KAEL'S POV
Ayla dangled over the pit, silver runes flickering weakly as the earth tried to swallow her. Her eyes locked on mine—soft gray laced with silver fire—and the bond screamed through my chest, raw and desperate.
Behind her, Cassia stood in the snow, white and gold robes glowing in the dark forest, her jade eyes bright with triumph. Shadows coiled at her feet like living smoke, ready to strike.
"Choose, Kael," she called sweetly. "Your Luna… or your war."
My wolf snarled so loud it rattled my bones. There was no choice. There never was.
Mine, I thought, the word a snarl and a vow. She is mine.
I lunged.
Snow exploded under my paws as I hurled my black wolf across the gap. I caught Ayla mid-fall, my jaws snapping on the back of her cloak, claws sinking into the frozen edge. Ice cracked, my body straining as her weight and the pit dragged us both toward the dark.
