NovelGoldOnce the pair disappeared around the cabin, Rowan handedmy shovel, but | held up a finger. | moved over
to Ternen. “Hey friend.” | wiped his hair out of his face. “I know you are worried about her.” Rowan cup
behind me. | could feel his strength trying to seep into me, but | pushed it away. | didn’t deserve the peace he
was offering. “You probably don’t believewhen | say I'll watch over her. | was supposed to watch over you
too, and now look at us.” My voice caught. “I'm so fucking sorry.”
“Amy.” Rowan reached forbut | shook my head. “This isn’t your fault.”
| couldn't stop the chuckle that left my lips, but it quickly turned into a sob. | slapped a hand over my mouth
trying to push it all away. | didn’t have tto break down. “It is.” | looked back down at Ternen and | cupped his
cold cheek. “He was alive, and warm less than an hour ago. | should have been faster.” | shook my head again.
“He's dead because of me.”
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Rowan dropped next to me. “He's dead because Garith sent men here knowing it was important to you.” He
turned my face. Ternen gave his life to protect his mate and his twins. You don’t get to take that away from him
because you are feeling guilty.” Rowan’s eyes held mine.
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“I'm not.” | shook my head and tried to argue.
“You are. You are taking his loss on when he fought tooth and nail for his family.” Rowan leaned in and kissed my
forehead.” He was an omega who fought off rogues. Do you know how rare that is?”
I nodded. “Of course | do.”
Rowan looked down at Ternen. “I don’t think you do. Omegas usually cower, and | don’t say that as an insult.
Their wolves are just too weak. Normally they run away and hide if they can.”
“And if they can’t?” My words were soft, but | already knew the answer.
“They accept their fate and let themselves return to the Moon Goddess. But Ternen, he ran towards the danger.
He fought and killed ranked wolves to save his mate and their pups. He knew he didn’t have a chance...”
“Then why did he do it?” | wanted to scream.
“You know why.” Rowan looked at me. “You saw exactly what | saw.” | closed my eyes, and | shook my head.
“No.” | didn’t want to think about it.
“Yes.” Rowan’s fingers slid into mine. “Alannah was being pulled to the woods, and Ternen was running after
them.” Rowan’s words were soft.
| just kept shaking my head. “No.” The ache in my chest tightened but no matter what I said, | knew he was
going to finish what he was saying.
“You were fighting to reach the edge of the circle, and right before Ternen ran into the trees he looked back and
saw you were coming. He knew you weren't close enough.” Rowan tightened his hands as | tried to pull away.
“You're wrong.”
“Oh, baby, | wish | were.” He pulledto his chest. “But you and both know he saw you would not make it. We
both watched his face. He made a choice. His life for theirs. His life to give you enough tto reach Alannah. To
save her.”
“No.” | felt the word ripped from my chest. The dam broke, and | felt hot tears hit my cheeks.
My mate kissedand then pulled away. “He made the decision that his life was worth hers. And he wasn’t
wrong.” | reeled back as if | had been slapped.
‘How could you say that?”
He lifted a hand to cup my face. “Because | would make the sdecision in the blink of an eye. Your life is
worth more than mine, ten times over. | would sacrifice myself for you, for our pups His sad smile broke a sliver
off my heart. | just shook my
head.
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“You're wrong. You're the king.” | tried to pull out of his arms.
But he just kissed my lips. “You are the queen. My life, my heart, and the only thing that has keptgoing these
last few years. | would die for you. And Ternen did that for his mate, for their pups Don’t diminish his sacrifice
just because you feel guilty.” | stared up at Rowan, and | felt the truth in his words.
| knew | was dead as soon as | started running after Alannah. | just had to fight long enough to make sure you
could get there to save her. Ternen’s sweet voice whispered in my ear.
“You did it.” | whispered back as | turned back to my friend. | grabbed him in my arms. “You saved them.” |
kissed his forehead and leaned him against the tree. “Now it’s tto rest.”
TID BONUSE
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