Rescued by My Mate’s Betrayal

For twenty years, I had never truly brushed against death.

Not until my wolf was completely drained.

The blizzard screamed, sharp with the scent of silver dust.

It wrapped around me like chains, smothering my connection to Kaelen, my Inner Wolf, locking him deep inside.

My wounds from the Rogue fight were still open.

Blood seeped out, freezing on my skin in the bitter cold.

I had fallen into a crack in the ice.

My limbs were heavy and numb.

The wind howled, and with each weak breath, I felt my life fading.

But I wasn't scared.

Even as the end neared, I managed a faint smile for the two pups I'd nearly died protecting—Lily and Ethan.

"Don't cry," I whispered, my voice raw. "I'm just... very tired. Go down the mountain first. I'll catch up after I rest."

Ethan, stubborn, kept scratching at the ice with his small, bloody paws, refusing to leave me.

Lily, a bit older, snapped at him to stop.

"We're too small," she said sharply. "We can't pull Isabella out. We need to find the rescue team!"

The silver dust was poison to my wolf.

One of my eyes had already gone dark.

A deep rumble echoed from the glacier below.

I knew—if they didn't leave now, they'd be buried with me.

"Lily, you're clever," I said softly. "My boyfriend, Nathaniel... he commands the rescue squad. The strongest warrior in Silvermoon Tribe. He never fails. Find him. He'll save me."

"Nathaniel? I know him!" Lily's eyes brightened. "We'll find him right away!"

The two pups carefully jumped away, dodging falling ice as they headed for safety.

I watched them go, clinging to a thin thread of hope.

Nathaniel... you're incredible. You'll find me in time. I know you will.

I prayed.

Then, light flooded the ice cave, warm and sudden.

Through it, I saw a figure I knew by heart.

Nathaniel...

Relief washed over me. I tried to spring up and run into his arms.

I tried.

My body passed right through him.

"What... is this?" I whispered.

I reached instinctively for Kaelen, for answers—but he was silent.

He had been silent for a long time.

Then, I understood.

The rescue team moved through the cave, searching.

They passed through me, again and again.

I was no longer in my body.

My corpse was buried just beneath the ice. So close to Nathaniel, yet unseen.

"Commander," a scout called, "the patrol team requested backup. They chased Rogues into the glacier almost twenty-four hours ago. They haven't returned."

My death report was handed to Nathaniel.