Chapter 577
I shifted, stepping out of my wolf’s form to the gasps of onlookers, and I ran to Ronnie. “What happened?” I knew there was a cave-in, obviously, but I needed to hear how it happened so I could figure out how to save everyone.
Ronnie pulled me into a hug so tight it squeezed the air out of my lungs. His breathing was ragged as he pulled back to kiss me on my temple. “I’m so fucking sorry, Aim.” I pulled away only to see his eyes overflow with tears. “It was my fault.”
“What was?” I looked up at my uncle, and he pulled away.
“He’s dead because of me.” He shook his head as a sob broke through. He looked back into my eyes as more tears trailed down his face. “He stopped answering, and I can’t get through to him.” He screamed, and the sound would haunt me for years to come.
“Beta Ronnie.” Rowan stepped up next to us, but Ronnie was shaking again.
“I’m not a Beta, look at me.” He snarled. He dropped to his knees as Tina ran up to us. “I’m pathetic.” Ronnie looked down at his hands as if he were seeing something that wasn’t there.
Tina moved slowly as she approached his side, like she had tried before and it didn’t work. Her eyes caught mine, and she gave a tiny shake. “You lost half your blood supply dragging half the wolves up in the med tent before the main cavern collapsed.” Tina dropped down next to him. “You almost lost your arm when we found you under the rocks.” Her voice trembled a bit. “You are exhausted, hungry, healing, and your best friend is trapped. You are not expected to hold yourself together all the time. It’s understandable.” Tina squeezed him to her swollen belly, and Ronnie sagged against her.
“Uncle Ronnie?” I crouched down next to the couple. I checked his pulse. Thready but there. “Rowan? Can you run him up to the tent? He needs medical attention.” I looked up to my mate and waited for him to nod. Tina stood as Rowan picked up my uncle and turned back up the hill. She went to follow, but I grabbed her hand. “Can you tell me what happened before you go?”
Tina looked towards the hilltop and nodded. “Of course.” She nodded towards the cave entrance, where a few wolves were still digging. “We moved on the cave yesterday.” Tina looked exhausted as she waddled towards the biggest rocks covering most of the entrance. “Everything was going as planned but then…” She swallowed. “There was an explosion. Ronnie and your father stayed back to make sure everyone got out.” She looked back at me. “I was terrified when we felt it at the pack house.”
I tilted my head. “Felt what?” I reached out to trace the rock blocking the way, and I had an idea.
“The cave in,” Tina shuddered a breath. “And the panic.”
My eyes closed as I sent fingers probing through the cracks. “The panic?”
My eyes were closed, but I felt the air shift, and I knew she was nodding. “Yeah. It hit the entire pack. The wolves that got out sent messages, but also…” She swallowed past a lump. “The ones trapped called out. All at the same time. The pain and panic were almost overwhelming.” She leaned against the rock, and her breathing picked up. “The screams will be something I dream of for a long time… and not in a good way.” Her head hit the stone. “Every wolf ran here, and Greyson took control. He called for every able body to move rocks, and for the women to set up the med tent following the doctor’s orders.”
“Where was Ronnie?” Half my mind was gone, crawling through the crevices, but I tried to keep the conversation going. I opened my eyes for a second, and Tina was gripping her stomach. “Tina?” I watched her breathing pick up and then her stomach cramped. Alannah flashed in my mind, and her labor and I reached for Tina.
She waved me off. She stayed like that for a few seconds more before she breathed out. “False labor from stress. Had the doctor check me over last time Ronnie…” She stretched her neck back.
“Ronnie what?” I pulled back my attention.
Tina sighed. “I tried to get him to leave and he fought me. I fell.” I let out a growl but she waved me off again. “It was my own fault. I lost my balance and fell. He just refused to move from here, where he could hear your dad.” She looked up. “He feels guilty.”
“Why?” I turned back to the rocks, my magic dancing back through the cracks. My magic hit something not solid… the copper taste hit my mind, and I knew it was blood before I heard Tina’s answer.
“Because your father saved him.”