Chapter 162

Chapter 162

ARIA

Jordan called out that the vehicles were ready. Kael guided me toward the one we’d be traveling in-more heavily armored than our original vehicle, with Jordan driving and two guards positioned in the back seat with us.

As we settled in for the journey, I caught sight of something that made my chest tight. The vials that Jordan had mentioned-Ivory’s accelerants-several of them were being carefully collected by pack members. Preserved as evidence or maybe for future use or analysis.

Ivory had saved us. Had provided the exact tool that made rapid response possible. Had created compounds that pushed wolves beyond their normal capabilities, turning certain defeat into hard-won victory.

Once again, Ivory had been the one to make the critical difference. The one whose contributions saved lives and solved problems and proved invaluable.

And I was the one who kept causing problems that needed solving.

The thought was bitter but I couldn’t quite dismiss it.

The journey back to Shadowmere was tense. Everyone remained on high alert, watching for signs of another ambush, ready to respond to any threat. But no attack came. The forest remained quiet except for the sound of our vehicles navigating the roads.

Gradually, the terrain became familiar. We crossed into Shadowmere territory and everyone visibly relaxed slightly. Home ground. Where we had advantages. Where reinforcements were close and enemies would think twice before attacking.

“Medical team is waiting at the pack house,” Jordan reported. “I radioed ahead. They’re prepared to treat everyone who needs attention p>

“Good,” Kael said. “Luna Aria gets checked first. Then Nina and anyone else who was injured p>

“I’m not hurt,” I protested. “Nina needs p>

“Nina is stable and can wait the extra five minutes it takes to ensure you’re uninjured,” Kael said firmly. “You’re Luna. You get treated first. That’s protocol p>

I wanted to argue but recognized it would be pointless. And truthfully, I was shaking badly enough that having a medical professional confirm I was physically unharmed might help settle my nerves.

The pack house came into view eventually. A crowd had gathered-pack members waiting anxiously for news, medical teams standing ready with equipment, warriors positioned defensively in case we’d been followed.

And standing slightly apart from everyone else, watching our arrival with intense focus, was Ivory. She’d changed from whatever she’d been wearing earlier into practical work clothes, her hair pulled back,

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her expression clinical and assessing But when our vehicle stopped and Karl helped me out, I saw her eyes sweep over me with something that might have been concern

Or maybe it was just professional interest in checking whether her Alpha’s mate had survived the crisis her compounds had helped revolve.

“Everyone inside, she commanded, her voice carrying authority that made pack members immediately obey: “Injured to the medical wing. Those who took accelerants need monitoring. Side effects are still unpredictable. Move

The pack mobilized according to her directions. Nina was helped inside immediately, protests about waiting for me apparently overruled by medical necessity. Other injured wolves followed, with Ivory’s assistants-including Margo, I noticed-triaging and directing people to appropriate treatment areas.

Ivory herself approached us, her golden eyes fixed on Kael first, scanning him for injuries with clinical precision

“You’re covered in blood,” she observed. “How much of it is yours p>

“None,” Kael said. ‘I’m uninjured. But Aria needs to be checked. She was under fire, trapped in a confined space during the fighting. I want to make sure p>

“I can see Luna Aria standing and walking under her own power,” Ivory interrupted. “Which suggests no critical injuries. But yes, I’ll examine her. Come with me p>

She turned and headed inside without waiting to see if I’d follow. Just assuming I would obey because she’d given an instruction.

Kael squeezed my hand. “Go. Let her check you over. I need to coordinate with security about defense preparations in case Damon tries another assault. I’ll find you as soon as I’m done p>

I nodded and followed Ivory inside, through corridors that were busy with organized chaos as the pack responded to the crisis. She led me to a small examination room-not her main laboratory but a medical space designed for quick assessments.

“Sit,” she instructed, pointing to an exam table.

I obeyed, watching as she washed her hands with thorough precision before approaching me. Her touch was impersonal as she checked my pulse, examined my eyes, palpated my neck and shoulders checking for hidden injuries.

“Any pain?” she asked. “Anywhere you got hit by bullets or debris p>

“No,” I said. “I stayed hidden like Kael told me to. I didn’t get hurt p>

“Physically,” Ivory clarified. “But trauma isn’t always physical. You were in a combat situation. Saw people die. Almost got captured by your ex-mate. That’s going to have psychological impact even if you’re not bleeding.

The acknowledgment surprised me. I hadn’t expected Ivory to consider mental and emotional wellbeing as part of her assessment.

“I’m okay,” I said, though my voice shook slightly. “Just scared. Relieved we survived. Guilty that people got

hurt because of me p>

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People got hurt because roques attacked. Ivory corrected, echoing what Nina and Karl had said. “You didn’t cause this, Luma Aria. You were the target, but that doesn’t make you responsible for

r violence others chose to commit p>

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