Page 40 of Beast in the Badlands
“But you’re mine.” His voice is raw with emotion, like a beast stripped of its fangs but still fierce in its claim. “My mate.”
My heart cracks open at his declaration—an ache I can’t ignore. The way he looks at me fills me with a strange mix of longing and dread.
“If this is the man you are,” I say softly, though each word feels like glass breaking against stone, “I don’t want to be yours. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
He flinches as if I've struck him across the face. The warmth fades from his eyes, replaced by a simmering darkness that mirrors the sky outside—a storm brewing on the horizon.
I free myself from his grip and walk away before the tears have the chance to fall.
CHAPTER 31
RENN
Istand at the edge of the Coalition med zone, the morning sun barely breaking through the haze. The ruins loom behind me, crumbling remnants of what was once a thriving hub for those who believed they could help. I stare at the sky, willing Kairon and the crew to arrive, though a gnawing emptiness sits heavy in my gut. Emry's words echo in my mind, and each pulse of regret hits harder than any wound I carry.
The wind shifts, bringing a distant rumble that pulls my attention upward. A shadow breaks through the clouds—my heart races as The Vornyx descends, cutting through the gray with its angular silhouette. Relief washes over me; they’ve come.
Kairon lands with a thud that shakes the ground beneath me. He steps out first, his tall frame imposing even against the wreckage surrounding us. The crew spills out behind him, their laughter loud and raucous—a welcome sound after days of silence.
“Look at you!” one of them shouts, smirking at my state. “You look like you got dragged through a black hole!”
“Nice to see you too,” I reply dryly, but it’s hard not to crack a smile at their banter.
Kairon strides toward me, eyes sharp as they take in my bandaged legs and weary posture. “What did you do to yourself?” His voice carries that familiar mix of authority and concern.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” I grumble, but he isn’t fooled.
He steps closer, assessing every bruise and scrape with an intensity that feels almost invasive. “You’re still injured,” he states flatly, brow furrowed.
“I’ll be fine,” I insist. But even I can hear the uncertainty in my voice.
Ava appears beside Kairon, her keen gaze scanning our surroundings—taking in the chaos left behind by yesterday's battle. She squints against the sun as if trying to piece together what happened here. “Where are we?” she asks casually while moving deeper into the ruins.
“Vestra,” I reply curtly. “War for resources.”
Kairon huffs out a breath of frustration as he inspects my legs again before shaking his head like I'm a child who won’t listen. “We don’t have time for you to play hero.”
Ava catches sight of something moving in the debris—a civilian emerging cautiously from behind an overturned crate—and her expression shifts from curiosity to concern. “What about them?” she asks softly.
“They're what's left.” My chest tightens as I watch them stumble into view—a ragged group that still believes someone will save them.
"Ready t leave?" Kairon asks, slapping my shoulder.
I open my mouth, prepared to say yes, but the words don’t come. My chest throbs, my gut twists. It’s hopeless. I can’t leave.
“I can’t leave,” I finally manage, the words tasting like gravel.
Kairon gives me a puzzled look, brow furrowing. “What do you mean? Of course you can. Let’s go.”
But I stand firm, legs shaking slightly under the weight of my decision. “I won’t.”
Ava steps forward, her sharp gaze boring into me as if she’s trying to peel back layers of my defenses. The silence stretches taut between us until she pieces it together with an unsettling quickness.
“You found your mate,” she states, voice low and knowing.
I don’t need to respond. The truth hangs heavy in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst.
Kairon blinks at me, shock evident on his face. “Well, I’ll be damned. How did you know?”
