Night fell black.
The Shadow surged, endless, its heart beating beneath the mountains. Wolves scattered, bloodied and broken. The gods vanished into silence, unwilling to stand, unwilling to fall.
And Kael stood alone.
His wolf rose massive, bloodied but unbowed. His green eyes blazed, his claws dripping fire where Aradia's touch had blessed him. He tore through rogues, ripped through shadow, his body breaking with every strike.
"Kael!" Aradia screamed, her fire blazing. "You can't—"
"I can," he roared, his voice raw. "Because I must. Because I will not let you burn for them!"
His claws sank into Ronan's chest, his fangs tearing through shadow. Every strike cost him blood. Every breath cost him life.
But he did not fall.
Because he was Alpha. Because he was hers.