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"I can't give her everything."

Mate needs.

"She needs us to get her home too."

He growls, but he understands. I find the balance and hold it. A steady stream of Alpha energy flows through our bond, enough to strengthen Arlene and her wolf without draining the power I need to run. It's working. She's not healing. I can still feel the weakness from the poison, and blood continues soaking through her shirt, but her heartbeat is steadier.

That's enough. It has to be.

I brace her against my chest, careful not to let the dagger shift.

Then I run.

Rylan takes off beside me with Selena in his arms. Our warriors move with us, some shifting while others stay human, but the only thing I see is the path ahead.

Silver Moon.

Home.

There isn't a human hospital close enough to help us. There isn't an allied pack anywhere near this territory. Silver Moon is our only chance.

Rylan opens the pack link while we run. "Silver Moon warriors, our Luna and Beta Female are hurt. We're returning to pack territory now. Clear the route and alert the hospital. I want healers ready the second we arrive."

Selena cries out in his arms as another contraction hits. Rylan tightens his hold without slowing.

"The Luna is in active labor. The Beta Female has a silver chest wound. The weapon is still embedded, and she isn't healing."

My throat closes at the words.

She isn't healing.

Arlene whimpers against me as my foot hits uneven ground. Pain tears through our bond, sharp enough that I nearly stumble.

"I'm sorry."

"Hurts..."

"I know. I know, baby."

I adjust my arms around her, trying to keep her body from bouncing against my chest while I run. There's no way to do this without hurting her. Every stride sends another jolt through her body, but slowing down means leaving that dagger inside her longer.

Faster hurts her.

Slower could kill her.

Tears spill down my face as I push forward. "Stay with me."

"Trying..."

My wolf reaches for hers. Mate.

A pause follows before her wolf finally answers.

Here.

I breathe again.

The warriors are falling behind us. I can hear them moving through the trees, boots pounding against dirt and wolves crashing through the brush. Men call to one another as they race through territory none of us knows well enough.