Chapter 0314

Trigger warning. Suicide. ****

Lucas

Flames sear my skin as I charge forward.

I'm not even near the fire, yet it burns me like I'm standing in the center.

This has never happened before.

Ryken grips Brianna tightly, preventing her from rushing into the inferno.

She screams Hannah's name repeatedly, fighting against his hold.

She struggles wildly, but he doesn't let go.

Act first, think later. That was Brianna's way.

I'm almost thankful someone is stopping her from certain death.

She was one of the few Lycans I actually respected.

Sweat pours down my heated skin.

Smoke billows into the sky as Wolves and Lycans desperately battle the flames.

They pull younger pack members to safety while trying to extinguish the fire.

Every time one section dies down, another erupts in violent orange flames.

Thick, dark smoke chokes the air.

If we aren't careful, the smoke will attract unwanted attention from outsiders.

Athena and Alexander rush past me.

He joins the water chain, dousing the roaring fire.

Athena helps Ryken drag Brianna further from her burning home.

Something is different about Athena.

The black ring around her soul isn't as dark.

It doesn't pulsate like it usually does.

Every crack is filled with black, making her soul appear almost cleared.

She either let her Lycan win or she completely gave up.

I didn't want to put a bullet in her.

But I can't allow another Rogue to roam free.

Brianna's scream pulls my attention. "She's your mate!" she cries at me. "You're just letting her die!"

Ryken frowns, confused by her declaration.

"She isn't my mate," I say for the thousandth time.

My focus shifts to the forest.

I spot Hannah's red hair near the ground.

More fire races up my back.

"Brianna. Brianna, look at me," Athena says firmly, grabbing the Lycan's face. "This isn't your fault."

While Athena distracts her, I slip away.

I enter a section of forest that's already been extinguished.

Hannah's jasmine scent is easy to track.

It's quickly followed by the sound of her crying.

She lets out a piercing scream, and I feel my back flesh burn. "Hannah!"

She doesn't answer.

I'm forced to call again, hoping to stop her from self-harm.

Her chestnut eyes briefly focus on me. "No, not you. I don't need you. Go!" she whimpers from the ground.

She's lying on her stomach.

The back of her shirt is almost completely burnt away.

Her back is covered in black seared flesh and open wounds struggling to heal.

She rolls over, grimacing in pain, and deliberately shoves her arm into the fire.

Hannah releases a gut-wrenching scream that freezes my heart.

I feel fire smolder up my own arm.

It's strange, feeling something that isn't happening to me.

I never felt this with Charlotte's mother.

I grab Hannah's feet and drag her from the flames.

She needs time to heal.

But she kicks at me, shouting and demanding release. "You have to stop!" I snap.

"I can't live like this. It's too hard!"

I pull the small handgun from my hip and thrust it toward her. "Go on then, be my guest, do it." I was calling her bluff.

Her eyes widen, dancing between the gun, my face, and the fire.

"It will be quicker and less painful. Well, if you do it right."

She reaches for the gun.

A move I didn't expect.

I yank it just beyond her reach.

She was willing to kill herself over all this.

"Screw you," she growls at me.

"You've been torturing me for over a month. Do you know how it feels, knowing I'm mated to you of all people? Now let me go!" She tries to kick me again.