POV: Serephina
"Mom?"
The word came out broken, disbelieving. Because the massive wolf standing before us couldn't be real. My mother had died thirty years ago. I'd watched Varnoth soldiers kill her. I'd seen her fall.
Hadn't I?
The starlight wolf's eyes—violet like mine, ancient like eternity—softened. "Not quite, little flame. I'm what's left of her. A spirit. A memory. A guardian bound to the Thornecrown bloodline until the last heir dies."
"You're a ghost," I whispered.
"I'm whatever I need to be to protect you." The wolf—my mother's spirit—turned toward the hunters, who stood frozen in terror. "And right now, I need to be a reminder of what happens to those who threaten my family."
She moved faster than lightning.
One moment she stood still. The next, she was among the hunters like liquid starlight. Wolves screamed. Silver weapons shattered. The hunter leader tried to run and found herself pinned beneath one enormous paw.
"Please," the woman begged. "We were just following orders—"
"Orders to kill my daughter. To execute my grandson." My mother's spirit voice was ice. "Tell your Guild that the Thornecrown bloodline is under my protection. Any who come hunting will face me. And unlike my daughter, I have no mercy left."
She released the hunter, who scrambled away. The surviving hunters fled into the forest.
The clearing fell silent.
My mother's spirit turned back to us, and suddenly she looked less terrifying and more... sad. Tired. Like carrying this form for thirty years had cost her everything.
"Serephina." She padded closer. "I've watched you suffer for so long. Watched them break you, chain you, steal everything. I couldn't interfere until you awakened your true power. The spell binding me required it."
"You've been watching?" My voice cracked. "You watched them hurt me and you never—"
"I was TRAPPED!" The anguish in her voice made violet flames flicker across the clearing. "Your father and I died protecting you. With our last breaths, we cast a spell to hide your bloodline and bind our spirits as guardians. But the magic required your power to be suppressed. I couldn't reach you until you broke Isolde's binding ritual."
Corvus stepped closer to me, steadying. "Queen Sevana. It's an honor."
"Corvus Nightshade." My mother studied him, then looked at our mate bond. "You accepted her. Chose her. Nearly destroyed your own bond to save her son." Approval flickered in those ancient eyes. "You're worthy of my daughter. That's rare."
I was still reeling. My mother's spirit. Thirty years of thinking she was gone, and she'd been there all along, trapped and watching.
"Where's Dad?" I asked. "If you're here, is he—"
"Your father's spirit didn't survive the binding spell." Her voice went soft. "He poured everything into hiding you, ensuring the Varnoth wolves couldn't find you. By the time the spell completed, there wasn't enough of him left." She paused. "I'm sorry, little flame. He's gone. Truly gone."
The grief hit me hard. I'd lost my father twice—once as a child, and now learning his spirit was gone forever.
Corvus's hand found mine, squeezing gently. The mate bond pulsed with comfort. I wasn't alone.
"Thaddeus," my mother said suddenly, gazing at my unconscious son. "May I see him?"
I hesitated, then knelt and adjusted Thaddeus so she could see his face.
Her spirit form shimmered, and for one heartbeat, I saw her as she'd been in life—beautiful, with silver-blonde hair and eyes full of love. She touched Thaddeus's forehead gently.
"He's so strong," she whispered. "Full royal blood despite his father's genetics. That's unprecedented. The Thornecrown magic consumed the Varnoth bloodline entirely." She looked at me with wonder and concern. "He's not just an heir. He's potentially the most powerful Thornecrown in a thousand years."
"Which is why we suppressed his power," Finnian explained nervously. "Until he's old enough to control it."
"Smart." My mother nodded, then her form flickered, becoming transparent. "I don't have much time. The spell drains energy, and manifesting this strongly has cost me. But listen carefully, Serephina—"
She was fading.
"Mom, wait!" I reached for her desperately. "Please, I just got you back—"
"I'm not leaving. Not truly." Her voice was barely audible. "I'll always be watching, little flame. Always protecting. But you don't need me anymore. You have your power, your mate, your son. You have everything you need to reclaim our legacy."
