It wasn't a simple break in the mate bond; it felt like the collapse of a stronghold. His mind flood

maintained for days shattered and was replaced by the intense pain of genuine connection.

ing my mental grip. Find the Wolfsba

intrusion. I bypassed the commands, the tactics for battle, and the para

to the moment of rejection, reliving the memory with painful clari

evela

moon. Elara, rad

was now exposed. I saw a memory he had buried-a

Elder, the same one urging him to hire m

ower will save the Pack from darkness. But it also warns of a Shadow Wolf, a great darkness that the

Pack border, her bright healing light shining, drawing a powerful, faceless enemy to the Pack's vulne

Kael trembled, h

I will reject her. I need to convince the darkness that she isn't worth

ear of my wildness. He had sacrificed for the Pack-an agonizing choice to avoid a foretold disaster. He chose t

n was final and to poison the bond so no lingering trace would attract the predicted Shadow W

ding sickness wasn't a plague; it was a direct result of the Wolfsbane residue in his body r

at an

asping, sweat streaming down my forehead. Th

sudden, intense fatigue. The moment of recognition had vani

e?" he whispered

with internal turmoil. "It's deeper than I thought. It's tied to your b

. The cure-stabilizing his core-was only half the battle. Th

tred, which had fueled my transformation, was replaced by a comp

My vengeance had saved him from hea

ed to leave again. This time, not out of rejection, but to d

my voice. "Until then, you will rest. If you move, if you try to use

needed space. I needed to mourn the end of

, slamming the door and or

o the floor, pulling off my gloves. My right hand

r, carrying the crushing guilt of knowing my presence was the real threat, and that Ka

n. I had to become the rogue Kael tried to mak

's doom. My absence