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Chapter 19
In the afternoon, Lucas drove an old pack truck out of the outpost. Upbeat music played softly over the speakers, and his large fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel in time with the beat.
Look over there,” he said, pointing out the window toward the frozen mountains.
‘Does that look like a giant wolf’s spine to you? The harsh wind and snow are nature’s master sculptors.”
I looked in the direction he was pointing. Centuries of winter storms had carved the dark rocks into deep ridges, glowing with a heavy, silver hue under the weak sun.
It looks dead now, but millions of years ago, this was likely a massive hunting ground for our ancestors. The world is always changing. Nothing stays the same forever.”
Lucas pulled the truck over on a snowy slope. He nimbly grabbed his supply kit and led me up the hillside. He pointed to a patch of lark dirt beneath the snow.
Look at the soil. This is a record of ancient pack battles. The earth remembers everything.”
He picked up a small, smooth white stone and handed it to me.
In the face of time, our personal heartbreaks and pack dramas are tiny. So, when life gets messy, just look at the horizon. It helps.”
gripped the cold stone, staying silent. But I felt the heavy tension in my shoulders begin to melt away. His warm amber scent nixed with the freezing air, making me feel incredibly safe.
On the drive back, Lucas didn’t push me with fake words of comfort. He just chatted about tracking wild snow-deer, keeping the tmosphere relaxed and easy.
Suddenly, the truck’s radio crackled to life with a panicked voice. “Emergency! Defense Ward No. 3 is failing! Silver-mist is leaking nto the territory! Emergency repairs needed immediately!”
ucas grabbed the radio instantly. “Copy that! We’re on our way!”
He turned to me, explaining quickly, “That’s a critical border defense. If the ward breaks completely, rogues can flood into the
utpost.”
didn’t hesitate. “I’m coming with you. I know how to mix the neutralizing herbs to fix the silver seals.”
When we arrived at the site, the air was thick with a toxic, pale mist. I was surprised to find Alpha Silas already there.
iilas’s face was deathly pale, and his breathing was shallow and fast. It was clear the toxic silver-mist in the harsh border nvironment was triggering a severe rejection reaction in his pure-blood Alpha system. But he was still stubbornly trying to e-draw the glowing runes on the stone pillar.
When he saw me pull up with Lucas, his golden eyes darkened with anger.
What’s the situation?” Lucas asked, stepping out of the truck and cutting straight to the point.
iilas’s voice sounded strained. “The silver seals are cracked. The ancient paint is worn out.”
He tried to dip his brush into a jar of liquid silver to fix the rune, but his hands were shaking so much the brush slipped, splattering he precious liquid on the snow.
Careful.” Lucas stepped forward and swiftly took the brush from his trembling hand.
Don’t force it, Alpha. Your lungs can’t handle this mist,” Lucas said. “Get the neutralizing powder and the heavy tools!”
As Lucas worked with practiced, powerful ease, he called out to me without even looking up. “Harper, check the mixture ratio for he spare seals.”
I quickly opened my medical bag. “The ratio matches. The herb grade is strong enough.”
16:18
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A sudden gust of wind blew through, carrying a thick cloud of toxic silver-mist. Silas began to cough violently as the mist hit him. He swayed on his feet, his knees buckling.
Lucas grabbed Silas’s arm with one hand to steady him. The sheer strength in Lucas’s grip made Silas flinch. “Alpha Silas, you’re poisoned by the environment. Go rest in your warm car. We’ve got this handled.”
Silas looked like he wanted to growl and refuse, but a wave of dizziness hit him hard. He was forced to lean against his luxury vehicle, watching helplessly as Lucas and I worked together in perfect sync.
As Lucas redrew the heavy defense runes, I handed him the herbal mixtures and chanted the stabilizing words. Our efficiency was ¡eamless. We moved like we had been partners for years.
Watching us, Silas felt a dull, agonizing ache in his chest.
He probably remembered the past-how I used to assist him in the Headquarters just like this, silently handing him pens and files. But he had never truly “seen” me then.
Now, standing in the freezing snow, he realized that without him, I had a light of my own. A light so bright and steady that it was hard for him to even look at.
Done! The ward is sealed!” Lucas wiped a smudge of glowing paint from his forehead.
The large stone pillar hummed, and the toxic mist began to fade. The border was safe again.
The truck cabin was quiet on the ride back. Silas sat in his own car, but I knew he was watching us pull away.
Lucas focused on the icy road, occasionally glancing at me in the rearview mirror.
watched the dark forest outside, the setting sun casting a golden glow over my face.
Thanks for today,” I said softly, my gaze still fixed on the horizon.
Lucas quirked a dark eyebrow. “For what? It’s part of the job. Though, I have to say, your knowledge of herbs and your cool head are ven better than I imagined.”
turned to look at him, a real smile touching my lips. “I wouldn’t call myself an expert. But doing the work out here with my own hands feels a lot more real than just staring at papers all day.”
Lucas laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that made my inner wolf stretch happily. “I like that! I’ve always liked your tough attitude.”
The truck pulled up in front of the Omega cabins. Lucas jumped out and helped me carry my heavy herbal bags to my door. “We’ll ouch base tomorrow for the new formulas.”
Sounds good, I agreed.
Lucas watched me walk inside before turning to leave. To him, the freezing winter night in the Badlands didn’t feel so lonely
nymore.
But down the road, sitting alone in the back seat of his warm, expensive car, Silas watched Lucas’s departing back. His fists were lenched so tight his claws pierced his own palms.
He had intended to use this repair mission to prove to me that he wasn’t useless out here. Instead, it had felt like a clumsy, :mbarrassing performance. It only served to highlight how strong, capable, and reliable someone else was.
A sense of complete failure and panic tightly wrapped around his throat.
