Page 51 of Bronx

One by one, the rebels dropped their heads in submission, their bodies trembling with the knowledge that they had been bested. The Moonstone Pack shifters didn’t let up, making sure the rebels knew their place and wouldn’t attempt another attack.

“Is everyone all right?” Ryker asked, shifting back into human form as he surveyed the battlefield. His brow creased as he checked for any signs of injury among his packmates.

As the adrenaline faded, Bronx shifted back into his own human form and rushed toward Cora, his eyes searching her face for any sign of distress. “Cora, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replied softly, wrapping her arms around him. “You were amazing.”

He held her tightly, grateful she was unharmed. Together, they watched as the Moonstone Pack gathered the defeated rebels, their unity and strength prevailing in the face of danger.

Ryker walked by, handed Bronx a pair of gloves, and pointed to a pile of chains on the ground. “Help us bind them.”

Even through the gloves, Bronx could feel the sharp bite of the silver chains cutting into his hands as he and the other Moonstone shifters secured the defeated rebels. Steam rose from their wrists where the metal touched their skin, a stark reminder of the painful consequences they faced for betraying their own kind. Bronx’s eyes narrowed, and he headed back to Cora.

“Let’s move,” Ryker commanded, his voice tense. The pack moved as one, shoving the prisoners forward through the trees, their captors’ eyes gleaming with distrust and anger.

“Are you sure we can trust those bindings?” Cora whispered to Bronx, her voice trembling. Her hand brushed against his arm, her touch heated against his chilled skin.

“Silver is their weakness, just like ours,” Bronx replied quietly, trying to reassure her even as his thoughts raced. “It should hold them long enough for us to deal with them later.”

Cora nodded, her eyes filled with worry. As they pressed on through the darkness, Bronx felt her fear seeping into him, making his muscles tense.I need to be strong for her, he thought.

But his thoughts were interrupted.

“Finally,” Steele called out, his voice echoing through the forest as the prisoners and their guards reached the edge of the clearing. “The mating ceremony can begin!” He grinned, his eyes alight with excitement.

The tension among the pack began to lift, replaced by anticipation and joy.

As the rebels were led away, Cora glanced around at the victorious faces of the Moonstone Pack. She noticed that many of them had once been Idaho shifters, her former packmates.

“Look at them,” she whispered to Ivy, her eyes shining with hope. “So many of our own, fighting together with the Moonstone Pack. Our packs can truly become one.”

Ivy’s gaze skimmed across the crowd as a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “You’re right. This is a new beginning for us all.”

At that moment, a vision of a better future flashed through Cora’s mind—her child, born of Blake Deacon’s treachery, accepted and loved by the combined strength of their united packs. The united packs were their foundation, and together, they would build something extraordinary.

The thought drove her to want to ensure this unity would last.

But first she had to ensure her own uniting with the Moonstone Pack.

“Come on, we need to get ready,” Cora said to Ivy, urgency in her voice.

Cora inhaled the now-familiar scents of Yellowstone. She could feel the hum of the forest around her and the steady thrum of the pack’s energy, lending her confidence.

“Are you ready?” Ivy asked, sensing her friend’s hesitation.

Cora smiled, her anxiety finally lifting from her. “Yes, I am.”

Together, they retreated from the battlefield. As they entered the privacy of a nearby grove, Mila and Samuel appeared at the edge of the smaller clearing, the alpha’s mate’s hair piled atop her head. She brushed tendrils away from her face as she nervously approached Ivy and Cora. “Did everything go well?” she asked, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.

“Everything’s fine,” Ivy reassured her. “The rebels are no longer a threat.”

Cora nodded, her gaze meeting Mila’s. “We’re safe now, and our packs are stronger than ever.”

“Thank goodness,” Mila breathed, her shoulders visibly relaxing.

“We’re safe?” Samuel repeated.

“Absolutely, my beautiful boy.”

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