Chapter 8 · Moonclaim - Chapter 8: The Backup Underwater

Leon hit the floor before I could catch him.

His knees buckled and he went down hard, shoulder slamming tile. The wolf was gone. Just him now, bare-chested, breathing like he'd run miles. Blood smeared his ribs where the glass must've caught him on the way through. I didn't move. Couldn't. Your father locked the gates. The words were still ringing in my head.

He didn't look up. His hands were shaking.

"Leon." My voice came out flat. I stepped closer. He flinched. Not much, but I saw it. "What gates."

He pressed his palm to the floor, trying to push himself up. Failed. His arm gave and he sagged back against the wall, head tipped back, eyes shut. Sweat or maybe tears tracking down past his jaw.

"The compound. The night they—" He stopped. Dragged in air. "The hunters came in from the east. But the west gates were supposed to stay open. Emergency exit. Families, kids, anyone who couldn't fight. Your father was on the perimeter. He locked them."

I felt cold. "You don't know that."

"I was there." His eyes opened. They were all wolf still, amber bleeding through the gray. "I saw the lock.