Everly's POV
Light burst from my hands.
Golden, warm light filled the entire house. The attacking wolves yelped and stumbled backward, hiding their eyes with their paws. "What?" I stared at my glowing hands in shock. "What's happening to me?" "Your power," Kael said, awe in his voice even as he kept himself between Silas. "It's awakening."
The light pulsed brighter, and I felt its energy running through my veins like liquid fire. Not painful. Not scary. It felt right, like something that had always been inside me was finally breaking free.
Silas snarled. "Impossible. She's human!" "She's a nurse," Kael growled. "And you just made a fatal mistake."
The light from my hands shot forward without me meaning it to. It wrapped around Kael like golden bands, sinking into his wounds. I watched in amazement as the cuts on his body closed, as his strength clearly returned.
He stood taller, his eyes burning silver-blue. "Thank you, mate."
Then he attacked.
I'd never seen anything move so fast. Kael was a blur of silver fur and flashing teeth. He hit the first dog with such force that it flew backward through the broken door. The second wolf lunged at him, but Kael ducked and caught it by the throat. "Stop!" Silas shouted. "Retreat! Now!"
The wolves scrambled to follow, limping and bleeding as they fled into the snow. Silas backed toward the door, his face twisted with rage and something else, fear. "This isn't over, cousin," he spat. "The council will hear about this. A person with powers? They'll never accept her. They'll destroy her." "Let them try." Kael's speech was a pure threat. "And I'll destroy them."
Silas vanished into the storm, and silence fell over the cabin.
The golden light from my hands flickered and died. My legs gave out, and I fell onto the floor. "Everly!" Kael changed back to human form and caught me before I hit the ground. "Are you hurt?" "I don't know," I whispered. My whole body felt strange, weak, but also buzzing with extra energy. "What did I just do?" "You healed me. Protected us." He carried me back to the fire and wrapped me carefully in blankets. "Your power is stronger than I thought. Stronger than most full-blooded wolves." "I don't understand any of this." Tears burned my eyes. "Yesterday I was just a vet. A normal person. Now I'm glowing and healing people with magic, and dogs are trying to kill me, and "Breathe," Kael said gently, touching my face. "Just breathe."
I tried, but fear was rising in my chest like a wave. "I can't do this. I can't be what you need. I don't know how to be... whatever I am." "You don't have to know right now." His fingers brushed away my tears. "You just have to live. And I'll make sure you do." "By taking me to your kingdom? To a place where everyone will hate me?" "Not everyone. My people admire strength and courage. You've shown both." He smiled slightly. "Besides, you saved their king twice now. That earns respect."
I wanted to believe him. But the fear wouldn't leave. "What if Silas is right? What if your council refuses me?"
Kael's face hardened. "Then I'll make them accept you. I'm their king. My word is law." "That's not how leadership works," I said quietly. "You can't just force people to follow you. They have to want to."
He stared at me for a long moment, surprise flashing across his face. "You're right. Most people don't dare speak to me like that." "Maybe they should." I pulled the blanket tighter. "If you want me to be your queen, I won't just smile and nod while you make all the choices. That's not who I am."
Something changed in his expression, respect, maybe even admiration. "Good. I don't want someone who'll just smile and nod. I want a partner. An equal." "Even though I'm part human?" "Especially because of that." He took my hand. "You see the world differently than we do. You question things we take for granted. That's exactly what a good queen does challenges the king to be better."
My heart did a strange flip in my chest. Nobody had ever talked to me like this before. Like my views mattered. Like I mattered. "We need to leave soon," Kael said, standing. "Silas will come back with troops. Can you travel?"
I tested my legs, standing slowly. The weakness was disappearing, replaced by that strange buzzing energy. "I think so. But I need to go back to my office first." "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous." "My animals need me," I pleaded. "And I need supplies. Medical tools. If I'm going to your country, I need my tools." "I have healers," "Who probably don't know how to treat animals," I interrupted. "You said I could help people. Well, my gift works on animals, too. Maybe better. But I need my supplies to do it right."
