Chapter 40 · The Howl Beneath the Ice

Rayne's knees buckled, and I caught him before his head hit the frozen ground.

"Stay with me," I snapped. "Don't you dare close your eyes."

His blood soaked through my gloves. Silver burned in his veins, turning the skin around the wound gray. The bullet had shattered inside him, and every breath came out rough and wet.

Behind us, the supply cart shook.

One of the pups whimpered.

Rayne's hand clamped around my wrist. His grip still had enough strength to hurt.

"The cart," he rasped. "Get them out."

"I'm not leaving you."

"Sera."

He said my name like an order.

I shoved his hand away. "You don't get to command me while bleeding all over my boots."

"Then call it a request."

"No."

His eyes lifted to mine. Gold flashed beneath the pain, sharp and furious.

"You hate me that much?"

"I hate that you keep stepping in front of bullets for me." I pressed both hands over his wound. "I hate that you signed nothing, stole nothing, and still somehow ended up tied to every disaster chasing me. I hate that Cole knows your blood is in that order."

His jaw tightened.

"I told you.