No way out

“Hayden, no! Please, no!” she begged as she clutched onto him; he had shifted back to human, and his body was badly riddled with holes from the bullet attacks as he shifted back.

The entire forest had gone silent from her piercing scream as hot tears spilled from her eyes as she held Hayden’s body in her trembling arms. “Why? Why, after what I’d done to you, I deserve this instead, so why did you block that shot with your body?”

"I told you, I would give my life for you," he sent down the bond. "I know I cannot fully have your heart or you in this life, but I will have you in the next," he said.

Elise shook her head, her eyes filled with tears of regret and sadness. “You can pull through; I know you can; please don't do this to me,” she begged. The sky darkened, and a storm brewed closer as they lay on the ground.

Rygan watched, distraught and shocked, at Hayden's bloodied body, yet his eyes scanned as he heard the humans gaining closer again. They had taken out over 40 men,