Page 89 of Forgotten Arcane

They all nod, and within moments, the wooden doors buried in the ground at the base of the cliff are pulled open with such force that they’re pulled off their hinges and tossed to the side.

I move forward, “Follow me.”

Without giving anyone the chance to argue, I throw myself into the tunnel. Not that they’re likely to argue with me, actually, because I’m the only one who knows where we’re going, and this cave system is full of wrong ways to go. It’s a labyrinth down here, and you could easily get so lost that you would never get out.

Ransom throws up some orbs of light, and they move ahead of us, lighting up the way, and I realize that although I may not need to see because I can follow the map in my mind, those following me do.

Whoops.

I pick up the pace, knowing that all of the supernaturals can keep up with me, and we make quick work of heading further into the cave.

“How much longer?” Dare asks.

“Just around the corner,” I reply.

When we round the corner, anger crashes over me at the sight before me. No one is left uninjured. There are toddlers here, and even they are wounded. Wolves heal quickly, but not instantly, and these wounds have to have been inflicted regularly.

Everyone flinches at the sight of the women clutching the children to themselves, or hiding them behind themselves, snarls of warning on their faces that fill me with pride.

“Easy,” Logan says as he moves forward. “River killed the alpha.”

The snarling immediately stops, as they all look at River.

“Really?” one of the women says.

River steps forward, fury on his features, but he speaks calmly as he replies, “Yes, I killed him, and most of his loyal wolves. Those left alive are bound and unable to shift or escape.”

A collective cry of relief surrounds us.

Asher’s light flickers.

“Doc, quickly,” I say as I move away from the group as they disperse through the women and children, seeing who needs help more urgently, and who can walk out of here.

Doc doesn’t even question me as he follows after me. I lead him to the back of the cave where the wolf I know to be Asher is lying on the floor, and breathing shallowly.

As we step closer, the woman next to him growls and snaps at us.

“Shit,” Doc curses. “She’s his mate, and she’s panicking. Her mate is dying, and she knows it. There won’t be any way to reason with her. We need River. He should be able to calm her down.”

As Doc looks around the vast cavern, trying to locate River, I step forward and ignore the snap of the woman’s jaw and the glowing wolf eyes that stare back at me.

“We can help him,” I tell her firmly. “You need to move away and let us help your mate. I promise we will not let him die.”

Doc’s head snaps in my direction, “Well, shit. I should have seen that coming.”

I don’t question his words though, because the woman surprises me by moving to the side.

Doc rushes to Asher, and I wrap my arm around the woman who practically collapses against me.

“Please, please help him,” she begs, desperation in her voice.

“We will,” I reassure her, holding her tightly. “Doc’s the best healer I know.”

Doc suddenly looks up and shouts, “Raiden, I need you now!”

Raiden’s across the room and by Doc’s side within moments.

“What do you need?”

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