Kieran's POV
Get away from her!
I shove past Elena, pulling Kira behind me protectively.
Everyone stares at the silver blood dripping from her arm. The proof she's something more than any of us understood.
Moon Child.
The words echo like a death sentence waiting to be carried out.
Fascinating specimen, Cassius breathes from his kneeling position. I only found three documented cases in all our archives. All three were executed within days of discovery.
Nobody's executing anyone, I growl, every muscle tensed for violence.
I'm not going to kill her, you fool. I'm going to study her. Harness that incredible power for the Council's purposes. His eyes gleam with scientific hunger. Think what we could accomplish.
Over my dead body.
That can certainly be arranged, Alpha Bloodmoon.
Kira grabs my arm, stopping me from attacking. Don't. If you kill an Elder, they'll declare total war on Bloodmoon Pack. Every innocent will die.
She's right, but I hate it.
Rafe appears at my shoulder. Kieran, we need to leave. Now. The fortress is collapsing, and reinforcements will be here within the hour.
We run as a group Bloodmoon warriors, twenty moonmarked wolves, even Lydia, still chained.
Outside, the mountain itself groans. The fortress collapses behind us with a sound like the world ending.
Miles away, we finally stop in a protected clearing.
I count heads frantically. Everyone made it out alive.
Kira stands apart from the group, staring at her silver stained arm like it belongs to someone else.
Is it true? she whispers. What Elena said?
An older moonmarked wolf steps forward, his own mark glowing faintly. My name is Marcus. I've studied moon lore my entire life. Moon Children are legend incarnate. The Moon Goddess's chosen champions. They appear once every thousand years during existential crises.
What kind of crisis? Kira asks.
War. Plague. Extinction level threats. He actually bows to her. The last Moon Child ended the Great Pack Wars by uniting all packs under one banner. If you're truly one, you're the most important wolf alive.
Kira laughs, but there's no humor in it. Important? You mean I'm a target with a glowing bullseye.
He's not wrong, I say gently. Alphas will want to control you or eliminate you. There's no third option with this much power.
So I'm alone.
No. I move to her side. You have me. You have Bloodmoon. You have twenty wolves who risked everything tonight for you.
Marcus adds quietly, We followed you because you're the first in a thousand years. Something catastrophic is coming. The Moon Goddess doesn't create Moon Children for no reason. We need you.
I pull Kira aside, away from listening ears. Talk to me.
I'm supposed to save the entire wolf world? I can barely control my power. I'm not strong enough, Kieran.
You're the strongest person I know.
I'm terrified. Her voice breaks. What if I fail? What if I get everyone killed?
Fear keeps you alive and smart. I cup her face in my hands. But you're not alone in this. I'll be with you. Every single step.
Why do you care so much?
Because I love you more than my own life.
Before I can force the words out, a howl splits the night air.
Not one of ours. Something else entirely.
More howls join in. Surrounding us on all sides.
Defensive positions! Rafe shouts immediately.
Through the trees, glowing red eyes appear. Dozens of them. Maybe more.
No, Marcus breathes, his face going white. It can't be.
Shadowbeasts step into view. At least twenty of them.
Impossible, another moonmarked wolf gasps. You can't summon that many without immense power
Unless someone extremely powerful is controlling them directly, I finish grimly.
The alpha beast steps forward. Larger than the others. Covered in dark armor that seems to absorb light.
It looks directly at Kira.
Then speaks in my mind, its voice like gravel and death: The Moon Child must die. The master commands it. Nothing personal.
What master?
The alpha charges Kira with murderous intent.
I shift and intercept, but it throws me aside like I weigh nothing.
Twenty moonmarked wolves attack in coordinated fury. Fire, ice, lightning, sound hitting the beasts in waves.
It barely slows them down.
These aren't normal Shadowbeasts. They're armored with some kind of dark magic that deflects our attacks.
Kira, run! I shout desperately.
She doesn't run.
Her mark blazes with blinding light. Silver power erupts from her center.
NO MORE!
Pure energy explodes outward in a shockwave. Every beast is thrown backward violently.
But they get up. Keep coming. Relentless.
Kira's power flares brighter. Hotter. Too hot.
I feel it through our bond she's burning out.
Stop! You'll kill yourself!
She can't stop. The power has taken control, consuming her from within.
Her eyes glow pure white. Silver fire engulfs her entire body.
She screams in agony.
Power detonates like a bomb going off.
The silver shockwave tears through the entire forest. Trees explode into splinters. The ground cracks and splits. Mountains shake in the distance.
Every Shadowbeast disintegrates into ash.
Kira collapses like a puppet with cut strings.
I catch her before she hits the ground. She's not breathing. No heartbeat. Nothing.
ELENA!
The healer runs over, checking frantically. She used too much power too fast. Her body completely shut down to protect itself.
Fix her!
I can't. This is beyond any healing I know. Elena's voice cracks. This is death, Kieran.
Through the mate bond absolute emptiness. A void where Kira used to be.
There might be one way, Marcus says urgently. Complete the mate bond. Fully. Your life force could jumpstart hers.
How?
Mark her. Claim her as your true mate. Bond your souls permanently. It might work.
And if it doesn't?
You'll both die together.
Not really a choice at all.
I shift partially canines extending, instincts screaming.
Forgive me for not asking permission.
I bite down on her neck where the mate mark goes.
Silver and gold light explodes from the point of contact.
The bond slams into place complete, total, permanent. Unbreakable.
My life force flows into her through the connection. I weaken rapidly as she strengthens.
Come back, I beg through the bond. Please come back to me.
Her chest rises slightly. Air enters her lungs.
Eyes flutter open still glowing faintly.
Kieran?
I'm here. Relief crashes over me.
She touches her neck, feeling the completed bond mark. Understanding dawns.
You completed it without asking permission first.
My heart drops. I'm sorry. But I couldn't let you die. I couldn't
She kisses me.
Hard. Desperate. Claiming me as much as I claimed her.
I felt it through the bond. You were willing to die rather than live without me.
Every time. Always.
I love you.
Five years I've waited to hear those words.
I love you too. More than anything.
The bond glows between us. Perfect and complete.
Rafe's voice shatters the moment. Kieran. We have a serious problem.
The forest burns. Silver fire spreading everywhere, consuming everything in its path.
Through the flames, figures emerge.
Council warriors. Hundreds of them this time.
Leading them, somehow alive and covered in dust
Cassius.
He survived the fortress collapse. Of course he did.
And he brought an army.
Alpha Bloodmoon, his voice carries over the roar of flames. You're completely surrounded. No escape. Surrender the Moon Child immediately, or watch everyone you love burn alive.
I pull Kira closer as Council forces tighten the circle around us.
We just survived Shadowbeasts.
But I don't think we'll survive this.