Kael's POV
Choose, Shadowfang Alpha. Your pack's safety, or her.
Magnus's words echo in the prison cage where they've thrown us. The rogues keep us separated me in one cage, Sera in another across the clearing. I can see her but can't reach her. The silver chains suppress our power, make shifting impossible.
Through the bond, I feel her fear. Her rage. Her desperate need to break free.
Every wolf in the clearing watches me. Waiting for my answer. Raven and fifty Shadowfang warriors stand behind me, tension radiating from them. If I choose Sera, the Council will declare war on us all. We'll be hunted. Destroyed.
If I choose my pack, Sera becomes Council property. They'll lock her up. Use her. Break her until there's nothing left of the fierce wolf I love.
But there's no choice. There never was.
Her, I say clearly, my voice carrying across the clearing. I choose her.
Gasps ripple through the crowd like wind through wheat. Even Sera's eyes go wide with shock. Raven looks stunned.
Magnus's smile is cold, satisfied, like this is exactly what he wanted. You doom your pack for one wolf? For a girl you've known barely three days?
I doom my pack if I betray what we stand for. I look at Raven, at Ash, at every Shadowfang wolf present. We don't abandon our own. We don't bow to corrupt Councils who rig trials and make unjust laws. And we sure as hell don't let threats and fear dictate our choices.
For a heartbeat, silence. Then Raven steps forward, and there's pride burning in her eyes.
The Alpha speaks for all of us, she says, her voice ringing with conviction. She looks directly at Magnus, fearless. Shadowfang stands with Sera.
Ash joins her, his usual humor replaced by fierce determination. We stand with Sera.
One by one, every Shadowfang wolf steps forward. The sound of it fifty voices united raises the hair on my arms.
We stand with Sera.
Sera's face crumples with emotion, tears streaming down her cheeks. They're choosing her. All of them. Despite the danger, despite the cost.
Magnus stands slowly, and his expression turns glacial. Then you are all outlaws. Enemies of the Council. Any pack that aids you will face the same punishment. He lets that sink in. You have until sunset tomorrow to leave Council territory. After that, you're fair game for any wolf. No protection. No mercy.
We're not running, I say firmly. Shadowfang territory is ours by right. You want it? I bare my teeth. Come take it.
You can't win against every pack, Magnus says, almost pitying. You have fifty wolves. We have thousands. This is suicide.
Maybe. I shift to wolf form despite the pain from my wounds. But we'll die fighting before we surrender our home or our own.
Shadowfang! I howl. We move out!
My pack forms a defensive circle around Sera instantly, instinctively. We back away from the Council grounds in tight formation, ready for any attack.
Dominic steps forward, still in wolf form. His eyes lock onto Sera possessive, hungry, entitled. Like she's still his property. Like he has any right to her.
I growl a warning, low and dangerous. Dominic backs down reluctantly, but his gaze never leaves her.
Then movement at our flank Jason appears, in wolf form, bleeding from multiple wounds but alive.
Sera gasps. Jason?
He shifts to human, turning to face our their parents in the Silverpine section. They look devastated. Broken.
I'm coming with you, Jason tells Sera. Then louder, for everyone to hear: I choose my sister over my pack.
Their mother cries out, a sound of pure anguish. Their father looks like Jason just killed him. But neither moves. Neither tries to stop him.
Traitor, Dominic snarls. You're dead to Silverpine.
I'm her brother, Jason says simply, with quiet dignity. That matters more than pack politics. More than anything.
We retreat into the forest, moving fast. The moment we cross into Shadowfang territory what's left of it I shift back to human.
We have until sunset tomorrow, I tell everyone, forcing my voice steady despite the chaos of the last hour. Thirty-six hours to prepare for war against every pack in the region.
Against every pack? Ash asks, his usual lightness gone. Alpha, how do we survive that? The math doesn't work.
We don't, Raven says bluntly, because she's always brutally honest. Not without allies. And the Council just ensured no pack will help us. We're alone.
Sera speaks up, her voice weak but determined. There's one group that isn't under Council control.
Everyone turns to her.
Rogues, she says. Wolves who abandoned their packs. They hate the Council. Hate authority. If we could convince them to fight with us
Rogues don't fight for anyone, Raven interrupts sharply. They're unpredictable, dangerous, loyal only to themselves and coin. They'd as soon kill us as help us.
So we're outlaws now too, Sera points out. Hunted. Desperate. We need numbers. She looks at me. The rogue territories are just north. If I could talk to their leader, maybe
No. The word comes out harsher than I intend. You're not going anywhere near rogues.
Then we die tomorrow, Sera says flatly, and the certainty in her voice chills me. Because fifty wolves can't beat hundreds. You know this, Kael. We need help.
