Chapter 56: Bloodfang Wolves (4)

Ben and Paul exchanged looks, their eyes filled with awe. Despite what had happened, Jayce had had a clear enough mind to search for a way for all of them to survive. While everyone else had been too shocked and broken to move, merely watching on as one of their friends was picked apart.

Their gaze shifted to Jayce, who now leaned against a remnant of the shattered ice dome. His posture exuded a haunting loneliness, a weight that pressed upon him. As much as they felt the urge to approach and offer solace, something in the air rendered him untouchable, an island unto himself.

Lianna's gaze, too, found its way to Jayce. He was the anchor, the unwavering presence amidst the turmoil. She saw the man who had once saved her from a Goblin's clutches in a dark alley, the one who had become the bedrock of their survival. Confidence radiated from his every decision, an aura of control that belied the chaos of their circumstances.