49: Wrong about him.
**Khan pov**
Khan pov
Enzo stood near me as I watched Bane run away. “Khan, calm down.” He muttered quietly.
I shot him a glare, although I really didn’t want to. “Calm down? Calm down? Enzo, Nathan’s out there, hurt, and Bane’s gone off into the woods like a wild demon. I can’t calm down!”
Enzo sighed and spoke again, as always, sounding patient and calm. “I know and I get it, but rushing headfirst won’t save anyone faster. We need organized search parties, coordinated groups, and people in positions that matter.”
I shot him a sharp look. “I know that, don’t pretend that I don’t.”
He held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m not pretending, I’m explaining. You need to breathe and focus your energy where it counts.”
I growled low in my throat, but didn’t argue. My head was too busy running through the scenarios - Nathan, wounded, trapped somewhere in the woods because I set him there. Alexander, trained, yes, but still mortal and outnumbered. And then there was Bane - unpredictable, dangerous, and yet, capable.
Capable enough to have saved them already, if the stories were true.
Aife walked beside us silently, cradling her belly in a protective manner. She didn’t speak - didn’t offer advice or reminders, but I could feel her presence. It was the only thing keeping my pulse from spiraling entirely out of control.
“Khan,” Enzo’s voice interrupted my thoughts again. “Bane isn’t the villain you’re convinced he is. He’s dangerous, yes, but he’s not here to hurt anyone unless forced to. That’s important to remember right now.”
I grunted. “I’m aware of your pep talk, Enzo. I also know how easily words can hide reality.”
He ignored the edge in my tone and kept moving forward. “I’m not hiding reality, I’m pointing out facts. He’s been practicing control and learning how to control that thing with Aife.”
I growled and shot him another glare. “Learning isn’t enough. For as long as my blood boils every time he steps near the camp, it won’t be enough either. I’ve seen what he can do. Trust is earned, Enzo, and I don’t have the luxury of patience.”
Aife reached out and grabbed my arm before she squeezed it gently. I exhaled sharply, feeling some of the tension ease, though my claws still itched to be released into someone’s flesh.
Time passed as we coordinated groups, shouting orders, dividing search parties, marking trails, and setting up signaling methods. Every rustle in the forest and every distant snap of a branch sent my heart into overdrive.
“Khan,” Enzo muttered, pausing mid-step and staring at something in the distance. I froze beside him, and looked around, trying to see what he had noticed. “Hold still.”
I leaned closer to him and whispered, “what is it?”
Enzo’s eyes widened as he turned his head to look at me. “I can’t believe this. Alexander just mind-linked me. I heard his voice in my head.”
“What?” I gasped, unable to believe his words. No one had ever managed to mind-link Enzo, even our strongest warriors and now, all of a sudden, it was possible? I quickly schooled my expression and cleared my throat. “Speak clearly, love, tell me what Alexander told you.”
“He’s alive,” Enzo exhaled, voice laced with shock and wonder. “He said Nathan is alive. And,” Enzo’s voice dropped a little lower. “Bane not only saved Nathan, but he took out nearly every last villager. And he’s shifted back to human form. He’s helping Nathan back to camp.”
I froze mid-step and looked at him like he just grew another head right before my eyes. The relief that should have washed through me was tempered by disbelief, by fear, and by a growing respect I wasn’t willing to mention just yet.
“He is helping? In human form?” I echoed and closed my eyes, willing my heart to slow down a little, not jump out of my body like some crazed animal.
Enzo nodded. “Yes, he’s working alongside Nathan, ensuring he gets back safely.”
“Alright,” I muttered and pushed my own thoughts aside, deciding I needed to focus on urgent matters, not some feelings I had. I turned to a crowd of lions and called out, “healer, get the tent ready. Every precaution - prepare for injury, exhaustion, and the unforeseen. Make sure Nathan has everything he could possibly need for treatment!”
As soon as the healer took off, I stalked through the camp like a predator, barking orders at anyone in earshot. Lions scrambled to prepare supplies, scouts to check for leftover threats, and more experienced fighters to cover the trail of the returning Nathan and Alexander.
Minutes felt like hours, and every second I imagined Nathan writhing in pain, bleeding, struggling to stay upright, I felt more guilty for sending him out there.
I growled as lions moved too slowly in front of me, halting my steps. “Move!” I barked. “Don’t stop for hesitation or fear, every second counts!”
Enzo followed me silently, patient as ever while I gave the orders. “Khan, breathe,” he grumbled, “you need your focus, not panic.”
“Focus?” I growled without turning to look at him. “Every ounce of my focus is on Nathan’s life right now. Don’t lecture me on breathing.”
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Enzo grabbed my arm to stop me and froze beside me again, his eyes wide. “They’re here.”
I took off and ran, scanning the treeline where the sounds of movement became louder with every second. First, it was branched, then labored breathing and soon after, the faint scent of blood filled my nostrils.
I stood there, rigid, barely holding back from running into the forest just to see for myself that Nathan really survived. But, thankfully, soon they appeared in my view - Nathan, battered and bloody, leaning heavily against Bane.
My breath hitched at the view. I felt too much and too little at the same time until it became too much eventually and I charged towards them, screaming, “get him back, now!”
As I got closer, it was clear Nathan was struggling a great deal, but Bane kept moving, refusing to stop despite the slight limp to his step and shallow breaths.
I stopped by their side and reached out to help support Nathan. The sight of him, bleeding but still defiant, twisted my stomach.
Enzo followed right behind me, remaining silent as his eyes scanned the surroundings. “Khan, I need you to stay alert, the forest still isn’t safe.” He muttered quietly, as always becoming the voice of reason even in the most stressful situations.
I nodded, but my vision narrowed on Nathan alone. He was a fighter, and every inch of him screamed survival. But the blood, the wounds and the way he struggled with each step was more than I could ignore.
By the time we reached the camp border, the healer was rushing towards us with supplies, prepared for everything. I barked orders to the others to step away so the healer would have the space to stabilize Nathan.
“Healer, take charge,” I growled. “Every wound and movement - monitor it.”
The healer nodded, quickly taking Nathan from my arms, while Bane slumped beside the tent, exhausted but himself. Aife broke through the crowd and ran towards him like they had been separated for years, not maybe an hour or so.
In the meantime, I crouched near Nathan’s side and Enzo crouched next to me. “Khan, maybe it’s about time we actually start trusting Bane? I think we should give him a chance. He did what we feared he couldn’t, and he’s still human.”
I growled, too stubborn to admit just yet that I was wrong about him all along. He wasn’t half as bad as I thought he was.
“Everyone was wrong about him. He’s more than the monster we feared. I understand that right now, all that matters is Nathan and his survival, but please, think about what I just said.” Enzo whispered for only me to hear.
I nodded, my eyes still fixed on Nathan instead of the camp or him. Somewhere very, very deep inside me, there was a tiny spark of respect that burned for Bane after everything he did today.
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