The night draped Shadowfang territory in silver silence.
Nyra stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the mist-covered forest, the moonlight casting a pale glow over her skin. The air felt heavier tonight, thick with something she couldn't name — fear, destiny… or the quiet storm building inside her chest.
The mark on her arm pulsed faintly beneath her sleeve.
She clenched her fist, trying to steady her breathing. Every vision she had seen since the prophecy revealed itself had grown darker, sharper… more real. Flames devouring the pack grounds. Wolves howling in agony. Kael lying motionless beneath a blood-stained moon.
A chill ran through her spine.
"You're running from sleep again."
His voice was low, steady, and unmistakable.
Nyra didn't turn around. She didn't need to. She could feel him the moment he stepped closer — the warmth of his presence, the familiar pull of their bond tightening like invisible threads between them.
"I wasn't running," she said softly.
Kael stepped beside her, his golden eyes reflecting the moonlight as he studied her carefully. His scent wrapped around her like a shield, grounding her racing thoughts.
"You don't lie well," he murmured.
Nyra let out a quiet breath, her shoulders lowering slightly.
"The visions are getting worse," she admitted. "They feel closer… like they're not warnings anymore. Like they're memories that haven't happened yet."
Kael's jaw tightened.
He hated the helplessness in his chest whenever she spoke like that. He was Alpha. Protector. Leader. Yet he couldn't fight shadows inside her mind.
"Tell me what you saw tonight," he said gently.
Nyra hesitated.
Then she whispered, "I saw you die."
Silence swallowed the space between them.
Kael didn't react immediately, but Nyra saw the flicker of pain that crossed his eyes before he masked it beneath his usual calm strength.
"Prophecies don't decide fate," he said finally.
"They've been right so far," she whispered back.
Her voice cracked, and she quickly looked away, ashamed of the tears threatening her vision.
"I don't want to be the reason Shadowfang falls… or the reason you get hurt."
Kael turned toward her fully now, his presence commanding yet soft. He reached out, gently lifting her chin so she had no choice but to meet his gaze.
"You listen to me, Nyra," he said, his voice dropping into a deep, steady rumble. "You are not a curse to this pack. You are the reason we are still standing."
The bond between them pulsed sharply, warm energy spreading through Nyra's chest.
"I don't fear your power," he continued. "I fear the day you stop believing you deserve it."
Nyra swallowed hard, emotion tightening her throat.
"You say that now," she whispered. "But what if the prophecy forces me to choose between saving the pack… or saving you?"
Kael's expression softened, something raw and vulnerable slipping through his usual Alpha mask.
"Then I would choose you to survive," he said quietly.
Nyra's breath caught.
"You are not allowed to say that," she whispered, shaken. "You're the Alpha. Your life belongs to your pack."
"And my heart belongs to my mate," he replied without hesitation.
The words hung between them, heavy and undeniable.
Nyra's pulse thundered in her ears.
"You've never said it out loud before," she murmured.
Kael's fingers brushed against her wrist, right above the glowing prophecy mark. The contact sent warmth spreading through her veins, calming the chaotic energy stirring beneath her skin.
"I didn't need to," he said. "You already feel it through the bond."
Nyra stepped closer before she could stop herself. The air between them grew charged, the moonlight catching in his golden eyes as he lowered his forehead gently against hers.
For a moment, the world fell silent.
No prophecy.
No enemies.
No destiny waiting to break them.
Just two souls standing beneath the moon, bound by something stronger than fear.
"You're not facing this alone," Kael whispered.
Nyra closed her eyes, letting herself lean into him, allowing the steady rhythm of his heartbeat to quiet the storm inside her mind.
But just as peace began to settle over her—
The mark on her arm burned violently.
Nyra gasped, collapsing to her knees as silver light erupted across her veins.
"Nyra!" Kael dropped beside her, gripping her shoulders.
Her eyes snapped open, glowing with blinding silver light as another vision slammed into her consciousness.
She saw a battlefield drenched in crimson.
Wolves falling one by one.
A massive dark army surrounding Shadowfang territory.
And standing at the center…
A figure cloaked in living shadows.
A voice echoed inside her mind, ancient and cold.
"The heir awakens… and so does the war."
Nyra screamed as the vision shattered.
Her body trembled violently as Kael pulled her into his arms, holding her as if anchoring her soul back into the present.
"What did you see?" he demanded urgently.
Nyra clutched his shirt, her fingers shaking.
"War," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She lifted her tear-filled eyes to meet his.
"And it's coming for all of us."