*****
"Then don’t trust fate," Eve said. "Trust . Trust that I’ll fight. That I’ll survive. That I want to live to see you co back to more than I cwant anything else in this world."
"And if fighting isn’t enough?" Damian asked quietly. "If wanting it isn’t enough? If you do everything right and the transformation still destroys you?"
"Then at least you’ll know you saved twenty-five children," Eve said. "At least you’ll know you did your duty. At least those children will grow up safe because you made the hard choice."
"That’s supposed to be comforting?" Damon demanded. "Knowing we did our duty while our mate died alone?"
"It’s supposed to be reality," Eve said. "Because that’s what being alpha ans. Making choices that break your heart because they’re the right thing to do. And right now, the right thing to do is save those children."
The room fell into heavy silence as her words sank in.
"I hate this," Damon finally said, his voice raw. "I hate every fucking thing about this. The choice, the timing, the fact that Konstantin managed to find the one scenario where we can’t win no matter what we choose."
"We can win," Eve said. "If I survive the three days, if you save the children, we both win. That’s possible. It’s the most likely outco, even."
"Most likely doesn’t an certain," Silas pointed out.
"Nothing is certain," Eve countered. "You could stay here with , watch transform, do everything right, and I could still die. The transformation could still go wrong. Staying doesn’t guarantee my survival any more than leaving guarantees my death."
"But it increases the odds," Damian said. "Significantly. Elder Markov was very clear about that."
"Elder Markov also said he’d never seen a transformation like mine," Eve reminded him. "He doesn’t actually know what will happen. He’s guessing. Educated guessing, but still guessing."
"So we gamble," Damon said. "We gamble with your life that you’re strong enough to survive alone. That the spell won’t break at the worst possible mont. That Dr. Thorne will be enough support. That’s what you’re asking us to do."
"Yes," Eve said simply. "I’m asking you to gamble on . To believe I’m strong enough. To trust that our bond is powerful enough to keep anchored even when you’re not physically here."
"The bond needs physical proximity," Silas said. "That’s what Elder Markov said. Physical touch. Skin to skin contact. How is the bond supposed to anchor you when we’re ten hours away?"
"I don’t know," Eve admitted. "But I can feel it right now. Can feel all three of you even though we’re not touching. It’s not just physical anymore. It’s deeper than that. Maybe that will be enough."
"Maybe isn’t good enough," Damian said.
"Maybe is all we have," Eve shot back. "Maybe I’ll survive. Maybe those children will die if you don’t go. Maybe Konstantin will take your territory and hurt hundreds of pack mbers. Maybe, maybe, maybe. We’re drowning in maybes. So pick the maybe that saves the most lives and go with it."
Damon moved to her suddenly, pulling her into his arms so tightly she could barely breathe. "I can’t lose you," he said against her hair. "I found you. We found you. After years of saying we’d never have a mate, never risk that kind of vulnerability, we found you anyway. And now you’re asking us to risk losing you before we’ve even had a real chance to be together."
"I’m asking you to be the alphas who protect the innocent. The leaders who put duty first. The n who are strong enough to make impossible choices."
She felt Damian’s arms co around both of them from behind, Silas joining from the side, until all four of them were tangled together in a desperate embrace.
"Three days," Damian said finally. "Seventy-two hours. We move fast. No delays. No distractions. We drive through the night, handle Konstantin at dawn, secure the territory, and co straight back. In and out as fast as humanly possible."
"And Dr. Thorne?" Silas asked.
"We call her now," Damian decided. "Get her here before we leave if possible. If not, Mrs. Blackwood stays with Eve until Dr. Thorne arrives. Soone is with her every mont we’re gone."
"And if the spell breaks?" Damon asked.
"Then we trust that Eve is as strong as she believes she is," Damian said, though his voice was hollow. "We trust the bond. We trust fate. We trust that three days isn’t enough to destroy what’s between us."
"I won’t let it be," Eve promised. "I’ll fight. I’ll survive. I’ll be here when you get back."
"You’d better be," Damon said roughly. "Because if you’re not, if we lose you, I will never forgive you. Or myself. Or this fucking choice we’re making."
"Then make the call," Eve said. "Call Dr. Thorne. Start making arrangents. The sooner you leave, the sooner you can co back."
Damian pulled back, his eyes searching hers. "You’re sure about this? Absolutely sure? Because once we leave, once we commit to this, we can’t turn back. If sothing happens, if you need us, we’ll be too far away to help."
"I’m sure," Eve said, with more confidence than she felt. "Those children need you. And I’ll be fine."
It was a lie. She wasn’t sure. She was terrified. But those children didn’t deserve to suffer because she was afraid. And the brothers didn’t deserve to live with the guilt of choosing her over innocent lives.
So she lied. And prayed it wouldn’t cost all of them everything.
"Then we prepare," Damian said, releasing her and shifting into alpha mode... "Silas, call Dr. Thorne. Get her here as fast as possible. Damon, brief Marcus. Tell him we’re coming and to prepare for imdiate action when we arrive. I’ll talk to Mrs. Blackwood, make sure she understands the situation and what to watch for."
"And Eve?" Silas asked.
Damian looked at her, and for just a mont, the alpha mask slipped. She saw the fear there, the love, the agony of making this choice.
"Eve stays with us until we leave," he said softly. "Every second we have left, we spend together. No separations. No preparations that take us away from her. We have hours. We use them."
The brothers moved with purpose now, making calls, giving orders, setting everything in motion. And Eve stood in the center of it all, watching them prepare to leave her, and tried to convince herself she was strong enough to survive what ca next.
Three days. Just three days.
She could survive three days.
She had to.
Because twenty-five children were counting on it. And she’d be damned if she’d let them down just because she was afraid.
Even if that fear was absolutely justified.
Even if there was a very real chance she’d never see the brothers again.
Even if she was gambling with not just her life, but her soul.
Three days.
She just had to survive three days.
Please let survive three days.
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