Kael's POV
"We need to move," I say, still holding Mira in my arms. "Now."
She's already trying to push away from me. "I can walk."
"You just passed out from healing a corrupted dragon. You can barely stand."
"Then help me stand. Don't carry me like a sack of potatoes." Her eyes flash with stubborn fire. "I'm not helpless."
Despite everything—the danger, the urgency, the Dark Ones coming—I almost smile. Most females would be grateful for protection. This one fights it at every turn.
I set her on her feet carefully, keeping one hand on her elbow. She sways but stays upright. Proud little thing.
"Impressive display," Zephyr says, landing gracefully beside us. "But the Lifebringer needs proper rest and care. The Sky Dominion has the finest healers and—"
"She's not going with you," I growl before I can stop myself.
Mira's head snaps toward me. "Excuse me?"
Damn it. "I meant—"
"I know what you meant." She pulls her arm from my grip. "And I'm getting really tired of males deciding what I do."
"Mira," Draeven says from the shadows, his voice smooth as poison. "The wolf is right about one thing. You're in danger. The Dark Ones don't negotiate. They don't show mercy. They'll tear through every tribe in the Wildlands to get to you."
"Then maybe I should leave." Mira's voice cracks. "Go somewhere far away so they don't hurt anyone because of me."
The thought of her leaving makes my chest tight. "That won't work. They'll track your power anywhere. You'd just die alone instead of protected."
"Protected." She laughs bitterly. "Is that what we're calling it? Because it looks a lot like being claimed by whoever yells loudest."
"I'm not claiming you," I snap, even though my wolf is doing exactly that inside my head.
"Really? Then why are you standing between me and everyone else? Why are you acting like you own me?"
Because the thought of another male touching you makes me want to rip throats out. Because your scent is driving my wolf insane. Because I'm terrified of losing someone again and I barely know you.
I can't say any of that. So I say nothing.
Elder Torak steps forward, his old eyes kind. "Child, Alpha Kael lost his mate and cubs to the Withering Curse five years ago. His... intensity... comes from fear, not cruelty. He knows what it means to fail to protect someone precious."
Mira's expression shifts. She looks at me differently now. Not with anger, but with something worse: understanding. Pity.
"I'm sorry," she says softly. "That must have been horrible. But I'm not your second chance, Kael. I'm not your redemption. I'm just trying to survive."
Her words hit harder than any claw strike. Because she's right. I AM treating her like a second chance. Like if I can keep this female safe, it'll somehow make up for the family I couldn't save.
Before I can respond, a young scout—barely more than a cub—comes crashing through the trees.
"Alpha! The border scouts report movement from the Shadowlands. Multiple signatures. Coming fast."
My blood runs cold. "How many?"
"At least thirty. Maybe more. They're not hiding their presence."
Thirty Dark Ones. That's not a scouting party. That's an army.
Zephyr's wings snap open. "We need to evacuate. Get the Lifebringer to safe territory."
"Agreed," I say, hating that I agree with the bird. "My den is closest—"
"Your den is also where they'll look first," Draeven interrupts. "They'll expect you to take her to Frostfang territory. That's the obvious move."
"The Sky Dominion is farther but safer," Zephyr argues.
"Or," Draeven says slowly, "she comes with me to the Dead Forest. No one goes there. Not even Dark Ones. The corruption is too thick."
Mira's voice cuts through our argument. "Stop. All of you, just STOP."
We turn to her. She's shaking—from exhaustion or fear or rage, I can't tell. Maybe all three. Her golden marks pulse erratically.
"I didn't ask for any of this," she says, her voice breaking. "I didn't ask to be special. I didn't ask to have this power. I didn't ask to be everyone's salvation or their prize or their responsibility. I just wanted to escape my abusive boyfriend and start over. Instead, I died. And woke up here. And now ancient evil is hunting me and everyone's fighting over who gets to lock me in the nicest cage."
Tears stream down her face. She doesn't bother wiping them away.
"So here's what's going to happen," she continues, stronger now. "I'm going to pick where I go. ME. Not you, Kael. Not you, Zephyr. Not you, Draeven. And if any of you try to force me, I'll use this power to defend myself. I've already died once. I'm not afraid to fight."
The clearing goes silent. Every male here could overpower her physically. But there's something in her eyes—a kind of desperate courage—that makes even the strongest warrior hesitate.
"Where do you want to go?" I ask quietly.
She looks at each of us in turn. Measuring. Deciding.
"I don't trust any of you yet," she admits. "But... Kael, you lost people you loved. Zephyr, you've been respectful, mostly. And Draeven..." She studies the serpent male. "You're the only one who hasn't pretended this is about anything except survival. You're honest about being dangerous."
Draeven's lips curve in something almost like a smile. "Honesty is all I have left to offer."
"Then here's my condition," Mira says. "You ALL protect me. Together. No fighting over who owns me. No claiming. No cages. You keep me alive until we figure out how to stop these Dark Ones, and in return, I'll use my power to help your people. Deal?"
"That's not how it works," Zephyr says gently. "Females choose mates. They don't make... alliances."
"I'm not from your world," Mira shoots back. "Maybe I do things differently. So? Deal or no deal?"
My wolf screams in protest. Share her? Work alongside rivals? Impossible.
But as I look at her—exhausted, terrified, but still standing her ground—I realize she's giving us a gift. Not submission. Not choosing one male over others. But a chance to prove ourselves worthy of her trust.
"Deal," I say before I can overthink it.
Zephyr hesitates, then nods. "Deal."
Draeven chuckles darkly. "This will be interesting. Deal."
Mira lets out a shaky breath. "Okay. Good. Now someone please tell me how we—"
The ground explodes twenty feet away.
A massive clawed hand erupts from the earth, black and rotting and impossibly huge. Then another. Something is digging up from underground, and it's big enough to make the dragon look small.
"DARK ONE!" Elder Torak screams. "RUN!"
But we're too late. The creature bursts from the ground completely—a nightmare made flesh. It has too many limbs, too many eyes, all of them fixed on Mira. Black corruption drips from its body like acid.
It opens a mouth full of thousands of teeth and speaks in a voice like grinding bones:
"LIFEBRINGER. MINE."
Then it lunges straight for her.
I throw myself forward, but I'm too far. Zephyr's wings snap, but he's too slow. Draeven moves, but he won't reach her in time.
Mira throws up her hands.
Golden light explodes outward in a dome around her.
The Dark One slams into the barrier and BOUNCES back with a shriek of rage and pain.
We all stare in shock. She created a shield. Instinctively.
But I can see the strain on her face. See her legs shaking. The barrier flickers.
"It won't hold," she gasps. "I don't know how to—it's breaking—"
The Dark One slams into the barrier again. Cracks spider across the golden light.
"We need to combine our strength," Zephyr says urgently. "Attack together while she holds the shield."
"On my mark," I growl, my claws extending. "THREE. TWO—"
The barrier shatters.
The Dark One's massive claw swipes toward Mira's unprotected body.
And in that split second before it hits, Mira's eyes meet mine.
She mouths two words: "Trust me."
Then she drops the shield completely, steps TOWARD the creature, and presses both palms against its corrupted flesh.
The explosion of golden light is so bright, I go blind.