Page 22 of Pack to the Wall

Chrissy knelt beside them, her hand gentle on Jonah's arm. "Hey, little adventurer. We've got you now."

The boy blinked up at her, then at Zev. "You broughther?"

Zev arched a brow. "Problem with that?"

Jonah grinned, suddenly cheeky. "Nope. But Grandma Rosa's gonnafreakwhen she hears Chrissy Rivera crawled through a cave for me."

Their laughter echoed off the cave walls, relief washing over them in waves. Zev ran his large hand through his brown hair, his wolf settling now that they'd found the lost pup. As the initial relief subsided, his alpha instincts kicked in, his eyes scanning Jonah for injuries. The boy's posture was off, and that's when Zev noticed it—Jonah's right foot wedged between two jutting rocks. The boy's forced smile and the tightness around his eyes told Zev everything. The kid was worried but trying to be brave for his Alpha.

"Jonah," Zev's voice dropped an octave, commanding but gentle. "Why didn't you tell me your foot was stuck?"

The boy's eyes widened, his bottom lip quivering slightly again. "I didn't want to—I thought I could?—"

"I'm going to send word through the pack link," Zev interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. "Let them know we found you and that you're safe."

Chrissy knelt close beside Jonah. "Jonah," Her voice was soft velvet in the cave's stillness. "Want to hear something brand new? Something nobody else has heard yet?"

Jonah nodded, his attention momentarily diverted from his trapped foot.

As Zev closed his eyes to concentrate on the pack link, Chrissy began to sing. The melody started low, almost a whisper, before lifting into something hauntingly beautiful. Her voice filled the cave with raw emotion—not the polished performance he'd seen on videos, but something organic and pure.

Focus.Zev forced himself to concentrate, reaching out to the others through their mental connection.We found him. He's safe. Stuck, but we're freeing him now. Meet us at the lava tube cave entrance.

He opened his eyes to find Jonah mesmerized by Chrissy's song, the fear temporarily forgotten in his wide-eyed wonder. Her lyrics spoke of finding light in darkness and of adventure and coming home. It was as though she'd crafted it on the spot just for this moment and just for this boy.

"I need to move these rocks," Zev said, interrupting the song with reluctance. "It might hurt a little."

Chrissy never stopped singing, only shifted to kneel behind Jonah, wrapping her arms around his small body and supporting him. Her eyes locked with Zev's over the boy's head, nodding in silent understanding.

Zev positioned his hands on the rocks, his fingers digging into the crevices. His muscles bunched beneath his shirt as he braced himself. With one powerful motion, he wrenched the rocks apart, creating just enough space for Jonah's foot to slip free.

The moment he was released, Jonah's brave facade crumbled. Tears streamed down his face as he launched himself into Chrissy's arms, burying his face against her neck.

"It's okay," she murmured between verses, never breaking her song. "You're the bravest explorer I've ever met."

Before Zev could reach for him, Chrissy had already stood, somehow managing to lift Jonah onto her back in a single graceful movement. The boy's arms wrapped around her neck, his tearstained face pressed against her shoulder.

"Lead the way, Alpha," she said with a wink that sent heat surging through Zev's body.

His wolf preened.Look at our mate. Strong. Caring. Carrying our pack's young.

Zev didn't bother arguing with her, partly out of respect for her determination, and partly because the sight of her with a pack child on her back stirred something primal in him. Instead, he flashed her a smile that showed just enough of his canines to be a reminder of what he was.

"This way," he said, his voice rough with something more than concern for Jonah.

The trip back seemed faster. Zev stayed close enough to Chrissy to catch her if she stumbled, but she moved with surprising confidence through the narrow passages, singing softly to Jonah the entire way.

When they finally emerged from the cave, the night air felt electric against his skin. The sounds of people—his pack—crashed through the underbrush, reaching them moments before two figures burst into the clearing. Jonah's parents.

"Mama!" Jonah cried, his voice breaking.

His mother rushed forward, sobbing as she pulled her son from Chrissy's back and clutched him to her chest. His father wrapped his arms around them both, pressing kisses to the boy's head.

Chrissy stepped back into the shadows, giving the family space. Zev watched her face as she observed the reunion—the soft parting of her lips, the gentle moisture gathering in her eyes,and the way she hugged her arms around herself. She looked awed and wistful, like she was witnessing something alien yet beautiful.

Zev moved to her side, drawn by an instinct deeper than thought. "You were incredible in there."

Chrissy's eyes remained on the family, now surrounded by arriving pack members offering comfort and relief. "This is..." She gestured to the scene. "It's nice to see. Everyone coming together like this."

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