The Wolfless Luna's Revenge: Returning With His Secret Twins-Chapter 283

~Samantha~

Killian’s cough started small, just a little clearing of his throat on the drive back from Black Moon’s residence.

By the time we pulled into the manor, it sounded like his lungs were trying to escape through his mouth.

I watched him stumble out of the car, one hand pressed to his ribs. "That’s not a normal cough."

"I’m fine." He waved me off, but his hand came away from his mouth with purple smeared across his fingers again. He tried to hide it by shoving his hand in his pocket.

Too late. I’d already seen it.

"You’re coughing up shadow corruption." I grabbed his arm before he could walk away. "That’s the curse getting worse and you know it."

"Sam, leave it alone."

"No, I won’t. I can’t watch you die because of your stubbornness." I bit down on my already-healing palm, reopening the wound. "Give me your hand."

"I don’t need to."

"I didn’t ask nicely and don’t make me say it again." My voice was dead serious.

He stared at me for a long second, then sighed and held out his hand.

I pressed my bleeding palm against his. Blood to blood. Skin to skin.

The pull happened immediately. That draining sensation as my royal blood flowed into him, seeking out the shadow corruption and burning it away.

Killian’s eyes closed. His whole body relaxed like he’d been holding tension for hours and finally let it go.

"Better?" I asked after a minute.

"Yeah." His voice was rough. "Thanks."

"Don’t thank me. Just stop being an egoistic dickhead when you need help."

A throat cleared behind us.

I turned to find Dominic standing there, arms crossed, face like a thunderstorm.

"How touching." His voice dripped sarcasm. "The damsel saving the wounded wolf."

"Dominic, don’t be like that." I warned him.

"No, I get it." He stepped closer, eyes locked on where my hand still touched Killian’s. "He coughs a few times, looks pathetic, and you come running with your magic healing blood. Very convenient for him."

"You clearly saw I told her not to worry about it. Of course, your jealous ass would ignore that." Killian pulled his hand away from mine.

"Oh spare me all that pretense." Dominic’s jaw was locked tight. "You’ve been playing the suffering hero since day one. Poor Killian with his curse. Poor Killian who needs constant saving. Must be nice having Sam drop everything every time you make a pained face."

"Are you serious right now?" I stepped between them. "He’s actually sick, Dominic. The curse is eating him alive and you think he’s faking for attention?"

"I think he knows exactly what he’s doing." Dominic’s eyes never left Killian’s face. "Using his condition to gain sympathy. To get close to you. To play the tragic figure who needs rescuing."

"You’re being silly."

"Am I?" He finally looked at me. "He could go to any healer. Any pack doctor. But somehow he always ends up needing you specifically. Your blood. Your touch. How convenient."

"Dominic, stop it this instant!"

"No, he’s right." Killian said. "I should go. Before this gets worse."

He turned and walked toward his car before I could stop him.

I rounded on Dominic. "What is wrong with you?"

"What’s wrong with me?" He laughed but there was no humor in it. "What’s wrong is watching you bleed yourself dry for a guy who’s been circling you like a vulture for months. What’s wrong is him always being there, always needing something, always finding reasons to touch you."

"He has a curse! He’s dying!"

"And he’s using that to manipulate you!" Dominic’s voice rose. "Can’t you see it? Every time he coughs, you drop everything. Every time he looks weak, you rush to save him. He’s got you wrapped around his finger and you don’t even realize it."

My hand connected with his face before I could think.

The slap echoed across the driveway.

Dominic’s head snapped to the side. When he looked back at me, his cheek was bright red.

"Killian is dying," I said slowly, each word sharp as glass. "And instead of having an ounce of compassion, you’re standing here accusing him of manipulation because you’re jealous. That’s really low of you."

I walked away before he could respond.

Inside, Reynold was waiting in the entrance hall, looking grim.

Perfect. More bad news. Just what I needed.

"Reynold. Please tell me you have good news."

"Depends on your definition of good." He held up a folder. "I’ve been digging into the Silver Claw Clan’s disappearance. Talked to some old contacts who don’t officially exist anymore."

