Chapter 0204


    “I’ll keep you going,” Jackson says, nodding sharply to me. “I’ll give you my magic, Ari – as much of


    it as you can hold. I think – I think with the connection between our magic, it will help speed your


    own magic, the healing included. And hopefully it will be enough to…”


    He hesitates, not wanting to say it.


    But I know precisely what he means. Enough to keep me alive.


    And then, again to my shock, Jackson stands, pulling me up with him in his arms. I moan again,


    almost a scream, as he does. But he continues, staring down at me as I pant through the pain,


    eventually opening my eyes to look up into him. “I’m getting you out, okay?” he whispers, his whole


    heart in his eyes.


    And I can feel everything down the bond – all his worry, all his grief that he just found me, that he


    could lose me so soon. But, above all, his sheer determination to make me live – even if it means


    killing himself in the process.


    “Yeah,” I reply, pathetically simple, nodding to him, letting him feel my faith.


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    Because, despite the odds, I believe him.


    Jackson nods once, sharply, and then turns in the forest, striding off through the trees. He doesn’t


    bother, anymore, to be quiet, instead stomping and moving swiftly, letting everyone hear hime.


    And even as my mind passes from state to state, concentrating on the pain and then concentrating


    on the world, I see that this, actually, was precisely his n.


    By the time we get to the bridge, every single one of the cadets who was waiting there has turned to


    us, their eyes wide. I look around at all of them through half-lidded eyes, my arms curled around


    Jackson’s neck – when did I do that? – as he holds me high against his chest.


    By their shock and their awe, I can tell that the two of us make rather an impressive sight – or, at


    least, a terrible one.


    The gigantic Alpha, the strongest Cadet in the Academy, especially enraged like this, covered in


    blood, his tiny charge curled in his arms.


    “We’re crossing this bridge,” Jackson growls, his voice loud enough that he’s shouting even though


    his words hum with anger. As I nce up I can see Jackson’s canines sharpening to points, can feel


    his fingers lengthening to ws as he looks around at every single man standing there. “Does


    anyone want to stop me!?”


    Jackson roars his final words, ring around at every single cadet, a challenge in every line of him.


    And, wisely, every single one of the cadets slowly backs away from the bridge. Because though in


    any normal moment an Alpha carried a wounded wolf would be a tempting target…


    Jackson McClintock in a killing rage, the lifeblood of his mate dripping on the forest floor?


    I mean, even if they don’t know I’m his mate…


    Nobody’s fucking with us right now.


    Jackson releases a final growl, ring around. “Any of you who give any aid to n Wright,” he


    snarls, “even a kind word or a nce…you will answer to me, on the other side.”


    Nobody says anything, but they’d be fools not to take him seriously.


    And with that, Jackson strides across the bridge, not even looking back to see if anyone takes a


    shot from behind.


    Because none of them – none are that stupid.


    I whimper, slightly, when I feel Jackson’s footsteps transition from wood to dirt and grass. Because


    now that that is finished…the hard part, it’sing now, isn’t it?


    And the pain –


    God, fuck, I’d do anything to end it, the way it radiates through me…


    “Hold on,” Jackson murmurs, his voice breaking as he slips a hand beneath my still-loose shirt,


    apparently needing the skin-to-skin contact to pass his magic to me. Ites in a flood and my


    head tilts back – because while it does nothing to stop the pain I…I do feel stronger, after the


    infusion.


    My eyes flutter open again as I look up into his face, and from the fear I see there I know I must be


    ghostly pale, looking as on the edge of death as I currently feel.


    “You hold on, okay?” he whispers, lifting me higher as he strides away from the bridge and towards


    the foot of the mountain before us. He presses a series of quick kisses to my face. “You’ll hold on?”


    “I will,” I whisper, nodding to him, trying to steel myself for what’s toe, even though I know it’s


    impossible.


    “Okay,” he whispers, and then as my eyes shut I feel Jackson take a deep, deep breath.


    And then, he starts to run.