Damien and Xavier brought Andra back to the pack house. Her body was still wracked with pain, and the signs of her partial shift had left her pale and trembling. They carefully laid her on the soft bed, both of them visibly distressed.
Xavier hurried to the bathroom, turning on the faucet for a cold bath. The sound of running water echoed through the room, but it did nothing to soothe their nerves.
Damien ran to the kitchen, fumbling through cabinets, trying to find something easy for her to digest. He grabbed some broth and water.
When Damien rushed back to the room, the bathroom was already ready. The cold water filled the tub, and Xavier opened the window slightly, letting the cool night air drift into the room.
Andra's condition was worsening by the minute. She was shaking violently, and beads of sweat emerged across her forehead. Damien sat on the bed, his hands trembling as he placed the broth and water on the bedside table.
He carefully lifted Andra, her body limp in his arms, and together, they gently began to strip her down. Her bare skin was glowing in the dim light. Yet, this was not the time for desire.
"Damien, she's burning up," Xavier muttered, pacing by the bathroom door, his worry etched deeply into his features.
"I know," Damien murmured as he gracefully carried her into the bathroom. "We need to cool her down before anything else."
He gently placed Andra into the cold bath. Her body shivered as the water made contact with her skin. She stirred, eyes fluttering open for a brief moment before closing again.
Damien then began to cleanse her, gently wiping the sweat from her brow and murmuring softly in her ear. "You're going to be okay, Andra," he whispered, brushing damp strands of hair away from her face. "We're here."
Xavier stood by the door, watching, his arms crossed over his chest. "This wouldn't have happened if—" he started, but his voice faltered. They both knew the truth. She had acted on instinct, on desperation to escape, but they also knew how dangerous that decision had been.
Damien's jaw clenched as he continued to wash her gently, the water now slightly warmer from her body heat. "She'll learn from this," he said quietly. "We'll make sure of it."
There was a tense silence between them as they focused on Andra. Damien finished bathing her, his hands tender as he wrapped her in a towel and carried her back to the bed. Her body was still shaking, but her breathing was more steady now.
Xavier watched as Damien laid her down, his gaze flicking to the window for a moment before he spoke again. "Damien…"
Damien hesitated. His expression tightened. But he knew what had to be done. He gave a brief nod. "Go!"
Without another word, Xavier turned and left the room. He shifted into wolf form and sped off into the night, praying he wouldn't be too late.
Xavier ran through the darkened woods, the wind whipping against his fur as he sped toward the location where he had left Magnus. Why had the rogues attacked? They were wild, but there had been something different about them, something off. They fought without coordination, without strategy, and when Xavier had tried to listen for communication through their growls, there had been none. It was as though they were mindless.
"Are they…" He could not say it.
The smell of blood hit him before he saw Magnus. Xavier's heart clenched, and he pushed himself faster. He emerged from the trees to see his companion standing in the clearing, surrounded by the bodies of fallen rogues. Magnus was drenched in blood, some of it his own, some belonging to the enemies he had defeated. His breathing was ragged. There were deep gashes along his sides, his fur matted and torn. But even with his injuries, Magnus still fought fiercely, his powerful jaws snapping at the wolves that circled him.
"Magnus!" Xavier shouted through the Pack Mind Link, rushing forward. "You need to retreat! You're injured. Let me handle the rest!"
Magnus growled, lashing out with a fierce swipe of his claws that sent one of the rogues tumbling back. His blazing eyes glanced briefly at Xavier before he lunged at another rogue, biting down hard on its throat.
"I'm not leaving!" he roared back through the link. "They hurt her, Beta Xavier. They hurt my mate. I won't forgive them."
Blood dripped from Magnus's muzzle as he threw the limp rogue aside, his chest heaving as more rogues circled them. Xavier could feel the strain in Magnus's voice.
"You've done enough, Magnus! You need to rest. Damien and I have Andra now. She's safe! Let's get you out of here!"
Magnus shook his head violently, his eyes burning with guilt. "I failed her. I was supposed to protect her, Beta Xavier! I left her... I left her alone when she needed me most."
"You didn't fail her," Xavier insisted, rushing to his side and standing back-to-back with him, facing off against the remaining rogues. "We all agreed on this. You did what you had to do."
"She's my mate. I'm supposed to protect her, no matter what."
"We all protect her," Xavier countered, fending off a rogue that lunged toward them. "It's not just you, Magnus."
Magnus let out a frustrated growl, but he didn't argue further. Instead, they fought side by side. Every bite, every swipe of their claws, they were fighting for Andra, for the future they imagined with her.
"After this," Magnus grunted as he took down another rogue, "we'll go back. We'll take care of her, love her."
Xavier smirked, catching a rogue by the neck and snapping it cleanly. "Damn right. We'll make sure she never pulls a stunt like this again. We'll make her understand she doesn't need to run. She has us."
Magnus chuckled weakly. "Maybe... maybe we'll convince her to give us a few pups. Strong ones. Beautiful, like her."
Xavier grinned. "Oh, I'm sure she'll come around eventually. We'll just have to make sure she knows exactly how much we care."
The rogues began to thin out. Blood splattered across the ground, but they didn't stop. Blow after blow, they fought with everything they had.
Finally, the last rogue fell, its body hitting the dirt with a dull thud. Magnus and Xavier stood panting, their bodies trembling. The clearing was littered with the bodies of their enemies.
Magnus's legs then gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground, his breathing shallow. "Xavier..." he murmured weakly.
Xavier rushed to his side. "Magnus, stay with me. We're done. You did it."
Magnus's eyes fluttered, exhaustion overwhelming him. "Take care of her... if I don't make it—"
"Shut up," Xavier snapped as he shifted back into his human form, kneeling beside his companion. "You're going to make it. You're not leaving her. You're not leaving me."
Magnus managed a weak smile, but his eyes were already closing. Xavier pressed his hand against Magnus's chest, feeling the slow rise and fall of his breath. He wasn't going to let him die here. Not after everything they had fought for.