Kira's POV
I choose fight.
Cassius raises an eyebrow, looking almost amused. Brave. Extremely stupid, but brave. He signals his warriors. Take her.
A hundred Council wolves advance in perfect formation.
Kieran shifts to massive wolf form, blocking me with his body. Rafe and the loyal warriors follow suit. Thirty wolves against a hundred.
We're going to die, and we all know it.
My moon mark burns hotter, building like a storm about to break. Power coils inside me, begging for release.
Kira, don't, Kieran growls through the pack link. You'll burn out completely.
Then Lydia steps between us and the advancing Council forces.
Wait. Her voice cuts through the tension. Before the massacre, let me speak to the girl alone. Five minutes. If I convince her to surrender willingly, no one has to die tonight.
Cassius considers this, calculating. And if she refuses?
Then take her by force. I won't interfere. You have my word. Lydia turns to me. Five minutes. That's all I'm asking.
No, Kieran snaps immediately. She'll manipulate you
Fine, I interrupt, meeting Lydia's eyes. I need to understand why she hates me this much.
Kieran grabs my arm, his claws careful not to break skin. Don't trust her.
Trust me, I send through the bond.
He releases me reluctantly, every muscle tensed to spring.
Lydia leads me to my burned cottage, the embers still glowing. You're wondering why I despise you so much.
The thought crossed my mind.
It's simple economics. Business. She turns to face me. Five years ago, Kieran spent five million on you. The pack's money. Money meant for warriors' salaries. Children's education. Medical supplies. Infrastructure. All spent on a moonmarked who gives nothing back.
Guilt twists in my stomach like a knife. She's right.
The pack resents you, Lydia continues, her voice softer now. They see their Alpha obsessed with a cursed wolf who won't even fulfil her contract. They think you've bewitched him. That the mate bond is dark magic.
The bond aches between Kieran and me. I feel his anxiety bleeding through.
So here's my offer. Lydia steps closer. Surrender to the Council willingly. Kieran keeps his pack and his reputation. You live in a lab, yes, but alive. They'll study you, not kill you. That's something.
And if I refuse?
Her expression hardens. I tell Cassius about the twenty other moonmarked wolves hiding in Bloodmoon territory. About Torin's entire rescue network and every safe house.
My blood freezes solid. You wouldn't.
Surrender yourself, save twenty innocent lives. Or fight, and watch them all burn. She's not bluffing. I see it in her eyes. Those are your options.
How long have you known about them?
Months. I've been patient. Waiting for the right leverage. She crosses her arms. Choose now. I don't have all night.
Twenty moonmarked wolves. Twenty people just like me, hiding in fear, depending on secrecy.
Through the bond, I feel Kieran's growing anxiety. He senses something's wrong.
I'll surrender, I say quietly. But swear on your wolf, on your life, on everything you hold sacred you'll never tell anyone about the twenty.
You'd sacrifice yourself for complete strangers?
They're not strangers. They're my people.
Something like respect flickers across her face. I swear. On my wolf and my life, I'll never reveal them.
And you'll tell Kieran I chose this. That I wasn't forced or coerced.
Done. She almost looks sad. For what it's worth, you're braver than I thought. Stronger too.
We walk back toward the waiting armies. Each step feels like walking to my own execution.
Kieran sees my face and knows immediately. No. Kira, no
I'm surrendering. Willingly. I'll go with the Council peacefully.
The crowd erupts in shocked whispers.
Kieran shifts to human, not caring about his nakedness. The hell you will!
It's my choice, Kieran. You don't get to make it for me.
I won't let them take you to some lab
You don't have a choice. I'm doing this to save lives you don't even know about.
Understanding dawns on his face as he reads between my words. She told you about them.
I chose them over me. Just like you'd choose your pack over yourself. I reach up to touch his face, memorizing every detail. We're the same, you and I. We protect those who can't protect themselves.
I can't lose you. Not after everything.
You never really had me. The lie tastes like poison, but I need him to let me go.
Pain flashes across his face, raw and devastating.
I'm sorry.
I walk toward Cassius, my head high.
Excellent choice, he says, signalling his men. Escort her to the transport wagon.
Warriors grab me, their grip bruising. They produce silver chains the exact same ones from the auction five years ago.
As they lock around my wrists, memories flood back with visceral clarity. Father's execution. Standing on the auction block. Pure fear.
But also: Kieran's voice saying Five million. Saving me when no one else would.
I glance back one last time. Kieran stands frozen, tears streaming down his face. The mighty Alpha, completely broken.
Because of me. Always because of me.
Wait, Cassius calls out, his voice cutting. One more thing before we leave.
The warriors stop, chains heavy in their hands.
You killed a Shadowbeast last night. Quite impressive. But here's something interesting those creatures don't just appear randomly. Someone has to summon them. Someone with significant power and knowledge.
Ice forms in my stomach. What are you saying?
Someone wanted you dead, Miss Ashwood. Shadowbeasts hunt by scent. They require something belonging to their target a piece of clothing, hair, blood. He pulls a torn piece of fabric from his pocket. Something like this.
A warrior steps forward and takes the fabric, examining it. This was used in a summoning ritual. It has her scent all over it.
I stare at my missing shirt. The one I'd thought I'd simply lost.
This was used to summon the beast, Cassius says, his eyes gleaming. Which means someone in Bloodmoon Pack wanted you dead badly enough to traffic in forbidden magic.
Who?
That's what you'll help me discover. Because whoever sent that beast is planning something far worse. He turns to his warriors. Take her to the fortress. And bring me Lydia Bloodmoon.
Wait. Lydia?
Lydia's face goes white as snow. I didn't I wouldn't
Your scent is all over this fabric, Cassius says coldly, examining it again. You stole her shirt. You summoned the Shadowbeast to kill her and make it look like an accident.
Drake pushes through the crowd, his face anguished. Mother, what did you do?
Nothing! I wanted her gone, not dead I swear
Liar. Take her as well.
Council warriors grab Lydia. She screams, fighting them with everything she has.
Kieran stands frozen, watching his aunt dragged away in chains. His pack fracturing. His family destroyed.
All because of me.
As the transport wagon rolls away into the night, I stare out the barred window at Bloodmoon territory disappearing behind us.
I realize something horrible.
Cassius planned all of this. Every single move.
The Shadowbeast. The confrontation with Lydia. Her confession.
He wanted me isolated, desperate, and grateful for his protection from threats he probably created.
I walked straight into his trap like an idiot.
Through the window, Bloodmoon territory fades to nothing.
Somewhere in the Council fortress, answers wait. About my mark. My power. What they really want from me.
But first, I have to survive long enough to find them.
The wagon jolts over rough terrain. I close my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart.
Please, I whisper to whatever gods might listen. Let this sacrifice be worth it.
No answer comes.
Only darkness, rattling chains, and the growing certainty that I've made a terrible mistake.