Chapter 171
Annalise
“No,” Dane rasped. His hand found my waist, holding me like he never wanted to let go. “Don’t betray... mate.”
My eyes watered. Not from weakness—but because I knew. I knew what I had to do. And it would break them. It would break me.
Even if they left now, they’d return. They’d fight again. And we would lose each other forever. But if I stayed behind—if I took that choice away from them—they had a chance. A life. A future.
I made my decision.
“Lucien,” I said through the mind link. Now.
A portal shimmered into life beside me, dark and ancient, cut into reality like a wound. Lucien stepped through in his massive wolf form, his eyes glowing with worry, a vial clutched delicately in his mouth.
I took it from him and knelt. “After this, I’ll help you get them out.
