The sky bled in shades of molten gold and bruised crimson as dusk settled over the shattered valley. The battlefield still stank of iron and smoke, the corpses of enemies and allies scattered like discarded dolls. Selene stood at the center of it all, her boots sunk in the mud, her fingers trembling—not from fear, but from the strange heat coiling beneath her skin. It was as if her very blood had turned to fire.
Kai's shadow fell over her, tall and sharp, the way it always did. His golden eyes, fierce even through exhaustion, locked onto her like she was the only thing left in this world worth fighting for. But the tension between them was a blade—sharp, dangerous, and ready to cut. "You're hiding something from me," he said, his voice low, not a question but an accusation.
She wanted to deny it. Gods, she wanted to deny it. But the truth pressed against her ribs, aching to break free. "You think you know me, Kai," she whispered, her gaze darting to the bodies around them, "but there's more… so much more."
Before he could demand an answer, a slow clap broke through the silence. From the ridge above, Lucien descended—a rival in every sense. His beauty was dangerous, his smile sharper than a wolf's fang. "My, my," he drawled, eyes fixed on Selene. "The prodigal daughter finally feels the burn."
Kai stepped forward instantly, his presence protective, almost possessive. "Stay the hell away from her."
Lucien's smirk deepened. "She's not yours to guard, Alpha. She never was. If anything… she belongs to me by blood."
Selene froze. The words hit her harder than any blade. "What are you talking about?"
Lucien's gaze softened—just for a second—before hardening into something unreadable. "You're not who you think you are, Selene. The blood that runs in your veins… it's older than the packs, older than the wars. It's the blood of the Ashborn—descendants of gods."
The air shifted, thick with energy. Even the dying wind seemed to still. Kai's grip on his weapon tightened, his jaw locking. "That's impossible. The Ashborn were wiped out centuries ago."
Lucien descended the last step, his boots crunching on broken stone. "So we believed. But the last Ashborn queen hid her only child… and that child's blood would one day awaken the gods themselves." His eyes glittered. "Tell me, Selene, have you been dreaming of voices calling your name?"
Selene's heart pounded, the memory of nights where she woke drenched in sweat flashing before her. Whispers. Names she didn't know. A throne of bone and fire.
Kai turned to her, his eyes searching hers. "Is it true?"
"I… I don't know," she said, but the lie tasted bitter. She did know. Deep down, she had always known she was different—the way wounds healed too quickly, the way her anger sometimes felt like lightning in her veins.
Lucien took a step closer, his voice low. "You've felt it, haven't you? The heat. The pull. The hunger that isn't just human or wolf. That is your birthright… and your curse."
The wind shifted again, but this time it carried something else—a voice, deep and ancient, speaking in a language that made her bones ache. Selene staggered, clutching her head. Images flashed—an army of gods with eyes like burning suns, a crown dripping blood, Kai kneeling in chains, Lucien standing beside her throne.
Kai grabbed her shoulders. "Selene! Stay with me."
But Lucien's voice cut through the haze. "Don't fight it. If you want revenge for everything they've done to you—your pack, your family—then take what's yours. I'll stand beside you when the gods rise."
She shoved him back, her voice trembling but fierce. "You're not doing this for me. You're doing it for power."
Lucien grinned. "And you're not?"
Lightning split the sky, striking the ridge where he had stood seconds ago. He didn't even flinch, only looking skyward as if daring the heavens themselves to strike again. "The gods are waking, Selene. And when they do, you'll have to choose. Him…" He nodded toward Kai. "…or me."
Kai stepped in front of her, his voice laced with both fury and fear. "She's already chosen."
Lucien's smirk faltered—just barely. Then he turned and disappeared into the mist as if the earth itself swallowed him.
Selene's knees weakened, and Kai caught her before she fell. His warmth steadied her, but his silence was heavier than any embrace. "You should have told me," he said, his voice low, almost broken.
She leaned into him, closing her eyes. "I was afraid you'd look at me differently."
Kai pulled back just enough to meet her gaze. "I don't care if you're the daughter of gods or the devil himself. You're mine."
The words lit something deep inside her—a dangerous mix of desire and defiance. Her lips parted, but before she could speak, the ground beneath them trembled.
A low, resonant hum filled the air, vibrating through the stones, through their bones. From the horizon, an immense shadow rose, blotting out the dying light. The hum became a chant, the chant a roar.
And then she heard it—the same voice from her dreams, clearer now, speaking her name like a command. Selene.
Her vision burned white. She saw herself, crowned in black flame, armies kneeling before her, the gods themselves bowing their heads. She saw Kai beside her, blood on his hands, his loyalty unbroken. And she saw Lucien… smiling as if he had won.
When the vision faded, she was on her knees, panting. Kai's hands were on her, pulling her back to her feet. "What did you see?"
Selene's voice was barely a whisper. "The gods aren't coming, Kai… they're already here."
From the horizon, the first of them stepped into the mortal realm. Towering, radiant, terrible. And they were looking directly at her.