"I don't want a legacy!" I shouted. "I want my mother!"
"You have me." She smiled, fading. "Every time you look in the mirror. Every time you show mercy when you could show cruelty. Every time you choose love over vengeance. I'm there."
She vanished.
The clearing felt empty. I stood holding my son, feeling alone despite Corvus beside me.
"She'll be back," Morvana said quietly. "Guardian spirits always return when called. But she's right—you don't need her protection anymore."
"I don't feel strong," I said, exhausted. "Everything keeps getting worse."
"Now you have answers," Corvus said gently. "You know who you are. What you are."
"Because I'm the last Thornecrown heir."
"Because you're a fully bonded royal pair." He gestured to our bond. "That hasn't existed in generations. Your parents were the last, and they nearly overthrew the entire Council before the Varnoth wolves killed them."
I stared at him. "What?"
Finnian shifted uncomfortably. "Your parents wanted to reform werewolf society. End omega abuse, limit alpha authority, create actual justice. The established alphas saw it as a threat."
"So they massacred my family," I finished bitterly. "And told everyone we were dangerous."
"Yes." Corvus's eyes held mine. "Which means if we rebuild what they destroyed—every corrupt alpha will try to kill us."
"Good." I meant it. "Let them try. I'm done running. My son deserves better than a world where alphas can kidnap children without consequences."
"Then we rebuild," Corvus said fiercely. "Not just your throne. The entire system."
The mate bond flared with his conviction.
For the first time, I believed it might be possible.
"Where do we start?"
"By getting somewhere safe." Finnian glanced nervously at the forest. "Those hunters will report back. More will come."
"There's a place," Morvana said. "An old Thornecrown stronghold in the mountains. If we can reach it—"
A new scent hit the wind.
Wolves. Dozens. Coming fast.
Corvus's eyes flashed amber. "Varnoth pack. They found us."
"How?" I demanded.
"The cub." Morvana's ears flattened. "They must have put a tracking spell on him. Something that activated when he woke."
I looked at Thaddeus and saw it—a tiny silver mark on his wrist, glowing.
A tracking rune.
"They used my son as bait," I whispered.
The wolves were getting closer. I could hear them. Could scent Kael among them.
Corvus shifted to wolf form, positioning between me and the threat. His thoughts pressed into my mind: "Run. I'll hold them."
"No." I stood, violet flames dancing. "I'm done running from Kael." I looked at Finnian. "Get Thaddeus somewhere safe. The stronghold. Now."
"I—yes, but—"
"GO!"
Finnian grabbed Thaddeus and ran, Morvana guiding him.
Leaving me and Corvus to face an army.
The Varnoth pack burst into the clearing—thirty wolves, with Kael at their head. His ice-blue eyes locked on me.
He shifted to human form. "Serephina. We need to talk."
"Talk?" I laughed bitterly. "You put a tracking spell on my son. What could you possibly say?"
"I'm trying to save your life!" Kael's voice cracked. "The Council is sending an extermination squad. Actual enforcers with kill orders. They're coming tonight—"
The ground shook violently.
The trees exploded inward, and five wolves wearing red Council collars stepped through. Behind them walked a man in silver robes, eyes glowing with ancient magic.
"Serephina Thornecrown," he said calmly. "By order of the High Council, your bloodline ends tonight."
He raised his hand. Silver chains filled the air, shooting toward me.
Corvus roared and lunged—
The enforcer flicked his wrist.
Corvus slammed into a tree. Bones cracked. He collapsed.
Our mate bond screamed with his pain.
"Any last words, false queen?" the enforcer asked.
I looked at Kael, making no move to help.
I looked at Corvus, struggling to stand.
I looked at the enforcer, so confident.
And I smiled.
"Just one question," I said sweetly. "Have you ever seen what happens when a fully bonded royal pair stops holding back?"
The enforcer's eyes widened. "Wait—"
Too late.
Corvus and I released everything.
The world exploded in violet and silver flames.