Chapter Seventeen: The Breach
The Coven attacked in the dead of night.
Wolves loyal to Ronan's rival alpha breached the wards.
Lucien was ambushed by silver-blade mercenaries. Selene fought like a storm,
drawing dark magic that twisted the forest into thorns.
She was powerful—too powerful.
When she screamed, the sky cracked open.
When Lucien bled, Ronan felt it.
When Ronan growled her name, Selene fell to her knees—not
in surrender.
In need.
Chapter Eighteen: The Ritual of Thorns
Wounded, cornered, and desperate, they returned to the
Temple of the First Witch.
The blood moon's shadow hadn't passed. A final rite could
be performed—one to seal their bond forever.
But the cost would be flesh.
Ronan offered his body, bound in thorned cuffs, baring
himself for Selene's magic.
Lucien kissed every bruise as she whispered incantations
against Ronan's chest.
Magic swirled. Pain and pleasure bled together.
The ritual was consummated not with death—but surrender.
Chapter Nineteen: Truth Undone
Selene uncovered a secret buried in the Coven's scrolls:
the prophecy was never about death.
It was about balance.
Two would sacrifice—magic, control, pride.
One would rise—not above them, but with them.
They weren't destined to destroy each other.
They were meant to rebuild something ancient.
But only if they let go of what they feared most: losing
each other.
Chapter Twenty: Fire and Flesh
The final battle burned across the mountain.
Coven high priests. Betrayer wolves. Lucien's exiled
vampire kin.
Selene stood at the center, her sigils glowing like a
second sun. Lucien fought like a shadow, ruthless and cold. Ronan tore through
the battlefield, howling her name.
When the last enemy fell, she called them both to
her—bloodied, exhausted, burning.
And in the firelight, she claimed them again.
Not as enemies.
Not as rivals.
As hers.