Selene's POV
I woke up screaming.
Not from a nightmare, from pain. Fire raced through my veins like someone had replaced my blood with lava. The marks on my skin, those silver and crimson symbols—were burning, pulsing with each frantic heartbeat.
Selene! Hands grabbed my shoulders, holding me down as I thrashed. You're safe! You're
It hurts! I couldn't see through the tears. Couldn't think past the agony. Make it stop, please make it stop!
Kael! A woman's voice shouted. She needs you NOW!
Footsteps thundered closer. Then suddenly, blessedly, cool hands pressed against my burning skin. The moment they made contact, the fire eased—not gone, but bearable.
I gasped air like a drowning person breaking the surface.
Better? Kael's rough voice asked.
I forced my eyes open. He loomed over me, silver eyes intense with worry. Behind him stood a young woman with dark hair and familiar brown eyes that made my heart clench.
Mira? My voice cracked. Clara's granddaughter?
Hi, Lena. Mira's smile was watery. Been a while.
Before I could respond, an explosion shook the entire building.
Kael was on his feet instantly, releasing me. The second his hands left my skin, the burning roared back worse than before. I bit back a scream.
They found us, Kael snarled, moving to the window. Faster than I expected.
Who? I managed through gritted teeth.
Your father's hunters. He grabbed weapons from a cabinet—knives, a sword that looked ancient and deadly. Fifty of them. Enhanced with dark magic. They're tearing through my outer defenses.
Another explosion. Closer this time. Somewhere below us, wolves howled in pain.
Your people are dying, I whispered, horror washing over me. Because of me.
They're dying because Marcus Ashford is a murderous bastard, Kael corrected harshly. He turned to Mira. Get her to the safe room. Don't open the door for anyone but me or Ryker.
Wait— I tried to sit up and immediately collapsed back, dizzy and weak. You can't fight them alone!
I'm not alone. I have three hundred warriors. He was already heading for the door. Stay hidden. Stay safe.
But the curse! I called after him desperately. It'll kill you if you fight too hard!
He paused in the doorway, his back to me. Then it kills me. Better than watching my pack burn.
He left.
Mira moved to help me stand, but I shoved her hands away. How do I get down there?
What? No! Lena, you can barely walk
His people are dying because Marcus wants me dead! My voice rose, powered by rage and guilt. I won't hide while they bleed for me!
You can't fight! You don't even know how to shift!
Then I'll figure it out!
I stumbled toward the door. My legs were shaking, weak from whatever I'd done in the helicopter. But I forced them to move. One step. Then another.
Outside, the sounds of battle intensified. Wolves snarling. Weapons clashing. Someone screamed—high and agonized.
People are dying. Kael's people. Because of you.
Lena, please! Mira grabbed my arm. If you go out there, you'll just be a target! You'll make things worse!
She was right. I knew she was right.
But I couldn't hide anymore. Couldn't be the invisible girl who let others suffer in her place.
I made it to a window and looked down. My stomach dropped.
The courtyard below was chaos. Kael's wolves fought desperately against hunters who moved with unnatural speed and strength—dark magic making them faster, stronger, deadlier than normal wolves.
And in the center of it all, Kael fought like a demon. His claws ripped through enemies. His speed was incredible even hindered by the curse.
But the glowing chains around his chest were tightening with each kill. Strangling him. Slowing him down.
A hunter broke through his guard, slashing claws across his back. Blood sprayed. Kael went down on one knee.
NO! The word tore from my throat.
And something inside me answered.
My wolf, that ancient, furious presence I'd only felt glimpses of—rose up like a tidal wave. Not asking permission. Not waiting for me to be ready.
Just erupting.
Power exploded from my body in a shockwave of silver light. It blasted through the window, shattering glass, and swept across the courtyard below like a living thing.
Every hunter it touched froze. Not dead, just completely, utterly paralyzed. Fifty wolves turned to living statues mid-attack.
The silence was deafening.
Then Kael's warriors started cheering.
I sagged against the wall, gasping. Blood dripped from my nose onto the floor. My vision swam. That hollow, burning sensation was back, like I'd just poured out half my soul and had nothing left to fill the space.
Lena! Mira caught me as my legs gave out. What did you do?
I don't... know... Everything was spinning. Is Kael...?
He's alive. They're all alive because of you. Mira's voice seemed to come from very far away. But you're bleeding. Your eyes, your ears—Lena, you're bleeding everywhere!
Was I? I couldn't tell. Couldn't feel anything but cold now. The fire in my veins had turned to ice.
Heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs. The door crashed open.
Kael stood there, covered in blood, his and others', his silver eyes wild. When he saw me slumped against Mira, something cracked in his expression.
You foolish, reckless He crossed the room in three strides and scooped me into his arms. The moment he touched me, warmth flooded back. Not much, but enough to breathe. What were you thinking?
