Sera's POV
The silver light faded and I collapsed into Kael's arms.
Sera! His voice was panicked, desperate. Can you hear me?
I could hear everything. Feel everything. The completed bond hummed between us, so strong it made my whole body vibrate. I felt Kael's terror, his relief, his love
Love?
What did you do? I whispered, touching the fresh bite mark on my shoulder. The mating bite. Permanent. Unbreakable.
I saved you, Kael said. His eyes searched mine. You were dying. The silver poison I had no choice.
You bit me without permission.
I know. I'm sorry. But you're alive. His hand cupped my face. You're alive and that's all that matters.
I should have been angry. Should have screamed at him for taking away my choice.
But through the bond, I felt the truth he'd thought I was dying. He'd chosen to save me, consequences be damned.
Around us, Nash's team had Viktor in silver chains. My brother Jason was awake now, staring at me with wide eyes.
Sera? he breathed. You were glowing. What
Moon-Blessed, Elder Moira said, appearing from somewhere in the chaos. I told you, child. The goddess chose you for a reason.
My head was spinning. Too much had happened. The rescue, the bullet, the bite, the power
I needed air. Space. Time to think.
I need to leave, I said, pulling away from Kael.
His face fell. Through the bond, his hurt crashed into me. Sera
Just for a bit. I need to clear my head. I looked at Jason. Are you okay?
Bruised but alive. Thanks to you. Jason moved closer. We need to talk. About everything.
Tomorrow, I promised. Right now I just need to breathe.
I left before anyone could stop me.
The next afternoon, I was in my wolf form, running through the forest.
My silver wolf had been caged for seven years. Now she was finally free, racing through trees, feeling the wind in her fur. The completed bond made me stronger, faster I could feel Kael's Alpha power flowing through my veins.
I hated how good it felt.
I'd run for miles when I caught an unfamiliar scent. Another wolf. Rogue.
I skidded to a stop, every muscle tensed.
A thin gray wolf stepped from the shadows. He shifted to human form, hands raised.
Don't attack, he said quickly. I'm not here to fight.
I shifted too, grateful that wolves didn't care about nudity. Who are you?
My name is Gray. I was Silver Crest Pack. His eyes were sad. I survived the massacre. Barely.
My heart stopped. You knew my father?
Alpha Marcus was a good man. The best leader I ever had. Gray's voice cracked. And he was innocent of everything they accused him of.
I know. Viktor framed him
Viktor did more than frame him. Gray pulled a waterproof bag from behind a tree and handed it to me. I've spent seven years gathering evidence. Proof of what really happened that night.
I opened the bag with shaking hands. Inside were documents, photos, and witness statements.
Viktor Stone was your father's Beta, Gray said. But he wanted to be Alpha. When your father refused to step down, Viktor created a plan. He forged documents making it look like your father was planning to kill the Alpha Council.
I pulled out a letter supposedly from my father. The handwriting was perfect too perfect. Just like the ones in Kael's files.
Viktor fed false intelligence to Kael Blackthorn, Gray continued. Made it look airtight. Kael had no reason to doubt it.
So Kael really thought he was preventing a war?
Yes. And he challenged your father to honourable combat, as is pack law. One-on-one. No interference. Gray's expression darkened. Your father lost. But Kael showed mercy he offered sanctuary to all Silver Crest wolves. Told us we could join other packs or leave in peace.
Then why was there a massacre? My voice shook.
Rogue warriors. Viktor had hired them in advance, told them to attack once your father was dead. Make it look like Kael's pack went wild. Gray pointed to photos in the bag. These show the rogues. They're not Blood Moon wolves. Kael even executed the ones from his pack who participated.
My entire world tilted.
Seven years. Seven years of hating Kael. Planning his death. Blaming him for everything.
And he'd been a victim too.
Why didn't you come forward before? I asked.
Who would believe a rogue? I had no proof until recently. But then I heard about the bond about you and Kael. Gray smiled slightly. The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes. She bonded you to the one Alpha who can help bring Viktor to justice.
Viktor's already captured. He's in Blood Moon's dungeon.
Gray's smile faded. You think one dungeon can hold Viktor Stone? He's been planning this for decades, Sera. He has allies everywhere. Resources you can't imagine. He gripped my shoulders. Watch your back. And watch Kael's. Viktor's not done yet.
He shifted and disappeared into the forest before I could ask more questions.
I stood there, clutching the documents, my mind reeling.
Kael was innocent. He'd been manipulated just like me. Used as a weapon by Viktor.
And I'd spent our entire bond hating him for something he didn't do.
Through the bond, I felt Kael's worry. He knew I was upset, could feel my turmoil even from miles away.
I'm coming back, I thought at him through the bond. We need to talk.
His relief flooded through me, warm and desperate.
I shifted and ran back toward the compound, the documents secure in my mouth.
