Chapter 184

Matt pulled me closer, nuzzling into the back of my neck. Around us came the sounds of muffled snores and heavy breathing. How they were managing to sleep, I had no idea. I’d been trying all night, but my mind wouldn’t turn off.

I knew we didn't have much more time before the Crescent wolves brought the fight to us. We’d either walk away from this or we wouldn’t. Something in my gut told me that this could be my last night, and I didn’t want to fall asleep and miss it. Matt was here with me, his arms around me, and it was a real possibility we wouldn’t make it through tomorrow.

The thought sent panic clawing through me. Those nightmares of Ronan ripping Matt’s heart from his chest flashed across my mind.

Beside me, Fiona shifted in her sleep, rolling closer to my brother. He was lying on his back with his wounded arm held close to his body. She pressed her nose into his shoulder. After a moment, Jack put his good arm around her, holding her against his chest.

Today hadn’t been the time to ask her about it, but if we all made it out of this war, we were in for one hell of a conversation. Something was clearly going on between the two of them. I couldn’t decide if it weirded me out enough to have a problem with it.

I wanted them both to be happy. I just never thought they’d find happiness with each other. Then again, perhaps Fiona was just fiery enough to deal with my brother. She clearly knew how to put him in her place, and he seemed to have a soft spot for her. Sure, it was weird, but maybe it was also nice?

Matt pulled me tighter against him, kissing the back of my neck. “Try to sleep,” he whispered. “You need to rest.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

I turned in his arms and clung to him. His heart drummed against my ear, and I listened to the steady beat. He was still here with me. We’d get out of this and finally, we’d be able to go home. Matt could return to hockey. I could finish my studies. We deserved to live a normal life, not fraught with kidnappings, murders, and war.

We deserved peace.

“I love you,” he said, kissing the top of my head. My heart swelled, and I breathed in his scent. It reminded me of home. He was home now–the only one I ever needed. I never wanted to let him go.

“I love you, too.” I tilted my head up to kiss the end of his jaw. “More than words.”

He turned, pulling me against his chest. It took a few more hours, but I eventually fell into a fitful sleep. When I woke up again, it was to the sounds of howling deep in the forest. Everyone in the room jumped and scrambled out of their sleeping bags.

It was a warning. The Crescent wolves were in our territory. We’d officially run out of time.

Nina crossed to the window, her dark hair already in braids. “Get into your positions,” she ordered. “We don’t have much time.”

None of us bothered to change out of our clothes to sleep. We all needed to be ready at a moment’s notice. It seemed that moment had arrived.

I started putting on my weapons, people around me doing the same. Jack holstered a handgun at his hip and grabbed Fiona’s hand.

“Come on,” he said. “We need to get to the roof.”

Fiona turned to me with wide eyes. She pulled me into a tight hug, almost squeezing the life out of me. I hugged her back just as hard, tears pricking at my eyes. Across the room, everyone was saying quick goodbyes.

“Stay safe,” she said, leaning back. Tears tracked down her face.

“You, too.”

Jack took Fiona’s hand again, pulling her toward the door. “We’ll see each other soon,” he said, looking at Matt and me.

Matt nodded. “Good luck.”

“Don’t die,” Jack growled. “I didn’t save you for nothing.”

Matt just nodded.

“I love you,” I breathed, my eyes locked on my brother’s. We’d see each other again. We had to.

His expression softened. “I love you too, Celeste. I always have.” Then he was gone, pulling Fiona along behind him. Enzo and Nina were already gone, heading out for their positions. Matt and I finished grabbing our guns, then ran up the stairs.

After hours of strategizing, we all had positions to take up. Places where we might have an advantage. Matt and I climbed to the top of the church, jogging up winding stairs. We emerged into the bell tower, where the old iron bell still hung, unused for years.

Two guns were waiting for us. We picked them up and took opposite sides of the tower, looking down at the town. I could just make out Jack and Fiona running for a distant building, where they’d hopefully stay for the duration of the fight.

The rest of us would try to pick the Crescent wolves off from the air, but if they made it onto the streets, we had ground forces ready to intercept them.

I had a feeling both Matt and I would make it down there eventually. Neither of us were willing to hide up here if the fighting got heavy down there. Plus, I’d promised Nina I’d try to access my powers. I couldn’t do that from up here. I had to feel the earth.

I looked over at him. He stood in the corner, the gun already poised on his shoulder.

“Don’t take any risks,” he said. “If our people start fighting down there, don’t shoot. You don’t have enough experience yet. You could hit one of them.”

I nodded. “I know.”

On the horizon, dawn was just beginning to break. More howls rose from the woods as the Crescent wolves approached. We’d pulled all the way back to the town, the reinforcements hiding out in the buildings. We wanted to draw them in, make it more difficult for them. The last thing we wanted was to fight them where they were comfortable.

“You’re it for me,” I said. He met my gaze, his blue eyes bright in the dim light. They flashed gold for a moment. “We do this together.”

He nodded. “Together.”

“Until the end.”

He tried to smile but couldn’t quite manage it. “To the end, Celeste. Me and you.”

My heart felt like it was being ripped in two, but I forced myself to turn away. We’d make it out of this. We’d have the time together we’d fought so hard for. Fiona and Jack would have that time together. It didn’t matter if it made me feel a little weird. We all deserved to be happy. We deserved to be at peace.

The first wolf appeared on the horizon just as pink and purple light washed across the cloudless sky. It darted between the buildings. A shot rang out, but I couldn't tell if the wolf was hit or not. Then they were everywhere, swarming into the town.

They were smart about it, weaving in and out of the buildings in their wolf forms. Our people rushed forward to meet them while around us more shots rang out. I brought the scope to my eye and took aim.

Everything descended into chaos after that.