Page 53 of The Pack

The lanky boy let out a sharp bark, lunging toward the herd. The deer scattered, their hooves pounding against the ground as they bolted for the trees. The injured doe was slower than the others, though, and hesitated just long enough for the younger wolves to shift and close in.

“Keep it moving!” I hissed, motioning for the girl and the blond boy to advance.

They leapt from their positions, herding the doe toward Magnus and me. The animal’s sides heaved, its eyes wild with fear as it stumbled forward, its limp slowing it further.

“Now, Callum!” Magnus barked.

I shifted myself and lunged, my claws slicing through the air as I grabbed the doe’s hind leg. It kicked wildly, its hooves grazing my arm, but I held on, dragging it to the ground. The youngerwolves were on it in an instant, their growls filling the air as they finished the job.

The clearing fell silent again, the only sound the labored breaths of the young wolves. The youngest boy knelt beside the doe, his trembling hands slick with blood. His wide eyes met mine, filled with a mixture of relief and disbelief.

“You did it,” I said, shifting back to my human form and clapping a hand on his shoulder. “That’s what survival looks like.”

The others hesitated, then crowded around the kill. Their faces, gaunt from hunger, lit up with something close to pride, and maybe even hope.

Magnus stepped forward, his silver eyes softening as he addressed the group.

“You’ll survive out here if you work together,” he said firmly. “But the moment you start turning on each other, you’re done. Do you understand?”

The blond boy’s gaze lingered on Magnus for a long moment before he gave a small, reluctant nod.

As we turned to leave, Zara fell into step beside me. Her voice was quiet, thoughtful. “You didn’t have to help them.”

I glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “No, but there isn’t much kindness in the world nowadays. Sometimes it’s nice to spread a little of it and hope fate would give us the same in return should we ever need it.”

She looked at me, her brow furrowing slightly, like she was trying to understand why we’d done what we had. I didn’t blame her—compassion wasn’t something you found much of out hereand likely not something she saw much of back in her former home either.

“It doesn’t cost us anything to help them,” I added. “And maybe it’ll give them a chance. A real chance. The world’s cruel enough without us adding to it.”

Her eyes softened as she processed my words.

“You think they’ll survive?” she asked hesitantly.

I exhaled, glancing back in the direction the young wolves had gone. “I don’t know. But what’s the point of all this—of surviving, of fighting—if we don’t try to make things better where we can?”

Zara’s eyes flicked to the ground, her steps slowing as she seemed to turn the idea over in her mind. She was quiet for a moment, her eyes meeting mine with an expression I hadn’t seen before.

“You’re not what I expected,” she said softly.

“Neither are you,” I replied with a grin.

Her laughter was light, almost shy, but it warmed something deep inside me, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like maybe the world wasn’t so dark after all.

Not since we’d found her.

CHAPTER 11

Zara

The fire crackled softly in the center of the small clearing where we’d set up camp. The night was cool, the air chilly enough to make the warmth of the flames feel even more inviting. Around me, the pack was settling in, their movements slower now after the chaos of the day.

I couldn’t help but think about them helping the young pack. They showed such compassion, such kindness, that my heart softened. I moved to sit down by the fire, looking around at the pack that was quickly becoming something more like a family with every passing day.

Thorne sat a few feet away, his broad shoulders tense as Tobias worked methodically to stitch up the gashes across his back. Blood stained the makeshift bandages Tobias had already pressed against Thorne’s wounds, and the sight of it made something twist in my chest.

I scooted closer, the mossy ground cool beneath me as I folded my legs under myself.

“You fought with a lot of restraint today,” I said softly, my voice barely louder than the crackling snap of the fire. “You could have killed them all pretty easily, but you didn’t.”

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