MARKED | COMPLETED

Chapter 30

"Murphy, this is the third time this month I've caught you fighting."

He would have killed the nameless guard. He didn't need my help. But the stupid, naive fighter in me thought I could help him. Because of me, he was lying in my arms, his head dangling over the edge of my lap. I ran my hand through his hair, shakily trying to draw in a breath.

I couldn't help but let my mind wander, to bring all those times when he caught me, fighting. Twice he'd distracted me, and I'd taken a blow from my opponent. Had I really been so stupid to do the same to him?

Clearly, I was.

"Please—" It hurt me so much to speak, still holding him close. But we had traditions, things that had to be done. As much as I wanted to sob, to hold him and remember how he wasn't just my Beta, that he was my father, too, I had to continue. I kissed his brow, choking on a breath. "Please—Beta Shaun Kearney—please protect us in the next."

I had to pull my gaze away, looking at anything other than Shaun. My eyes looked to the nameless guard, and I tried to smile, reminded of how much of his blood was on me.

"This is the fourth time this month you've caught me fighting." I stroked his hair. "I wish—I wish you would've seen me win."

I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye. I felt the tears fall down my cheeks, mixing with the mess that I couldn't bring myself to clean up.

I couldn't leave him here, not out here all alone.

As much as it pained me to leave him alone, I searched around for something to wear, and something for him. When there was nothing for me, or for him, I gave up. No one thought to hide clothes out here. Then again, no one considered that something like this would happen.

My strength hadn't returned entirely, but I did the best I could to lift him up, only managing his upper half. His feet dragged—burning this sight into my memory.

I tried to keep my mind on other things, suddenly finding myself with enough time to reach out to Aisling, to see if I can find him. His wall was still up.

It wavered, at times, showing me glimpses of the savagery they were back in the compound. I tried to count the casualties, but he never stayed on it long enough. It was one more after another—fighting, killing. Thankfully, for the briefest of moments, I saw Reece. He looked injured, but he still fought.

That gave me a surge of hope, still carrying Shaun through the forest, avoiding the bigger roots. I looked back and found my ears perking at the sound of fighting. I was close, I just had little ways to go.

"Luna Eineen! Luna Eineen!"

I couldn't recognize the voice. Immediately, I tensed up, forcing myself to let Shaun go. This time, I could feel my wolf prickling underneath my skin, ready to spring out and defeat whoever the voice belonged to. I heard the snapping twigs, as they neared closer.

I didn't recognize the voice at first, but I was surprised. I'd never heard kindness in their voice before.

Deering ran toward me, looking down at Shaun, and the despair in my eyes, and nodded.

"Alpha Aisling—he told him to find you..."

"He protected me—" I choked on a sob, "he did—he did well."

"Luna Aedan—he ran after you... where is he?"

I didn't think to look after him. But I presumed the coward in him finally came out and told him to run. I shook my head.

"He got away when his guard came after me." His dead guard. "Where's Sorley?"

"Coward, just like her brother. She ran. But she's close, we're searching for her." He pointed to Shaun. I saw the sympathy in his eyes, that hurt. We all looked up to Shaun. "I can carry him."