<b>Chapter </b><b>112 </b>


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    Noah was a force of nature, his long strides eating up the yard as he gathered more pups into his arms. The youngest, Henry, clung to him, little fingers curled in his shirt, their wide eyes locked on the nightmare unfolding around them. He shoved through the orphanage door, barking orders for Nanna to take them deeper inside, then spun back toward the fight without hesitation. Layah was already a streak of ck and me, tearing into the nearest rogue. Her jaws locked around its neck, snapping with a sound


    that cut through the chaos. She tossed the limp body aside before charging the next.. Levi and Haiden burst out, moving with deadly precision. Levi snatched up two trembling boys,


    hauling them toward the door, while Haiden threw himself between a young girl and a lunging wolf, catching the rogue mid–air and driving it into the dirt. I kept Elliot and


    Macey behind me, my magicshing out in bursts to push back anything that got too


    close. But they were everywhere, fast, unpredictable,ing from every angle. The circle


    tightened, shadows shifting as fur and teeth darted in and out of reach. Too many. Too


    close.


    My heart stuttered when I realized the next lunge would be too fast for me to block both kids, and then Elliot stepped forward. The air around him went still, unnaturally still. The shadows stretched toward. His eyes zed white, and when the first rogue closed the gap, he reached out and pulled. Its soul ripped free in a twisting wail, vanishing into him like smoke into wind. The rogue’s body copsed, and Elliot turned on the next without hesitation. One by one, the snarls turned to silence as he drained them, leaving nothing but still forms in his wake. When it was over, he stood breathing hard, thest traces of shadow retreating into his small frame. His gaze darted instantly to Macey, worry flickering across his face.


    “I… I didn’t scare you, did I?” His voice was soft, almost afraid. “I didn’t want-”


    “You’re my hero!” she interrupted, her eyes wide not with fear, but with awe. Sheunched herself at him, nearly knocking him over as she wrapped her arms tight around


    his neck.


    He froze for a second, then hugged her back just as fiercely, his face buried in her hair, and in that moment, despite the bodies around us, despite the adrenaline still thrumming in my veins, I knew this was a turning point. He was going to learn one way or another that it didn’t matter what he was; he was family, he is loved, and he is fucking special.


    The courtyard was eerily quiet now, broken only by the sound of panting, mine, my mates,


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    <b>1 </b>


    13:29 Wed, Sep 3 <b>GB </b>


    even some of the kids who had run until they couldn’t anymore. The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air. Haiden moved first, scooping up a small girl who had been frozen against the fence and carrying her toward the orphanage doors. Levi was right behind him, gently herding two older boys inside. Noah stayed near the doorway, scanning the yard to make sure nothing had been missed. I guided Macey and Elliot toward the steps, my hands steady on their shoulders even though my own pulse was still racing. Layah trotted alongside us in hellhound form, her dark fur flecked with ash and blood. Inside, the caretakers bustled about, gathering the children in themon room. nkets appeared from nowhere, cups of warm tea were pressed into trembling hands. The scent of cinnamon biscuits drifted faintly from the kitchen, an anchor in the chaos. Elliot stayed close to Macey’s side, but I could feel it, the tightness in him. The way his gaze kept dropping to his hands as if they might still hold some of what he’d taken.


    I knelt in front of him, resting my hands lightly on his shoulders. “Hey. Look at me.”


    He did, reluctantly.


    “You saved them,” I said softly. “You saved all of them.”


    His throat bobbed. “I didn’t want to scare her… or you. Or anyone.”


    “You didn’t.” I brushed <i>a </i>strand of silver hair back from his face. “You did what had to be


    done. That’s what protectors do.”


    Macey nodded so hard I thought her head might fall off. “You are my hero,” she said again, gripping his hand. “You made them go away forever.”


    Noah, Haiden, and Levi joined us then, each of them cing a hand on Elliot’s shoulders, hair, and back. A wordless show of unity. Of belonging,


    Haiden crouched low, meeting his eyes. “You’re one of us, kid. Always will be. Powers or no powers, wolf or no wolf, you’re family.<b>” </b>


    Something in Elliot’s expression eased at that, and he finally let himself lean into Macey’s side, her small hand still wrapped in his. The door banged open, and heavy footsteps pounded through the hall. Xavier and Tommy burst in, the scent of sweat and fresh blood clinging to them. Xavier’s eyes swept the room like a de, searching for threats before locking on me. He crossed the space in seconds, his handsing to my arms, his gaze fierce. “Are you hurt?<b>” </b>


    I shook my head, squeezing his wrist to steady him. “No. We’re fine. Thanks to Elliot.”


    Xavier’s focus shifted instantly to the boy still sitting on the floor beside Macey. Something in his eyes softened as he knelt, one big hand cupping the back of Elliot’s head before pulling him into a tight embrace.


    “You did good,” he said, his voice low but thick with emotion. “Better than good. You took care of your mother. You took care of your pack. That’s what an Alpha heart does.”


    Elliot stiffened for a moment, then melted into the hug, his small arms wrapping around Xavier’s neck. “I just… didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”


    Xavier smiled faintly against his hair. “And because of you, they didn’t. I’m proud of you, kid. So proud of you.”


    Xavier stood and looked at me, mindlinking so as not to scare the kids. “We’ll have a pack meeting once the children are settled. The rogues led us on a wild goose chase and circled back to enter where we’d already moved the patrol from. They’re ying this smart, not like a normal rogue attack.”


    I nodded my head and looked around at all the kids who were still shaken.


    “How about an indoor movie, and I order some pizza for everyone?”


    “Can I have cheese with extra cheese?” Macey piped up, and Elliot giggled.


    “You can have whatever you want, Mace.” He said, squeezing her hand.


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