Your people... I couldn't get enough air. Couldn't let them die...
So you decided to kill yourself instead? His voice was harsh, but his hands were gentle as he carried me back to the bed. Do you have any idea what you just did?
Saved you?
You used queenly magic without a complete mate bond. He set me down carefully, then grabbed my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. Every time you use that power, you burn through your life force. You just shortened your lifespan by years, Selene. Maybe decades.
The words took a moment to process. I'm... dying?
Not yet. But if you keep using power like that? His jaw clenched. Yes. You'll burn out like a candle. Nothing left but ash.
Horror flooded through me. I didn't know
Of course you didn't know! Because you're untrained, unprepared, and too stubborn to stay safe! He released me, pacing like a caged animal. This is exactly why the ancient queens needed mates. The bond shares the cost. Lets them use power without dying. But you and I aren't bonded. Not fully. So every spell you cast is killing you.
Then bond with me. The words escaped before I could stop them.
Kael froze mid-pace. What?
You said the mate bond would let me use power safely. That it would break your curse. I forced myself to sit up despite the dizziness. So let's do it. Complete the bond. Whatever that means.
You don't know what you're asking.
I know I can't keep hiding while people die! I know this curse is killing you! And I know that apparently I'm dying too every time I try to help! My voice cracked. So tell me how to fix it!
Kael stared at me for a long, tense moment. Then he pulled his shirt off.
The chains glowed brighter than before, digging deeper into his skin. Blood trickled from where they cut into his chest. And as I watched, they tightened another notch.
He winced but didn't cry out.
This is my curse, he said quietly. Your ancestor's dying magic. It gets worse every time I use my full strength. In five years, maybe three now, it'll strangle my wolf completely. I'll go feral. Lose my mind. My pack will have to execute me.
Unless I break it, I whispered.
Unless you break it. He moved closer, kneeling beside the bed so we were eye-level. But breaking it means completing the mate bond. Soul to soul. Permanent. Forever. You'd be tied to me for the rest of your life, Selene. Is that really what you want?
I looked at this man—this dangerous, cursed Alpha who'd saved me when he didn't have to. Who'd fought for me. Protected me. Whose touch was the only thing that made the burning stop.
I don't want to die using power I can't control, I said honestly. And I don't want you to die from a curse that isn't your fault. So if bonding fixes both problems...
It's not that simple.
Why not?
His silver eyes held mine. Because once we bond, you'll feel everything I feel. Know everything I know. There'll be no secrets between us, Selene. And I have secrets that might make you hate me.
Like what?
Like the fact that I came to the Summit specifically looking for you. His voice dropped. My grandmother left me prophecies. Told me a Blood Moon Queen would awaken during the Summit. Told me she'd be my only chance to break the curse. So I planned to find you, use you to save myself, and then let you go.
The confession should have hurt. Should have made me angry.
But all I felt was tired.
At least you're honest about it, I said. That's more than anyone else has given me.
You're not angry?
I'm too exhausted to be angry. I touched the marks on my arm—they'd stopped glowing but still felt warm. Everyone wants to use me for something. My father wanted me dead to protect his throne. Darius wants to control my power. You want me to break your curse. At least you're upfront about it.
Kael's expression shifted, something almost like respect flickering in his eyes.
Before he could respond, Ryker burst through the door, his face grim.
Boss, we've got a bigger problem. The frozen hunters? They're starting to wake up. And Marcus just sent a message. He held up a phone showing a video.
My father's face filled the screen. Cold. Furious. Absolute.
Kael Thornridge, Marcus's voice was ice. You have twenty-four hours to surrender my daughter. If you don't, I'm bringing the full Continental Army to your doorstep. Every pack that owes me allegiance. Every Alpha who wants to stay in my good graces. Thousands of wolves. And we will burn the Northern Reach to ash.
The video ended.
The room fell silent.
Can he do that? I whispered. Can he really
Yes, Kael said flatly. The Continental Army hasn't been mobilized in fifty years. But if Marcus calls them, they'll come. And my pack, no matter how strong, can't fight thousands.
So what do we do?
Kael looked at me. Really looked at me, like he was weighing options, calculating odds, making impossible choices.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold:
We complete the bond. Tonight. Before he arrives. His silver eyes blazed. Because if we're going to war, I need you at full power. And you need to survive using it.
Tonight? My voice came out as a squeak.
Tonight, he confirmed. Unless you have a better plan?
I didn't. Gods help me, I didn't.
What do I have to do? I asked.
Kael's expression turned predatory. Possessive. Dangerous.
Trust me, he said. And don't run when it gets intense.
Outside, the frozen hunters started screaming as they woke. And somewhere in the darkness, my father's army was coming.
We had twenty-four hours to become strong enough to survive.
Twenty-four hours before everything burned.