The next attack came at dawn.
Not hunters. Something worse.
Creatures born of shadow, their forms half-wolf, half-nightmare, spilled from the forest. Their eyes glowed red, their jaws dripping black ichor. They fell upon the wolves' den with terrifying speed.
Kael roared, shifting into his massive black wolf, his claws tearing through the monsters. Ronan appeared from the trees, blades gleaming, his movements swift and precise.
And Aradia—she burned.
Her fire poured into the battlefield, controlled, fierce, beautiful. For the first time, she did not fear it. For the first time, she embraced it.
But when the battle ended, blood soaking the snow, Kael stood over her, his green eyes burning. "You chose me today."
Her lips parted. "I didn't—"
"You did." His hand cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek with rough tenderness. "When the fire rose, you answered my call. Not his."
Her chest heaved, torn between truth and denial. Ronan stood at the edge of the battlefield, his amber eyes watching, his jaw clenched in silent rage.
The choice had not been final. But it had been made—for now.