Selene's POV
The helicopter shuddered violently, throwing me against the wall. Alarms screamed. Red lights flashed. And Kael was dying.
The glowing chains around his chest had tightened so much they were cutting into his skin, drawing blood. His face had gone gray. His breathing came in shallow, desperate gasps.
Boss! The Beta, Ryker, I remembered, fought with the controls. I can't stabilize! Something's pulling us down!
Witch magic, Kael forced out through clenched teeth. Morgana... tracking spell... on me...
The helicopter tilted sharply. Through the window, I saw the ground rushing up to meet us. We were going to crash. We were going to die.
And somehow, that wasn't even the scariest part.
The scariest part was the way Kael was looking at me—like he was memorizing my face. Like he'd accepted his death and was just sorry he was taking me with him.
No. The word ripped from my throat. No, you don't get to die! Not after dragging me into this mess!
Selene— His voice was barely a whisper. Get to... the emergency parachute... leave me...
Shut up! I grabbed his face, forcing him to look at me. The chains burned my hands where I touched them, but I didn't let go. You said I could break your curse. So let me try!
You don't... know how...
Then I'll figure it out!
I pressed both my marked hands against his chest, right where the chains were tightest. The silver and crimson symbols on my skin flared bright. Power surged through me—that same ancient, terrifying force that had made every wolf in the ballroom kneel.
But this time, I tried to control it. Tried to direct it into Kael instead of just exploding outward.
Please work. Please, please work.
Energy poured from my hands into his chest. The chains hissed and sparked like they were being hit with electricity. They loosened—just slightly—and Kael sucked in a huge breath of air.
More, he gasped. Don't stop!
I pushed harder, pouring everything I had into him. The helicopter was still falling. Ryker was still shouting. But all I could focus on was the feeling of Kael's heartbeat under my palms, getting stronger with each second.
The chains cracked.
Not broken, not completely—but damaged. Weakened. Kael's eyes blazed silver-white, and suddenly he could move again. Could breathe again.
Hold on! he roared, shoving past me toward the pilot's seat.
He grabbed the controls from Ryker. His hands moved with impossible speed, pulling levers and flipping switches I didn't understand. The helicopter's nose lifted. The alarms stopped screaming.
We leveled out just twenty feet from the ground, skimming over treetops.
How did you do that? Ryker demanded. The witch magic should have crashed us!
She broke enough of my curse that I could fight back. Kael's eyes found mine in the rearview mirror. You saved us.
I didn't feel like a hero. I felt like I was going to throw up.
The power I'd used had left me hollow and shaking. My hands wouldn't stop trembling. And the heat, that terrible burning heat, was getting worse again now that I wasn't touching Kael.
We're not safe yet, Ryker warned, checking his phone. Marcus just sent out an alert to every pack in North America. You're both wanted for treason. Dead or alive.
He can't do that, I whispered. He's my father. He's supposed to
He's supposed to protect the lie that made him king, Kael interrupted harshly. And you're living proof that everything he built is fake. He won't stop hunting you. Ever.
The truth of it hit me like a punch to the gut.
I'd lost everything in the last hour. My home. My sister, who wasn't even my real sister. My father, who wanted me dead. My entire life had been a lie, and now I was running for my life with a cursed Alpha I barely knew.
I want to go back, I heard myself say. This is insane. I'm not a queen. I'm just
You made seven Alpha Kings kneel with a scream, Kael said flatly. You have the Blood Seal burning on your skin. You broke a three-hundred-year-old curse that dozens of witches and healers couldn't touch. Stop lying to yourself.
I'm not lying! I'm scared!
Good. Fear keeps you alive. He glanced back at me. But denial gets you killed.
I hated that he was right.
The helicopter flew north for what felt like hours. Below us, forests stretched endlessly in every direction. No cities. No lights. Just wilderness.
Where are we going? I asked quietly.
My territory, Kael answered. The Northern Reach. Most remote territory in North America. If Marcus wants you, he'll have to come through my entire pack to get you.
Why are you really doing this? The question had been burning in my mind since the palace. The curse can't be the only reason. You don't even know if I can fully break it.
Kael was silent for a long moment. Then:
My grandmother's prophecy didn't just say you'd break my curse, he admitted. It said you'd unite the territories or destroy them. That the Blood Moon Queen would either bring peace... or start a war that would kill every wolf in existence.
Ice flooded my veins. And you still took me?
I couldn't leave you there to die. The mate bond wouldn't let me. He said it like a confession. Like he hated himself for it. But I need to know which version of the prophecy is real. Are you salvation or destruction, Selene Ashford?
I don't know! My voice broke. I don't know what I am!
The helicopter lurched again—not from witch magic this time, but from something hitting us. Hard.
Ryker cursed. We've got company! Three helicopters, closing fast!
Through the window, I saw them, black helicopters with the Ashford pack symbol painted on their sides. And hanging out the open doors were wolves with rifles aimed straight at us.
They're going to shoot us down, Ryker said, his voice deadly calm.
Not if I shoot them first. Kael unbuckled, moving to the back of the helicopter where weapons were stored.
You can't fight them all! I grabbed his arm. There are too many!
I can try.
And if you die trying? What happens to me then?
That stopped him. Because we both knew the answer: without Kael, I was helpless. I couldn't fight. Couldn't fly. Couldn't do anything but use power that was slowly killing me.
The hunter helicopters opened fire.
Bullets punched through our hull. Alarms shrieked. The helicopter spun wildly.
And then I felt it—that presence inside me, the ancient wolf I'd never known existed. She rose up with a snarl that shook my entire body.
PROTECT. MATE. NOW.
Selene, your eyes! Ryker shouted. They're glowing!
I didn't care. I reached for the power again, but this time I didn't hold back. Didn't try to control it.
I just let go.
Silver and crimson light exploded from my body in a sphere that expanded outward like a shockwave. It hit the hunter helicopters and their engines just... stopped. All three of them.
They fell from the sky like stones.
Our helicopter kept flying.
I collapsed against the wall, gasping. Blood dripped from my nose. My hands were shaking so badly I couldn't control them.
What did you do? Kael was staring at me like I was something terrifying and wonderful all at once.
I don't know, I whispered. I just... I couldn't let them kill you.
He opened his mouth to respond, but Ryker's panicked shout cut him off:
BOSS! She's bleeding!
I looked down.
Blood was pouring from my nose. My ears. The corners of my eyes. And the silver marks on my skin—the Blood Seal—were smoking like they were burning from the inside.
What's happening to me? I gasped.
Kael caught me as I slumped forward. His face had gone pale.
You used too much power without a complete mate bond, he said, and for the first time, I heard real fear in his voice. You're burning through your life force. If you keep using magic like this—
I'll die, I finished. Won't I?
Yes.
The helicopter flew on through the darkness. And as my consciousness started to fade, I heard Kael's voice, rough and fierce and desperate:
Stay with me, Selene. Please. Just stay with me.
Everything went black.