Nate pushed through the crowd, his face carved from stone. "We leave. Now."
"What?" Lily swayed between us, confused. "The concert's not—"
"Thank you for tonight." I grabbed her hands, squeezing once. "I'll text you."
"Katherine, what's happening?"
But Nate was already pulling me toward the exit. The night air hit like a slap and I reached for Gabriel through the mind-link—nothing.
Silence where my mate's presence should be.
Nate's hand shot up, flagging the first taxi. "Get in."
"What happened?" I demanded as we slid into the backseat.
"Not here." His voice cut sharp. "The suite. Then we move."
The ride stretched in suffocating silence. My wolf paced, sensing danger. The moment we reached the hotel, Nate was out, taking the stairs three at a time.
"Pack only essentials," he ordered, throwing open his door. "Actually, forget it. Leave everything."
"What the hell happened?" I grabbed his arm, forcing him to face me. "I can't reach Gabriel. The link is dead. Tell me what's going on!"
His face crumbled—just for a second. "They're advancing. Barrett's pack. His allies. It's begun."
The world tilted. Blood drained from my face as understanding crashed through me.
"This is my fault…" The words came out broken. "Evelyn knew. She set this up—waited until I was here, until you were here protecting me instead of—"
"Stop."
"Gabriel's alone because of my stupid plan. The pack is vulnerable because I thought I could negotiate with—"
"Katherine, stop."
"How many will die because I was arrogant enough to think—"
Nate shortened the distance between us, pulling me hard against his chest. His arms locked around me, crushing me to him.
"You're not to blame." His voice rumbled through his chest. "This was always coming. Barrett was always going to attack. It just came sooner."
"But—"
"No. No guilt. Not now." He pulled back, hands gripping my shoulders. "Grab only what we need. Sixty seconds."
I flew into my room. Phone—already in my pocket. The knife Nate had given me during training—strapped to my thigh under the dress. I yanked on jeans, combat boots, threw Gabriel's jacket over my concert clothes. His scent still clung to the leather.
Nate appeared in my doorway, car keys spinning on his finger, a small pack slung over his shoulder. "Weapons, cash, phones. Leave the rest."
"My mother—"
"Will be at the safe house if Colin followed protocol." He was already moving. "Go."
We ran. The elevator took too long. We hit the stairs, taking them three at a time. Nate's car roared to life before I'd even closed my door, tires screaming as we tore from the parking garage.
He drove like death itself chased us—weaving through traffic, running reds, pushing the engine until it screamed. His wolf reflexes kept us from disaster by millimeters.
"Tell me exactly what Gabriel said." I gripped the door handle as we narrowly missed a delivery truck.
"Later."
"Now, Nate! How many are attacking? Which packs? Where's our defensive line?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Excuse me?" I turned to stare at him. "Our pack is under attack and the details don't matter?"
"Not for you."
The words hit like ice water. "What did you just say?"
"You don't need those details right now." His jaw clenched, eyes fixed on the road. "You need to stay calm."
"I need battlefield intelligence, not protection from reality!"
"You need to survive."
"Stop it." My voice turned sharp. "Stop talking to me like I'm fragile! Not you!"
"I'm talking to you as you're, my Luna. My job is—"
"Your job is to treat me like someone capable of handling the truth! That's what you've always done. That's why I—" I cut myself off. "How many, Nate?"
"Kat—"
"How many packs are attacking?"
His knuckles whitened on the wheel. "Three."
"Positions?"
"It doesn't—"
"POSITIONS."
"South and east borders. Coordinated strike." The words came reluctantly. "They waited until the patrol change."
"Casualties?"
"Unknown."
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying. Gabriel didn't have numbers. Just—" He stopped.
"Just what?"
"The school. They hit the school first."
My blood turned to ice. The pups. My students. Little Emma who asked too many questions. Tommy who wanted to be a warrior. "Are they—"
"Evacuated. Colin got them out." His hand moved toward mine, then back to the wheel. "But the building's gone."
"What else?"
"That's all you need to know."
"Stop protecting me!"
"I'm doing my job!"
"No, you're being Gabriel!" The accusation burst out. "You're treating me like glass when you know I'm steel. I thought you were different. I thought you saw me as—"
"I see you as everything." The confession ripped from him. "Which is why I can't tell you that the medical center is compromised. That we've lost the southern defensive line. That Alpha Barrett himself is leading the charge and he's bringing twice the numbers we expected."
The truth hung between us, ugly and raw. "Thank you," I said quietly.
"Don't thank me. I just signed both our death warrants if Gabriel finds out I told you."
"He won't."
"He will. He always knows." Nate took a turn so hard the tires screamed. "And when he does, he'll realize his Beta can't be trusted to follow orders about his mate."
"You followed orders. You got me out safely."
"I practically tongue-fucked you pretty little mouth less than an hour ago."
The words landed like a punch. Neither of us had mentioned it. Now it sat between us, impossible to ignore. "That was—"
"Don't say it was a mistake." His voice turned raw. "Not now. Not when we might die tonight."
"We're not going to die."
"Kat, three packs against one. The math doesn't work."
"There." I pointed at the horizon.
Orange light painted the sky. Not sunrise—fire. Something burned on pack lands.
The closer we got, the stronger Gabriel's emotions crashed through our bond. Rage. Grief. A pain so sharp it made me gasp.
"He's home." I pressed my hand to my chest. "I can feel him. He's alive but—God, Nate, the pain he's feeling—"
"We're almost there."
"Drive faster."
"Kat—"
"They're dying! Our pack is dying and we're not there!"
The forest rose around us, familiar territory. But instead of continuing to the pack house, Nate yanked the wheel hard right, tires sliding on gravel as he pulled off into the trees.
"What the hell?" I reached for the door handle. "What are you doing?"