CHAPTER 32

Sacrifices

"You're hesitating."

Flora's voice cut like a blade through the silence. Adrian stood at the edge of the clearing, his fists clenched, his jaw tight. It was thick with tension; the weight of his decision pressed down on him like a storm, threatening to break loose.

"I'm not," he finally said, though even he didn't believe the words.

Flora took another step in closer. "Yes, you are."

Adrian turned to her; eyes dark, unreadable. "You don't understand."

Flora's face hardened. "Then make me understand."

He exhaled hard, running a hand through his hair. "If I go after Lorne, I leave the pack vulnerable. If I stay, I let him get away. Either way, someone loses."

Flora watched him. "And you think you have to make that choice alone?"

Adrian didn't answer.

She shook her head. "You always do this. You take everything on yourself, like you're the only one who can fix it."

"Because it's my responsibility," he snapped.

Flora didn't flinch. "No. It's our responsibility. Yours. Mine. Jace's. The packs." She stepped closer, her voice softer now. "You're not alone in this, Adrian."

His throat worked as he swallowed. "If I make the wrong call, people die.

"And if you don't call at all?"

She pressed

He said nothing.

A rustling behind turned them both, and Jace emerged from the trees, an unhappy mask pulling his face low. "We don't have time for this. Lorne's on the move again".

Adrian stood tall. "Where?

South, toward the border. If we wait any longer, we lose our chance to stop him." Jace hesitated, then added, "Some of the pack is questioning your next move. They need an answer, Adrian."

Adrian looked at Flora and then back at Jace again.

"I'll lead a team after him," Adrian finally said. "But I need to leave enough fighters behind to hold the camp."

Jace nodded. "That's the smart play.

Flora's jaw clenched. "I'm coming."

Adrian had already turned toward her, his head shaking. "No." 

"Yes." 

"No." 

"Adrian—"

"This isn't up for debate." Low and firm. "You're still injured. You stay here." 

Flora glared at him. "I've fought through worse." 

He clamped his jaw down. "I won't risk you." 

Flora's eyes flashed. "Then what am I supposed to do? Sit here and wait while you—"

"Yes," he cut in. "That's exactly what you're supposed to do."

She watched him, her eyes blazing with anger and frustration.

Jace cleared his throat. "Uh… if you two are done?"

Neither of them so much as looked away.

Flora let out a hard breath. "Fine. But if you don't come back, I'm dragging your sorry ass back from the afterlife myself."

Adrian smirked, his shoulders relaxing just a fraction. "Noted."

Jace rolled his eyes. "Alright, lovebirds. Let's move."

The chase was brutal.

Adrian, Jace, and a small group of fighters followed Lorne’s trail through the dense forest, moving swiftly, silently. Every snapped twig, every distant sound sent a fresh jolt of adrenaline through Adrian’s veins.

They were close.

Too close.

Jace signalled for them to stop. He crouched low, eyes scanning the trees ahead. “He knows we’re following him.”

Adrian nodded. “Good.”

Jace raised an eyebrow. “Good?”

“He won’t run. He’ll set a trap.”

Jace smirked. "Great. Love walking into those."

Adrian didn't smile. "Be ready."

They moved forward cautiously. The air grew still, heavy with the weight of something unseen.

Then—

A gunshot.

Adrian barely had time to react before a figure lunged at him from the shadows. He twisted, dodging the strike, driving his elbow into his attacker's ribs.

The fight erupted in an instant.

Lorne's men seemed to materialize out of nowhere—blades flashing, fists flying. The forest was alive with the sounds of battle.

Jace took down one of the attackers with a well-placed strike, dodging a second with practiced ease. "Told you it was a trap!"

Adrian didn't answer. He was too busy fighting.

He blocked a knife, twisting the man's arm until the blade clattered to the ground. A second attacker lunged, but Adrian was faster-spinning, driving a hard kick into the man's chest.

Then, amidst the chaos-

Lorne.

Standing just beyond the trees, watching. Waiting.

Adrian locked eyes with him, and in that second, everything else faded.

Lorne smirked. "You always were predictable."

Adrian didn't falter. He charged.

Their fight was brutal, quick. Lorne was big, good, but Adrian had something inside of him.

Rage.

Loyalty.

Flora.

Lorne swung, but Adrian dodged and struck back with a hard strike against his ribs. Lorne stumbled but then recovered fast, slashing out with a hidden blade. Adrian barely avoided it, feeling the sting of metal grazing his skin.

"You think you can win this?" Lorne taunted.

Adrian didn't answer. He just fought.

Blow after blow. Strike after strike. The battle was relentless.

Then—

A mistake.

Lorne lunged; blade aimed for Adrian's heart.

Adrian barely had time to react.

Pain exploded in his side as the knife connected.

But he didn't fall.

Didn't stop.

With a roar, he grabbed Lorne by the throat and slammed him against a tree.

Lorne gasped, struggling. "You… won't… kill me."

Adrian's grip tightened. His vision blurred at the edges.

He could end it.

Right here. Right now.

One move.

One choice.

But the sound of Flora's voice echoed in his mind.

You are not the only one in this.

Adrian blew out a hard breath, then released Lorne.

Lorne coughed, tumbled forward. "You… coward."

Adrian hit him—hard.

Lorne dropped to the ground, out cold.

Jace appeared at his elbow. "Well. That was dramatic."

Adrian swayed, a little.

Jace caught his arm. "Whoa. You good?"

Adrian exhaled. "I have been better."

Jace looked down at the unconscious Lorne. "What now?"

Adrian's fist clenched.

"We take him back."

Jace sighed. "Flora's gonna kill you.

Adrian smirked, despite the pain. “Yeah.”

Then—darkness.

Adrian woke up to pain.

And Flora.

Her face was the first thing he saw, her expression a mix of relief and fury.

“You’re an idiot,” she said.

He smiled weakly. “Hi.”

Flora exhaled sharply. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.”

He chuckled, then winced. “Noted.”

Flora’s fingers brushed his cheek. “You scared me.”

“I’m okay.”

She shook her head. “No. You’re alive. That’s different.”

He reached for her hand. "We got him."

She nodded. "Yeah."

A pause.

Then-softly, "Was it worth it?"

Adrian squeezed her hand. "Yes."

Flora exhaled, then leaned down, pressing her forehead against his.

"Then don't make me do this without you."

He closed his eyes. "I won't."