Fenris's gaze dropped to the reddened skin on Selene's calf. He hesitated for only a fraction of a second before making his decision. He swept her up into his arms and strode toward the door, managing only a single apologetic glance back at Lyra.
"Lyra, just wait for me a little longer! I'll be right back!"
Wait for you?
There's no need anymore.
Lyra watched him disappear through the doorway with Selene in his arms, and the last fragile ember of hope in her heart guttered out completely.
At that moment, the rope above her let out another sharp crack and snapped apart entirely. Instinct took over—she curled her body tight and used the momentum of her fall to roll sideways, barely clearing the churning oil. But her forehead slammed against a jagged stone on the ground, and white-hot pain exploded through her entire body.
In the final moment before darkness claimed her, a vision seemed to shimmer before her eyes—eighteen-year-old Fenris standing in a pool of moonlight not far away, wearing simple training leathers, clapping for her with a smile on his face. His eyes were bright and tender.
Nothing like the cold, partial Alpha he'd become.
When she woke again, she was in another familiar healer's chamber. The sharp smell of medicinal herbs invaded her nostrils, making her stomach turn. The attendant keeping watch noticed she was awake and spoke gently.
"Lady Ashenvale, you've spent nearly the entire past moon cycle in the healers' den. Your health is really too fragile. You don't even have anyone looking after you—shouldn't you send word to your pack to come stay with you?"
Lyra lay on the recovery bed, thick cloth wrapped around her forehead, the burns on her calves throbbing with bone-deep pain. She turned her head and saw Fenris sitting in the chair beside her. Her voice came out so hoarse it barely held a tune.
"That abduction was staged by Selene herself. I'm bringing this before the Pack Enforcers."
Fenris said nothing. His fingers curled slightly. A long moment passed before he finally spoke, his voice carrying an unfamiliar note of guilt.
"Selene... she got hurt too, this time. The burns on her leg are pretty serious."
He paused, trying to reason with her. "Besides, she's your own pack-sister. Can you really bear to watch her get taken away by the Territory Wardens? To have a judgment mark follow her for life?"