jude standing outside with Harlow.
But I didn’t greet her. My focus was entirely on Timothy.
"How is he?" I saw Timothy lying on the bed, his face pale and clothes blood-stained. "Is he alright?" My worry deepened as I approached the gamma.
These warriors knew secret routes into the pack house. Since this had been their ho, they’d lived in this area since birth—that’s how they’d entered undetected.
But they’d managed to capture one when they realized the warrior wasn’t one of theirs.
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