Sera's POV
The clearing at dawn is packed with wolves. Hundreds of them. Every pack in the region came to watch, drawn by the spectacle of two Alphas fighting to the death over a mate.
Over me.
Kael stands across from Dominic. Both in wolf form. Both massive. Both ready to kill.
I stand with the Shadowfang pack, Raven on one side, Jason on the other. My hands won't stop shaking.
Magnus Blackwood, head of the Alpha Council, stands in the center. His presence alone commands silence. This is a formal challenge under ancient law. Single combat to the death. The winner claims Sera Silverpine as mate and takes the loser's territory. His cold eyes sweep the crowd. No interference will be tolerated. The punishment for interference is death.
My heart pounds so hard it hurts. Through the bond, I feel Kael's determination. His certainty. He believes he'll win.
But I see what he doesn't. Dominic looks different. Stronger. His eyes glow with an unnatural light that makes my skin crawl.
BEGIN! Magnus shouts.
They clash in the center of the clearing. The sound of it bone and muscle and fury makes me flinch. Through the bond, I feel every hit Kael takes. Every moment of pain.
Dominic is brutal, vicious. Enhanced somehow I can see it in the way he moves, faster than he should be. Dark magic. Elena's work, probably.
Kael fights back hard, using skill and strategy where Dominic uses raw power. But Kael's already tired from last night's battle with the Shadow Council. He's not at full strength.
Blood sprays. The crowd roars. I can't look away even though every second is agony.
Dominic's teeth sink into Kael's shoulder. Kael yelps, a sound of pain that tears through me. I scream without meaning to.
Stop this! I shout to Magnus, my voice breaking. Please! There's dark magic he's enhanced
No interference, Magnus says coldly, not even looking at me. Those are the rules.
Kael fights back viciously, desperately. He goes on pure offense, sacrificing defense for brutal attacks. It's desperate. Dangerous.
Then Kael makes his move a feint that Dominic falls for. In that split second, Kael's jaws close around Dominic's throat. One wrong move and Dominic dies.
The crowd goes silent. Held breath. Waiting.
Yield, Magnus commands.
But then a whistle. Sharp. Deliberate.
A silver arrow flies through the air, moving impossibly fast. It hits Kael in the side, sinking deep.
Kael releases Dominic, howling in agony. The arrow glows with dark magic, poison spreading through his system in black veins.
CHEATING! Raven roars, her voice cutting through the shocked silence. The Silverpine pack cheated!
Chaos erupts. Shadowfang wolves surge forward, stopped only by Council enforcers. Silverpine wolves form defensive lines. The crowd is screaming, confused, angry.
I don't think. I just run. But hands grab me from behind before I can reach Kael.
Marcus Reed. Shadow Council spy. His smile is cruel and victorious.
Got you, he says softly. Silver chains wrap around me before I can fight back.
Jason tackles Marcus from the side. The chains loosen and I break free, running toward Kael.
He's collapsed, black veins spreading from the poison arrow like cracks in ice. His breathing is laboured, painful.
Sera... run... he gasps, trying to protect me even while dying.
No! Silver light explodes from me instinctively. I rip the arrow out Kael screams and press my hands to his wound. Healing power pours from me, more than I've ever used before. It flows from my core through my hands into him.
The poison recedes. The black veins fade. The wound begins to close, knitting together under my glowing palms.
But the effort drains me completely. My vision blurs. I collapse beside him.
ENOUGH! Magnus's command, enhanced with Alpha power, freezes everyone midmotion. This trial is void due to cheating.
Relief floods through me. It's over. Kael's alive.
However Magnus continues, and my relief dies. For the safety of all packs present, Sera Silverpine must be secured. She's too dangerous, too unstable. Her power is a threat. He looks around the circle of Alphas. Council vote: Do we imprison Sera Silverpine for the protection of all packs?
Ten hands rise immediately. Ten Alphas voting to lock me away.
Terror claws at my throat. They're going to take me. Put me in chains. Lock me in some dark hole and never let me out.
I reject your authority, I say, forcing myself to stand on shaking legs. I am Moon Blessed. My bloodline predates your Council by centuries. You have no power over me.
I shift to my silver wolf form. Power radiates from me in waves, making the ground shake. Several wolves stumble back.
