The Omega Mated To The Four

The Alpha Bond 97

Chapter Ninety Seven

The

morning sun rose over the ruins of our pack, casting long golden rays over the destruction. Smoke still curled lazily from the charred remains of homes, and the scent of burnt wood and death lingered in the air. The once-thriving town was now a skeleton of its former self.

But despite the devastation, hope had arrived.)

I stood at the edge of the wreckage, watching as people moved about setting up temporary shelters. The Umbral Society sent a group of witches that had come at dawn with supplies-food, blankets, medicine, and tents.

Another neighboring town had sent supplies and wolves to assist. They worked together, erecting makeshift homes for those who had lost everything. The air was thick with grief.

I inhaled deeply, trying to ground myself, but the weight in my chest remained.

I knew where I had to go.

Turning, I made my way toward the section of the woods where our cabin once stood. I wanted down the familiar scorched path, the trees now stood burn and black like skeleton fingers reaching for the sky. The once beautiful forest was gone.

Or what was left of it? The cabin Mariah and I had shared was gone. Completely. Burnt to the ground, reduced to blackened wood and smoldering embers. I stood frozen, my throat tightening as I took it all in.

It wasn't just a house-it was the only place that had ever felt like home.

I stepped forward cautiously, my boots crunching against the charred debris. I knelt, running my fingers through the ashes, searching-desperate for anything that might have survived.

But there were nothing. No remnants of our books. No old photographs. Not even the tiny wolf figurine Mariah had once given her when I was a child, promising that she would always protect me and that we would always be together.

All gone.

A sharp pain lanced through my chest. Mariah. She was already gone but now it felt as if the last traces of her had been erased from existence.

I clenched my fists. I had taken some of Mariah's things with me when I left the pack before the training in the uncharted realm. That was all I had left now.

I exhaled slowly, trying to push back the ache, I couldn't break down Not here. Not

now.

there was someone who needed me, Elijah. Straightening, I turned back toward

with supplies and wounded survivors, but I barely noticed as my gaze landed on

corner, his back against

usually sharp, confident presence was gone. Instead, he looked

seen him like this.

now... he looked like a man who had lost

Chapter Ninety Seven

I walked

of

*Elijah," I whispered.

eyes lifted to

move. Then, with

pulled him into

moment I felt his warmth,

his powerful frame

tent quietly

was going to be okay-because

So I did the only thing I could. I held

release the

filled with loss, guilt,

feeling

long time, Elijah's breathing slowed, but he didn't pull away. His head rested against my shoulder, his arms

ran my

my voice soft but steady. "Because it won't.

fingers curled into my

lost Mariah," I continued, "I thought my world had ended. I didn't know how to breathe without her. I

breath hitched, but he

face, forcing

I learned something," I said. "You don't move on. You don't forget. You learn