When I arrived, Kael was in the courtyard training with warriors. He moved like liquid death fast, strong, completely in control. This was the man I'd called a monster.
He wasn't a monster. He was just broken, like me.
He looked up and our eyes met across the courtyard. Through the bond, everything I felt crashed into him my understanding, my regret, my dawning realization that maybe the Moon Goddess hadn't made a mistake after all.
Kael's face transformed. Hope bloomed there, fragile and beautiful.
I was about to go to him when alarms started blaring.
Breach! Someone yelled. Southeast wall!
Wolves poured from buildings, shifting, preparing for attack.
Nash ran past me. It's Viktor! He escaped!
That's impossible, I said. He was in silver chains
Someone helped him. A traitor inside Blood Moon. Nash's face was grim. And they're heading for the Alpha quarters. They're going for Kael!
My blood ran cold.
I sprinted toward Kael, documents forgotten. Through the bond, I screamed at him: VIKTOR'S FREE! IT'S A TRAP!
Kael spun around, but it was too late.
The ground beneath him exploded.
The blast threw me backward. My ears rang. Smoke filled the courtyard.
When it cleared, there was a crater where Kael had been standing.
And he wasn't moving.
KAEL! I screamed, running toward him.
Through the bond, I felt nothing. Just terrible, awful silence.
I fell to my knees beside him. He was bleeding from a dozen wounds, silver shrapnel embedded in his skin. His eyes were closed.
No, no, no! I pressed my hands to his chest. Don't you dare die on me! Not now! Not when I finally
His eyes fluttered open, glazed with pain. Sera...
I'm here. I've got you. Just stay with me!
The bond, he whispered. Can you feel it?
I could. Barely. It was fading, weakening as his life slipped away.
Use it, Kael breathed. Your Moon-Blessed power. Through the bond. Save yourself
I'm not leaving you!
You have to. Viktor's still He coughed blood. Still coming for you. Run, Sera. Please.
NO!
A slow clap echoed through the smoke.
Viktor emerged from the shadows, smiling. How touching. The daughter finally realizes she loves her father's killer. Too bad you figured it out too late.
He raised a gun the same one from the warehouse.
This time, it was pointed at my head.
Goodbye, little moon, Viktor said.
The gunshot was deafening.
But the bullet never reached me.
A massive gray wolf Jason's wolf crashed into Viktor from the side. They went down in a tangle of teeth and claws.
RUN! Jason's voice echoed in my head through the sibling bond we'd always had. Save Kael! I'll handle Viktor!
More Blood Moon wolves poured into the courtyard. Nash shifted and joined Jason against Viktor.
I looked down at Kael. He was dying. The silver poison was spreading too fast.
But I was Moon-Blessed. The goddess's power flowed through me.
And the completed mating bond connected us completely.
I placed both hands on Kael's chest and let the power flow.
Silver light erupted from my palms, pouring into him. Through the bond, I felt his pain, his injuries, his life force flickering.
Don't you dare leave me, I thought fiercely. I just found you. We're not done yet.
The light grew brighter, brighter
And then everything went dark.
When I opened my eyes, I was in Kael's bed. He was beside me, alive, healed, watching me with those silver-blue eyes I'd once hated.
You saved me, he said softly. Again.
You saved me first, I replied. Seems like we're even.
Sera, about the bite
I know why you did it. And I... I took a breath. I forgive you.
His eyes widened. You do?
Gray showed me the truth. Viktor manipulated everything. You were trying to prevent a war. My voice shook. I'm sorry I hated you for so long.
You had every right to hate me.
No. I had every right to hate Viktor. You were just his weapon. Like me. I touched the mating bite on my shoulder. The Moon Goddess knew what she was doing. She bonded the two people Viktor hurt the most. Together, we can stop him.
Kael's hand covered mine. Together?
Together.
He leaned in slowly, giving me time to pull away. I didn't.
When his lips touched mine, the bond sang between us. And for the first time since it formed, I kissed him back.
We broke apart, both breathing hard.
Viktor escaped, Kael said. Jason's alive but injured. We captured three traitors who helped with the breakout.
Then we interrogate them. Find Viktor. End this.
You're ready to face him?
I thought about my father. About seven years of pain. About everything Viktor had stolen from both of us.
I'm ready to make him pay, I said.
Kael smiled. It transformed his whole face. That's my mate.
A knock interrupted us. Nash entered, his expression serious.
We got something from one of the traitors, he said. Viktor's final plan. And it's worse than we thought.
What is it? Kael demanded.
Nash handed him a piece of paper. Kael read it and his face went pale.
What? I grabbed it from him.
The message was simple: The Gathering Stones. Three days. All Alphas will die. And the Moon-Blessed will watch her mate burn.
Viktor was planning another attack. Bigger than before. And this time, he wasn't just targeting Kael.
He was going to kill every Alpha in the territories.
And force me to watch.