"And?"

"There are survivors. Silver Claw members who weren’t at the residence when Black Moon attacked." He opened the folder, showing me a map. "They’re imprisoned. Shadow Valley, right on the edge of Black Forest territory."

My heart jumped. "How many?"

"At least five. Maybe more. My source wasn’t certain but said the valley has been under shadow guard for the past decade." He pointed to a spot on the map. "Here. About three hours northeast."

"We have to get them out." I was already moving toward the armory. "Now. Before Black Moon realizes we know."

"Sam, wait." Reynold followed. "Shadow Valley is heavily guarded. You can’t just walk in."

"I’m ready to face any risk."

Footsteps behind us. Dominic appeared, jaw still tight from our fight.

"If you’re going to Shadow Valley, I’m coming with you." His tone left no room for argument.

"I think it will be better if I did this on my own."

"You’re not walking into enemy territory without backup and that’s final." He grabbed weapons from the armory wall. "End of discussion."

More footsteps. Killian stood in the doorway, looking pale but still determined.

"I’m coming too."

"Shouldn’t you be on your death bed?" Dominic didn’t even look at him. "You’re too weak. You’ll slow us down with babysitting."

"I can handle myself very well."

"Like you handled that experimental subject? Oh wait, you got thrown into a wall within thirty seconds."

"Dominic." My voice was ice. "Enough with the dry jokes."

"I’m just being realistic. He’s a liability in his condition."

"And you’re being an ass." Killian moved into the room. "But I’m still coming. Those are my pack’s allies in that valley. I’m not sitting at home while they suffer."

Dominic turned to face him fully. "This isn’t about alliance. This is about you finding another excuse to play and get Sam’s attention."

"You have deluded yourself too much." Killian’s hands curled into fists.

"And you know I’m only exposing your pathetic act."

"Both of you shut up!" I grabbed weapons for myself, shoving them into a pack. "We’re all going. We rescue the Silver Claw survivors. We come back. And you two are going to keep your stupid jealousy and posturing locked down until we’re done. Clear?"

They glared at each other but nodded.

"Good. We leave in ten minutes. Get your gear."

I headed upstairs to grab more supplies and check on the twins before we left.

Their door was cracked open. I pushed it wider.

Empty room. Beds made. No sign of them.

My heart jumped into my throat. "Devon? Diana?"

"In here!" Diana’s voice came from my bedroom.

I walked in to find both twins crouched by my travel backpack, stuffing something inside.

"What are you doing?"

They both jumped like I’d caught them stealing.

"Nothing!" Devon said too quickly.

"Doesn’t look like nothing." I moved closer. "What’s in the bag?"

"Purification sachets," Diana admitted, not meeting my eyes. "The ones we made. We thought you might need them."

I noticed Devon slip something else into my bag when he thought I wasn’t looking.

After they left the room, I checked.

A folded piece of paper with a photo taped to it.

The photo was from last month. All four of us, me, Dominic, Devon, and Diana at the twins’ birthday party. Everyone smiling. Happy.

Under it, in Devon’s careful handwriting:

Mommy, come on, we’re waiting for you at home.

My throat closed up.

I tucked the note into my pocket and shouldered the bag, now full of my kids’ homemade magical protection sachets that could probably blow my hand off if used wrong.

The thought should’ve scared me.

Instead it made me smile.

Downstairs, Dominic and Killian were loading the car in hostile silence.

"You take the front," Dominic told me. "Killian can sit in back."

"I’m not sitting in back like a child."

"Then stay home like a child."

“There’s no way I’m staying home because you cannot protect her.”

“How can you be more concerned over someone else’s wife?”

I climbed into the driver’s seat. "I swear to the goddess above, if you both don’t get in this minute, I’m going to zoom off."

“This is exactly why I wanted to do this alone in the first place because you both can never stop arguing.”

“Blame him, I can fully protect you without his help so I don’t get why he has to be a third wheel.” Dominic pointed fingers before getting into the passenger seat, leaving Killian with no choice but sit at the back.