Emma's POV
"What do you mean, I won't fight him alone?"
Kendrick pulls me into his office and locks the door. Marcus follows, his face grim.
"You challenged Declan to combat. Pack law is clear—it's one-on-one." I cross my arms despite my aching ribs. "Nobody can help me."
"Wrong." Kendrick moves to his desk, pulls out an ancient book. "Pack law allows for a champion. If you're injured or unable to fight, you can name someone to fight in your place."
My heart jumps. "You'd fight for me?"
"Yes." No hesitation.
"But—but that's not fair to you. Declan's dangerous, and if you get hurt because of me—"
"I won't get hurt." Kendrick's confidence is absolute. "Declan's a weak Alpha who's used politics and money to hold power. In actual combat? He's nothing."
Marcus nods. "The Alpha's right. Declan avoids fights. He's never won a challenge in his life."
Hope blooms in my chest. "So we have a chance?"
"We have more than a chance." Kendrick's smile is predatory. "We have a guarantee. I'll destroy him."
The mate bond hums with his certainty, and my wolf—silent for so long—finally stirs with hope.
"There's one problem," Marcus says carefully. "If Kendrick fights as your champion, pack law requires a bond. You can't just send any warrior. It has to be mate, family, or sworn guardian."
"Guardian?" I look between them. "What's that?"
"An oath-bond. Recognized by pack law." Helena enters without knocking, holding more ancient texts. "The champion swears to protect you with their life. You accept their protection. The bond is binding and permanent."
"Like adoption?" I ask.
"Deeper. It creates a magical link. Not as strong as a mate bond, but close." Helena sets down the books. "Once sworn, Kendrick would be bound to protect you. Always. No matter what."
I look at Kendrick. "That's a huge commitment. You'd be stuck with me—"
"We're already stuck together because of Mira." He says it bluntly. "This just makes it official."
"But the mate bond—" I start.
"We ignore for now." Kendrick's voice is firm. "The guardian oath is different. It's not about romance. It's about protection and duty."
He's lying. I can feel it through the bond humming between us. But I don't call him on it.
"If we do this oath, you fight Declan tomorrow?" I confirm.
"Yes."
"And if you win, I get Liam back?"
"Yes." Kendrick's silver eyes lock onto mine. "I'll get your son back, Emma. I promise."
Something in my chest cracks wide open. Nobody's ever fought for me before. Nobody's ever cared enough.
"Okay." My voice shakes. "What do I need to do?"
Helena opens the book. "The oath must be taken under moonlight. Tonight. Both parties speak the words, share blood, and the bond forms."
"Share blood?" I squeak.
"Small cut on your palms. Nothing dramatic." Marcus grins. "Though it looks impressive."
"We do it at midnight." Kendrick decides. "Helena, prepare the ceremony. Marcus, make sure the other Alphas know I'm fighting as Emma's champion. Everything legal and documented."
"On it." Marcus leaves.
Helena follows, but pauses at the door. "Alpha, this is a good thing. The oath will strengthen you both. Don't fight it."
She leaves.
I'm alone with Kendrick.
The silence stretches.
"Thank you," I say quietly. "You don't have to do this—"
"Stop thanking me." Kendrick's voice is rough. "You're under my protection. That means I protect you. Simple."
"It's not simple. You're risking your life—"
"I've risked my life for less important things." He moves closer. "You're Mira's soul-mother. That makes you family. I protect family."
"Is that all I am?" The question slips out before I can stop it. "Just Mira's mother?"
Kendrick's jaw tightens. For a moment, I think he won't answer.
Then he reaches out, cups my face with one large hand. The touch sends electricity through me.
"No," he admits. "You're not just Mira's mother. But that's all I can give you right now. Is that enough?"
I lean into his touch, mate bond singing between us. "It's enough."
For now, it's enough.
Midnight finds us in the forest clearing behind the house. The full moon illuminates everything in silver light.
Helena has drawn symbols on the ground in white powder. Candles burn at five points around a circle.
"Step inside," Helena instructs.
Kendrick and I enter the circle together. The air changes immediately—thick with magic, humming with power.
"Join hands."
I place my hands in Kendrick's. His grip is strong, warm, steady.
Helena begins chanting in an ancient language I don't understand. The candles flare brighter.
"Kendrick Vaughn, Alpha of Shadow's Edge," Helena's voice echoes. "Do you swear to protect Emma Thorne with your life? To defend her from all enemies? To stand as her shield against the darkness?"
"I swear it." Kendrick's voice is absolute. "On my blood, my pack, and my honor. I will protect her until my last breath."
Power surges through the circle. My skin tingles.
"Emma Thorne," Helena turns to me. "Do you accept Kendrick Vaughn as your guardian? Do you trust him with your life? Do you swear to honor his protection?"
I look into Kendrick's silver eyes. See the determination there. The promise.
"I accept. I trust him. I swear it."
Helena produces a silver knife. "Blood to blood. Bond to bond."
She cuts my palm quickly. Then Kendrick's. The pain is sharp but brief.