Kael looked like he wanted to argue, but finally nodded. "Fine. But we go fast, and we don't stay long. The moment I feel danger, we leave. Understood?" "Understood."
He found clothes in an old trunk, rough but clean. While he dressed, I tried not to stare at his muscular back, at the way he moved with such natural ease. Everything about him screamed power and danger.
But he'd been gentle with me. Patient. Even when I pushed him.
Maybe this crazy situation wasn't completely lost.
We left the cabin just as dawn broke through the storm clouds. The snow had stopped falling, but everything was hidden under several feet of white. Kael changed into wolf form and lowered himself for me to climb on.
This time, I didn't pause. I settled onto his back, holding his thick fur, and he took off running.
The world blurred around us. Trees became streaks of brown and white. The cold air stung my face, but Kael's warmth kept me from freezing. I pressed close to him, feeling his strong muscles work beneath me.
We reached Pinevale in half the time it should have taken. The town looked peaceful in the early morning light, totally unaware of the magical battle that had happened in the forest.
Kael stopped behind my office, shifting back to human form in the alley. "Five minutes," he said. "That's all I can safely give you."
I nodded and unlocked the back door with my extra key. Inside, everything was exactly as I'd left it. The puppy barked happily when she saw me. The cats meowed for food.
Normal. Everything was so beautifully normal.
For just a moment, I let myself imagine staying. Going back to my simple life. Pretending none of this had happened.
But I couldn't. Not anymore. Silas knew about me now. He'd keep coming. And innocent people, innocent animals might get hurt.
I grabbed my emergency medical bag and started stuffing it with goods. Antibiotics. Bandages. Surgical tools. Everything I might need. "Everly." Kael's voice was tense from the doorway. "We need to go. Now." "Just one more"
A wolf howled outside. Close. Too close.
Then another. And another. "They found us," Kael said, his eyes sparkling silver. "Get behind me."
I clutched my medical bag and pressed against his back as he moved. Six wolves circled the clinic, circling like sharks. But they weren't attacking. They were waiting.
For what?
A black SUV pulled up, and my blood ran cold.
A woman stepped out. Tall and beautiful, with long dark hair and cold eyes. She wore a sharp business suit that seemed silly in the snow. "Hello, Kael," she purred. "It's been a long time."
Kael growled low in his throat. "Who is she?" I asked.
The woman's eyes locked onto me, and her smile turned nasty. "I'm Elara. Kael's fiancée."
The world stopped. "What?" I looked at Kael, but he wouldn't meet my eyes. "Kael, what is she talking about?" "Former fiancée," he said through gritted teeth. "It was a planned marriage. I broke it off." "After you met her, you mean." Elara laughed. "Poor little person. Did he not tell you? Before you came along, he was promised to me. Our marriage would have joined two kingdoms." "That's in the past," Kael snarled. "Is it?" Elara's smile widened. "Because the council never officially ended our betrothal. Which means, technically, I'm still your intended mate. Not her."
My heart shattered into a million pieces. "You were engaged?" "Everly, I can explain." "No." I backed away from him, holding my medical bag like a shield. "No, you should have told me. Before I, before we," The tie is real," Kael said desperately. "What I feel for you is real. The interaction was political. Nothing more." "But it still stands," Elara said proudly. "And the council is very interested in meeting this strange human who thinks she can be queen. So here's what's going to happen. You're both coming with me to Winterfang. And we'll let the council pick who gets to stand beside the king."
Her dogs moved closer, teeth bared. "And if Kael refuses?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
Elara's smile turned deadly. "Then the council will strip him of his crown. And Silas will take his place. Either way, little person, you lose."
Kael looked at me, pain and guilt written all over his face. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."
I wanted to scream. Wanted to run. Wanted to use my new skills to blast everyone away.
But I couldn't. Because if I did, Kael would lose everything.
And despite the treason burning in my chest, I couldn't do that to him. "Fine," I said coldly. "Let's go meet this council."
Elara's winning smile made me want to punch her.
But as we climbed into the SUV, surrounded by hostile dogs, one thought burned in my mind: I would not let this woman win.
Engaged or not, Kael was my mate.
And I would fight for him.