Nymera's POV
The black-striped warrior—Graeven, as I heard others call him—took charge fast.
"Fall back to the ridge," he barked. "We regroup there. Move!"
His warriors obeyed without hesitation, dragging the injured with them, finishing off any stragglers from Astra's broken army. The enemy wolves had scattered into the trees, their lines shattered.
Kaelith helped me lift Dain. His body was heavy, but his breathing had steadied, shallow but strong.
The brand on my arm pulsed with every heartbeat.
Tethered.
Bound.
One life now threaded through another.
I didn't understand it fully.
I only knew one thing:
I wasn't letting Dain die.
Not now. Not ever.
We crossed the river again, this time without enemy claws snapping at our heels. The current was vicious, but we pressed through it, dragging ourselves onto the rocky banks on the other side.
The MoonBlood warriors formed a loose defensive circle around us, eyes sharp, ears twitching at every rustle of the trees.
Safe—for now.
Graeven approached, his face like carved stone.
"We have a camp a mile north," he said. "Healers, weapons, shelter. You'll rest there."
I nodded, too exhausted to speak.
Graeven's eyes lingered on me, sharp and measuring.
"You carry the Blood Oath," he said. "It's an old, dangerous magic. Most don't survive it."
"She will," Kaelith said flatly.
Graeven's mouth twisted into something almost like a smile. "We'll see."
He turned and stalked off, barking orders.
Kaelith clapped a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently.
"You did good, Nymera," he said. "You saved him."
I looked down at Dain's bruised, bloodied face.
"No," I whispered. "We saved each other."
The camp was hidden deep in the northern woods, a fortress of tents and barricades woven between ancient oaks.
The moment we arrived, healers rushed forward.
They lifted Dain onto a stretcher, disappearing into the largest tent.
I stood there, swaying, every muscle screaming, my brain barely able to process anything.
Kaelith caught me before I collapsed.
"Come on," he said gruffly. "You need rest too."
I let him guide me to a smaller tent at the camp's edge.
Inside, a soft bedroll. Blankets. A basin of clean water.
It felt unreal after everything.
I sat heavily, staring at my shaking hands.
The brand on my arm still glowed faintly, a constant, burning reminder.
"What did that man do to me?" I whispered.
Kaelith sat across from me, wiping blood from his face with a torn cloth.
"He made you his," he said quietly. "In the old ways."
I stared at him, horrified. "Dain?"
Kaelith shook his head. "The Blood Oath isn't about romance, Nymera. It's about survival. Protection. Power." His eyes darkened. "It binds your fates together. If he lives, you live. If he falls..."
He didn't finish.
I closed my eyes, nausea rising in my throat.
"You didn't have a choice," Kaelith said. "None of this is your fault."
I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze.
"Then why does it feel like everything is?"
Kaelith's face softened, a rare crack in his usual armor.
"Because you care," he said. "And because you're not like them."
I looked away, overwhelmed.
"I should check on Dain," I mumbled.
"You need to rest," Kaelith said firmly. "You're no good to him half-dead."
I didn't argue.
I lay down, curling into the blanket, every inch of me aching.
Sleep took me like a wave, dragging me under.
I woke to chaos.
Shouts. Roars. The clang of steel on steel.
Kaelith burst into the tent, blood on his sword.
"Nymera, move!" he barked.
I scrambled up, heart hammering.
"What's happening?!"
"They found us," Kaelith snarled. "Astra's forces. They're attacking the camp!"
The world outside the tent was ablaze with movement.
MoonBlood warriors clashed with enemy wolves under the sickly red glow of the blood moon.
I didn't hesitate.
I grabbed a sword from the weapons rack and followed Kaelith into the fray.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and magic.
I slashed at the first wolf that lunged for me, my new instincts guiding my blade.
Another wolf tried to flank me—I ducked low, driving my sword into his gut.
Everywhere, battle raged.
I caught sight of Graeven, fighting like a storm at the camp's front line, holding off wave after wave of enemies.
We needed to get to Dain.
I fought my way toward the healer's tent, Kaelith covering my back.
Enemy warriors blocked our path—black-cloaked figures with burning red eyes.
Shadowspawn.
Just like the monster in the council chamber.
My stomach twisted.
They moved faster than normal wolves, striking with terrifying precision.
Kaelith grunted as one of them slashed across his ribs.
He stumbled—but didn't fall.
I roared and drove my sword through the Shadowspawn's throat.
It collapsed in a heap of black ash.
"Go!" Kaelith gasped. "I'll hold them!"
I hesitated—but he shoved me forward.
I sprinted for the healer's tent, heart hammering.
Inside, Dain lay pale and still on the cot, healers frantically chanting over him.
One of them looked up, terror on her face.
"He's slipping," she cried. "We can't hold him much longer!"
I rushed to Dain's side, grabbing his hand.
The brand on my arm flared to life.
A jolt of searing pain shot through me—but I didn't let go.
"Stay with me," I whispered fiercely. "I'm not losing you."
Dain's eyes fluttered open for a second—just long enough to see me.
"Nymera..." he rasped.
Outside, the battle raged louder.
The tent shook as something massive slammed into it.
A figure ripped through the canvas.
Astra.
Her face twisted with rage, her hair wild, her hands crackling with black fire.
"Enough," she hissed.
The healers scrambled back in terror.
I rose to my feet, sword raised.
Astra's eyes locked on Dain.
"You'll watch him die," she said. "And then you'll join him."
She hurled a blast of magic straight at the cot.
I didn't think.
I moved.
I threw myself between the spell and Dain.
The magic slammed into me.
Pain like nothing I'd ever felt tore through my body.
I screamed, crumpling to the ground.
The world blurred around me.
Voices shouted. Hands grabbed me.
Dain's face swam into view, terrified and furious.
"No," he growled. "No!"
And then—
From deep within him—
a roar shook the very earth.
The tent exploded outward in a shockwave of raw power.
And Dain—Alpha of the MoonBlood Pack, Blood-Oath-bound to me—rose from the cot, eyes burning silver.
Alive.
Awake.
And furious.