ing cave, her body still weak but gradually recovering. Beside her, Kael remained awa

strange. Moonlight filtered through the cave walls, but it

ad never seen before. The sky above was dark, yet the stars blazed like eyes watching fr

have

through the air, but

still. "W

Kael is my heir. And you are his fated mate. Bu

d forward.

r. She was killed. In his grief, the Alpha cursed all his descendants: any Alpha who

bled. "I just wan

r be the sacrifice. When the final trial com

ll slept beside her, unaware. But her heart was no longer the same. Now sh

f the packlands, gazing at the forest where the Purification Rite would take place. Sof

e shouldn't have been walking yet. But the moment he looke

came closer. "I had a dream

wned. "T

how their love was tied to the oldest wound of the pack. Kael was silen

d finally. "But I didn't know...

m, then let me stand with you. I d

e reason I've made it this far... But if something happe

her resolve was clear. "I've seen it, Kael. This isn't just about you. Or me. It's about the futu

e pulled her into his arms. "You're stubborn

on had heard everything. And in that moment, a new plan was born. If love

tone table marked with the map of the packlands. His l

wait sev

has already be

a hand, silenc

focuses on the trial, we'll

caves. The Rowan district. The western b

ng the girl to me before the fifth. If his fated mate is bro

th, gripping a wooden staff borrowed from Rowan.

ing her footing. "But don't rely on courage

't you afraid they'll se

Besides, after seeing the way you looked at him this

e training cont

began to feel something shift. The way Aria looked at Kael it hu

an't grow. Not if I'm

wan began noticing odd behavior among the elder guards. And Aria start

, Maeron's faction struck. The secret weapons cache in the east was set ablaze. The guardian post in the north was

lled blood and heard rushed footsteps. E

sn't a

e inside destroyed. Only a trail of blood and signs of struggle remained.

wered his gaze. "They too

pha aura flared vi

d at the fires consuming the northern border. Then at the wo

I'm being honest... I don't j

, because I'm falli

now, he'd lose his brother. If he

an came to Kael. "Let

m, sharp and unre

n his voice. "Because I failed her la

silent fo

find her... don't you dare d

on, Aria sat in chains. Maeron

"...if love can survive when t