Magnus smiles coldly, like this is exactly what he wanted. You've just declared yourself an enemy of every pack here. An outlaw. You and anyone who stands with you. He looks directly at Kael. Choose, Shadowfang Alpha. Your pack's safety and future, or her. Choose wisely.
The clearing goes silent. Every eye turns to Kael.
He's still wounded, still weak from the poison. His pack surrounds him fifty wolves who trust him with their lives. If he chooses me, the Council will declare war on all of them. They'll be hunted. Destroyed.
If he chooses his pack, I become Council property. They'll lock me up. Use me. Break me.
Through the bond, I feel his turmoil. His love for me warring with his responsibility to his pack.
Choose your pack, I whisper to him, even though it kills me. Keep them safe. I'll find a way
Her, Kael says clearly, loudly. I choose her.
Gasps ripple through the crowd. Even Raven looks shocked.
Magnus's smile is satisfied, victorious. You doom your pack for one wolf? For a girl you've known three days?
I doom my pack if I betray what we stand for, Kael says, standing despite his wounds. Shadowfang doesn't abandon our own. We don't bow to corrupt Councils. And we sure as hell don't let threats dictate our choices.
Raven steps forward, pride in her eyes. The Alpha speaks for all of us. She looks at Magnus. Shadowfang stands with Sera.
Ash joins her. We stand with Sera.
One by one, every Shadowfang wolf steps forward. We stand with Sera.
My throat closes with emotion. They're choosing me. All of them.
Magnus stands, his expression cold. Then you are all outlaws. Any pack that aids you will face the same punishment. You have until sunset tomorrow to leave Council territory. After that, you're fair game. Any wolf can hunt you without consequence.
We're not running, Kael says firmly. Shadowfang territory is ours. You want it? Come take it.
You can't win against every pack, Magnus says.
Maybe not. But we'll die fighting before we surrender. Kael shifts to wolf form despite his injuries. Shadowfang! We move out!
His pack forms a protective circle around me. We back away from the Council grounds in formation, ready for attack.
Dominic steps forward, still in wolf form. His eyes fix on me possessive, angry, hungry. Like he's already planning how to reclaim what he thinks is his.
Kael growls a warning. Dominic backs down, but his gaze never leaves me.
Then Jason appears at our flank. He's in wolf form, bloody from fighting off Marcus.
Jason? I gasp.
He shifts to human, facing our parents in the Silverpine section. They look stricken, devastated. I'm coming with you, he tells me. Then louder, to them: I choose my sister.
Our mother cries out. Our father looks like Jason just stabbed him. But neither moves to stop him.
You're a traitor to your pack, Dominic snarls at Jason.
I'm her brother, Jason says simply. That matters more than anything else.
We retreat into the forest. The moment we cross into Shadowfang territory, I collapse.
Everything catches up at once the trial, the healing, the power I used. Kael catches me before I hit the ground.
We have until sunset tomorrow, he tells everyone, even as he holds me. That gives us thirty-six hours to prepare for war.
Against every pack? Ash asks, his usual humor gone. How do we survive that?
We don't, Raven says bluntly, always honest. Not without allies. And the Council just made sure no pack will help us.
There's one group that isn't under Council control, I say weakly, an idea forming through my exhaustion.
Everyone looks at me.
Rogues, I say. Wolves who left their packs. They hate the Council as much as we do. If we could convince them to fight with us
Rogues don't fight for anyone, Raven interrupts. They're unpredictable. Dangerous. Loyal to nothing but themselves.
So are we now, I point out. Outlaws. Hunted. We need numbers. The rogue territories are just north of here. If I could talk to their leader
You're not going anywhere near rogues, Kael says immediately, protectively.
Then we die tomorrow, I say flatly. Because fifty wolves can't beat hundreds. We need help. We need the rogues.
She's right. I hate it, but she's right.
I know the rogue Alpha, Jason says quietly. His name is Cade. We were friends before he left Silverpine five years ago. I could negotiate.
And I go with him, I add. Cade might help for Jason's sake. But he'll definitely help for a Moon Blessed. Everyone wants Moon Blessed power.
Every instinct screams at me to refuse. To keep Sera here where I can protect her.