I hate it. Hate everything about this plan. But she's right.
I know the rogue Alpha, Jason says quietly. Cade. We were friends before he went rogue five years ago. I might be able to negotiate.
And I go with him, Sera adds firmly. Cade might listen to Jason for old times' sake. But he'll definitely listen to a Moon Blessed. Everyone wants that power.
Every instinct I have screams to refuse. To lock Sera in my room and never let her leave. To keep her safe no matter the cost.
But we're out of options. And time.
Fine, I force out. But Ash goes with you. Extra protection.
We leave now, Sera says. Every minute we waste is a minute closer to war.
I pull her aside while the others prepare, needing one more moment alone with her.
This is dangerous, I say, the words feeling inadequate. More dangerous than anything we've faced.
Everything is dangerous now, she says. You chose me over your pack's safety, over everything you built. I won't let that be for nothing.
I chose you because my pack's safety means nothing without honor. I touch her face, memorizing every detail. And because I love you.
She freezes. You what?
I love you. The words come easier the second time. I know it's fast. Insane. Impossible. 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 fill her eyes. I love you too, she whispers, fierce and fragile at once. That's why I have to do this. To protect you. To protect everyone who stood up for me when they didn't have to.
I kiss her. Pour everything I feel into it love, fear, desperate hope. It's a promise and a goodbye and a prayer all wrapped together.
When we break apart, Ash and Jason wait nearby, giving us privacy but ready.
Take care of her, I tell them, my voice rough. Bring her back.
With my life, Jason swears.
They disappear into the forest. I watch until the trees swallow them completely.
The bond stretches between us, thinning with distance but holding. I can still feel her, faint but there.
Come back to me, I send through it.
Always, her response comes, strong and sure.
But hours pass. Night falls. The bond grows fainter.
And they don't return.
Just after midnight, a scout bursts in, terror written across his face. Alpha! Emergency! Message from the rogue territories!
My blood turns to ice. Sera's been gone for six hours. Not nearly enough time.
The scout hands me a note, the paper stained with blood. My hands shake as I unfold it.
Kael Nightshade
We have your mate. We have her brother. We have your second. Come alone to the northern border at dawn. Bring proof of Council mercy, and they might live. Refuse, and we send you pieces. One per hour.
Your choice, Alpha.
Cade, Rogue Alpha
Rage and terror explode inside me, primal and all consuming. They didn't negotiate. They were captured. Used as bait.
Trap, Raven says shortly, reading over my shoulder. Obvious trap.
I know.
So what do we do? We can't fight rogues AND the Council
We don't fight. I look at the note again, calculating. Dawn. Northern border. We trade.
Trade what? We have nothing they want
We have me, I cut her off. Rogues hate the Council. They'd love to ransom an Alpha back to them for a fortune.
But you'd be their prisoner! They could kill you, torture you
Or they take the deal, and Sera goes free. I stand, my decision made. Either way, she survives. Get the pack ready to evacuate. If this goes wrong, scatter. Find new territory. Survive.
Kael, you can't
That's an order, Raven. My Alpha voice, leaving no room for argument.
Her jaw clenches, but she nods.
I head to the northern border alone, as demanded. Dawn breaks bloody and violent across the sky fitting.
And there they are. Sera, Jason, and Ash, bound in glowing silver chains that suppress their power.
Sera's eyes widen in horror when she sees me. Kael, no! Run! It's a trap!
A massive wolf steps from the shadows Cade. Scarred, dangerous, and smiling like he's already won.
The Shadowfang Alpha, he purrs, shifting to human. Punctual. How civilized.
Let them go, I demand. Take me instead.
Cade laughs, rich and cruel. Why settle for one when I can have all four?
Silver chains explode from every direction. I dodge, twist, fight but there are too many. One catches my leg. Another my arm. I'm dragged down.
More chains. Within seconds, I'm bound like the others.
Cade crouches before me, his smile vicious. The Council wants your mate. The Shadow Council wants her too. But me? He stands. I'm auctioning her to the highest bidder. Let them fight over her. Let the price climb.
Horror floods me. You bastard
And as a bonus two Alphas. His eyes gleam. Can you imagine what they'll pay for leverage over a Moon Blessed?
He turns to his rogues. Auction starts at sunset. Invite everyone. Every pack. Every faction. The Moon Blessed and two Alphas, up for sale.
He leans close, whispers so only I hear:
Hope your pack is rich, Nightshade. Otherwise, you're about to find out exactly how creative rogues can be with prisoners.
And as he walks away, laughing, I realize the terrible truth:
We're trapped. Out maneuverer. And running out of time.
The auction starts in twelve hours.
And we have no way out.