Page 102 of Scars of the Sun

Mara wheezed weakly in my arms, her legs no longer holding her up and leaning into me to do it for her. There were some words there, too, but she was fading too fast for even me to hear them. The satisfaction I always thought I’d feel for slaying this particular dragon that still haunted me didn’t have the kick to it that I’d hoped. All that filled me was determination and exhaustion.

Everyone around us was bracing, waiting for one of us to move. Either to end all of this or fully push us toward bloody chaos where fewer would leave the cabin grounds alive.

Mara’s true form started to appear, darkening the Leader’s pale skin to tan then brown. Her limbs began to shrink, forcing me to hold her in the air. Her body was giving up the struggle to heal her and keep her shift at the same time.

Catalina cursed. “Fine. We’ll fall back.”

“No. Fall back, leave town, and never come back. No retaliations, no hunting down me or anyone I care about. Say whatever you have to say to Pai to make it stick. That’s the only way you’re both leaving here.”

She growled, something that she rarely ever did. “I should’ve fucking killed you when I had the chance.”

The words barely grazed me. She’d said way worse when I truly accepted her vitriol as my fault. Now, I had the love of my mate to hold me steady. I felt it inside of me, undeniable and breathing. I was doing this for us. “You’re running out of time.” And it wasn’t a bluff. Mara was fully in her true form, now. Unconscious and blood dripping into the grass at my feet.

More tense seconds passed, and I felt the Wolves that fully surrounded us, now. They didn’t come too close, lest they tip Cata over the edge, but their presence was its own unspoken threat. My mate and I stayed still, holding in the balance as Mara continued to slip away. Had I judged Catalina wrongly?

Through her teeth, cold and hot at once, she gritted. “Fine.”

I didn’t let myself relax. “Drop your weapons. Command your soldiers to do the same. And fall back. I’m not releasing her until then.”

With a grumble, Catalina did just that. I watched her form shift into a crouch as she left her guns on the ground at her feet. I didn’t even have to ask for Ramona to grab them both and point them at my sister. Did she know how to use them? Sure fucking hoped so.

The Wolves pressed further, herding the surviving soldiers past their vehicles and toward the trees. The tide appeared tohave fully turned, and the Leader handed an uncharacteristically quiet Dahlia to Sylvie. He was limping, that much I could see, but I also smelled the blood of at least eight others on him.

Once all those in the Serafim Group were accounted for and pressed to the perimeter of the land, I walked forward with Mara, lying in my arms as her heartbeat still struggled to steady.

I still couldn’t make out Cata’s features when I finally stood in front of her. No doubt, they were filled with disdain at being bested. Only time would tell if she’d stay true to her word. But, I resolved, I would make sure to be here if she ever went back on it.

I let my arms fall, dropping Mara into a heap at her feet. My little big sister, a true shifter like Mamá and Javi, landed with a thud. Tonight had been the first time she’d told me that she loved me. Invoking the nickname that she only used when she would comfort me in her own twisted way when our father and sister had their backs turned.

Whether the words and her taking a bullet for me were another ruse or not, I was too drained to care. As Catalina ordered one of her soldiers to pick up Xiomara, I remembered the scent of my sister’s depression that rode the wave of her evasive scent.

I wouldn’t feel the rearing grief of her sorrow until later. Until I wasn’t so angry and still ready to deliver what she’d asked me to do.

Orion stayed half-shifted and ordered a number of his Wolves to follow him as they led Cata, Mara, and the rest of their posse through the forest. They didn’t allow them to retrieve their fallen comrades, nor did they let them flee with their vehicles.

For a stilted moment, I wondered if I should go with them, to see that the danger of my past was truly gone, but a familiar, grounding hand caressed my back. Goosebumps swept acrossmy skin and fur, and the enormity of what we’d just endured hit me like a fucking avalanche.

I took her in my arms, holding her head tightly into my chest while I shook with my purr and fear that everything could’ve easily gone the other way. Could it really be true that we’d survived?

Ramona let me hold her for what seemed like an eternity, her tears soaking my skin as mine did into her hair, as there was movement around us. I listened to the comforting whoosh of air entering and leaving her lungs, and eventually, the Leader and Wolves returned.

They confirmed that they’d chased my sisters and the Serafim soldiers to the nearest edge of the Antler Pointe Pack territory and notified the already awaiting neighboring pack to further chase them south. Apparently, Harrison had been sent to communicate with the Mountain’s Peak Pack and had been waiting with their Leader who followed through with the collaboration.

The world spun for a second, until I was slumped in the grass trying to catch my breath. It was done. Over.

Ramona cradled my head into her chest. “I’ve got you, Río. It’s okay. You saved us.”

My mind replayed what’d happened, running over every piece. “Wai—Ty—” How could I have forgotten? My best friend took a bullet for my mate, I needed to go to him, to respect?—

“Shh,” Ramona licked at my temple, tightened her embrace. “He’s alive. Delaney’s taking care of him over there. Just breathe, baby. You did it. You’re free.”

I tried to do as she said, tried to breathe, but only a sob came out, a downpour of tears. “You did so good, my strong mate. You saved us, and you’re free.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

THREE MONTHS LATER

RAMONA

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