But we're out of options.
You take Ash with you, Kael says finally, each word forced out. And if anything feels wrong anything at all you run. Immediately. No hesitation.
I nod. We leave now. The faster we get help, the better our chances.
Kael pulls me aside while the others prepare. This is dangerous. More dangerous than the trial.
Everything is dangerous now, I say. You chose me over your pack's safety. I won't let that be for nothing.
I chose you because my pack's safety means nothing without honor, he corrects. And because... He hesitates, vulnerable. Because I love you.
The words steal my breath. You what?
I love you. His hands cup my face. I know it's fast. I know it's insane. But I've felt more in three days with you than in twenty-eight years without you. So yes. I love you. And I need you to come back to me.
Tears shine in my eyes. I love you too, I whisper. That's why I have to do this. To protect you. To protect everyone who chose me when they didn't have to.
He kisses me. Hard. Desperate. A promise and a plea and a goodbye all at once.
When we break apart, Ash and Jason are waiting.
Take care of her, Kael tells them, his voice rough with emotion.
With my life, Jason promises.
They disappear into the forest. I watch until I can't see Sera anymore, until the trees swallow her completely.
The bond stretches between us, thinning with distance but holding strong.
Come back to me, I send through it.
Always, she sends back.
But hours pass. Night falls. And they don't return.
Just after midnight, a scout runs in, terror on his face. Alpha! Message from the rogue territories. It's urgent!
My blood runs cold. Sera's been gone for six hours. That's not nearly enough time to reach the rogues and negotiate.
The scout hands me a bloodstained note. My hands shake as I read it.
Kael Nightshade We have your mate. We have her brother. We have your second. Come alone to the northern border at dawn. Bring the Council's mercy, and they might live. Refuse, and we send you pieces. One per hour until you comply. Cade, Rogue Alpha.
Rage and fear explode inside me, primal and consuming. They didn't negotiate. They were captured.
It's a trap, Raven says, reading over my shoulder.
Obviously.
So what do we do? We can't fight rogues AND the Council
Then we don't fight. I look at the note again. Dawn. Northern border. We trade.
Trade what? We don't have anything the rogues want
We have me. I meet Raven's eyes. The rogues hate the Council. They'd love to ransom an Alpha back to them. Big payday. Sweet revenge.
But you'll be their prisoner. They could kill you
Or they could take the deal. Either way, Sera goes free. I stand, my decision made. Get the pack ready to evacuate. If this goes wrong, I want everyone gone by sunrise. Scatter. Survive.
Kael
That's an order, Raven.
She nods, jaw tight with emotion.
I head to the northern border alone. Dawn breaks as I reach it, painting the sky in blood reds and violent oranges.
And there, tied with silver chains that glow with suppression magic, are Sera, Jason, and Ash.
Sera's eyes widen when she sees me. Kael, no! It's a trap! Run!
A massive wolf steps from the shadows. When he shifts, I recognize Cade from descriptions. Scarred. Dangerous. And smiling like he's already won.
The Shadowfang Alpha, he says, pleased. Right on time. So predictable.
Let them go, I say flatly. Take me instead. I'll be worth more to you.
Cade laughs, the sound echoing through the forest. Why would I do that? When I can have all four of you?
Silver chains fly from all directions at once. I dodge three, five, seven but the eighth catches my leg. I go down hard.
More chains. I fight desperately but there are too many rogues, too many chains. Within seconds, I'm bound like the others.
Cade crouches in front of me, his smile wide and cruel. The Council wants your mate. Willing to pay a fortune for her. The Shadow Council wants her too even bigger payday. He stands. But me? I'm going to auction her to the highest bidder. Let them fight over her. Drive the price up.
Horror washes over me. You can't
I can. I will. Cade's smile widens. And as a bonus? Two Alphas for the price of one. Imagine what the Council will pay for both of you. For leverage over a Moon Blessed.
He looks at his rogues. The auction starts at sunset. Spread the word. Every pack. Every faction. Tell them we have the Moon Blessed and two Alphas.
He looks back at me, victorious. Hope your pack has deep pockets, Nightshade. Otherwise?
He leans close, whispers so only I can hear:
You're all going to wish you'd died in that trial.