"Press your hands together."
I press my bleeding palm to Kendrick's. The moment our blood touches, magic explodes.
Power slams into me. Kendrick's strength, his determination, his protective instinct—all of it floods through our joined hands. The mate bond we've been ignoring flares to life, mixing with the guardian oath.
It's overwhelming. Too much. I gasp, knees buckling.
Kendrick catches me, pulling me against his chest. "I've got you. Breathe."
I breathe. The power settles, sinking into my bones. When it finally calms, something fundamental has changed.
I can feel Kendrick now. Not just the mate bond—the guardian bond too. His emotions, his presence, his very life force is connected to mine.
"It's done." Helena's voice is awed. "The oath is bound. You're connected now. Guardian and protected."
I pull back slightly, looking up at Kendrick. His eyes are molten silver.
"How do you feel?" he asks roughly.
"Like I could fight an army." And it's true. His strength is flowing through the bond, reinforcing me.
"Good." Kendrick doesn't let me go. "Because tomorrow, we go to war."
Dawn comes too fast.
I stand at the edge of neutral ground with Mira clinging to my leg. All six Alphas are present, their packs spread out as witnesses.
Declan stands in the center of the clearing, cocky and confident. Josie beside him, smirking.
"Ready to die, Emma?" Declan calls out.
"She won't be fighting you." Kendrick steps forward, power rolling off him in waves. "I'm her champion. Her guardian. And I'm going to destroy you."
Declan's smirk falters. "You can't—pack law says—"
"Pack law allows guardians." Alpha Sarah holds up the documents. "Everything's legal. Kendrick Vaughn fights for Emma Thorne's custody rights."
Fear flashes across Declan's face before he hides it. "Fine. I'll kill you instead."
"You can try." Kendrick's smile is deadly.
Alpha Brent steps forward as referee. "This is a challenge for custody of Liam Thorne. Combat until submission or death. Winner takes all. Agreed?"
"Agreed," Declan growls.
"Agreed," Kendrick says calmly.
The Alphas move back, creating a wide circle.
I crouch beside Mira. "Stay with Marcus, baby. I have to watch this."
"Kendrick will win." Mira says it with absolute certainty. "He's the strongest. And he loves you."
My heart stutters. "What?"
"He loves you. I can feel it." Mira touches my chest. "Right here. His heart talks to yours."
Before I can respond, the signal sounds.
The fight begins.
Declan shifts immediately into his wolf form—a large gray beast with yellow eyes. He charges.
Kendrick doesn't shift. Doesn't even move.
At the last second, he sidesteps. Declan crashes past him into a tree.
"Is that all you've got?" Kendrick's voice is bored. "The great Alpha Declan? I expected more."
Declan snarls, attacking again. Faster this time.
Kendrick catches him mid-leap by the throat. Slams him into the ground so hard the earth cracks.
"You're weak," Kendrick says coldly. "You've always been weak. That's why you needed dark magic and lies to keep your mate. A real Alpha wouldn't need those things."
Declan scrambles up, bleeding. He's favoring one leg now.
They circle each other. Declan lunges. Kendrick blocks, strikes, moves like liquid death.
It's not a fight. It's an execution.
Within five minutes, Declan is on the ground, whimpering. His wolf form is battered, broken.
Kendrick shifts finally—his wolf is massive, black as night with silver eyes. He plants one enormous paw on Declan's throat.
"Submit," Kendrick's wolf voice echoes. "Or die."
Declan shifts back to human, bloodied and beaten. "I submit."
The witnesses gasp. An Alpha submission is rare and shameful.
"The challenge is won." Alpha Sarah announces. "Custody of Liam Thorne goes to Emma Thorne."
Victory. We won.
But before I can celebrate, Josie screams.
"NO! You can't take him! He's MINE!"
She pulls out a vial—the same potion she's been using on Liam—and drinks it herself.
"If I can't have him," Josie's voice changes, deepens, her eyes turning black. "Nobody can."
Dark magic erupts from her body.
Helena shouts. "She's becoming a vessel! The dark magic is taking over!"
Josie's body convulses. Grows. Transforms into something monstrous—part wolf, part shadow, pure dark magic made flesh.
She roars, and the sound makes the earth shake.
"Where is Liam?" Kendrick demands, shifting back to human.
A warrior runs forward, panicked. "Sir! Declan left him in the car with guards, but—"
"They're gone!" Another warrior interrupts. "The car's empty! The child is missing!"
My blood runs cold.
"LIAM!" I scream.
Josie's monster form laughs, the sound inhuman. "He's mine. Hidden where you'll never find him. And if I die, the spell dies with me. He'll be lost forever."
She lunges toward the forest.
Kendrick moves to intercept, but she's fast—too fast. Dark magic propels her.
"Find the boy!" Kendrick orders his warriors. "NOW!"
Everyone scatters, searching.
I stand frozen, the guardian bond screaming warnings, my mother's heart breaking.
Liam is gone.
Taken by a dark magic monster who would rather kill him than lose him.
And we have no idea where to even start looking.