The fires of battle smoldered into ash. Selene and Kael walked together into the clearing, bloodied but unbroken.
Kael's pack watched him in silence, waiting. Finally, one by one, the wolves lowered their heads—not in defeat, but in acceptance.
From the coven, whispers spread. Some turned away, still clinging to hatred, but others gazed at Selene with something like awe.
"She defeated Lilith," one murmured. "She carries the power of the ancients."
"She spared us," another whispered.
Morwen scowled, but even she could not deny what she had witnessed. Selene had risen beyond them all.
The moonlight spilled over them, and for the first time, the war paused. Not ended, not forgotten, but paused long enough to breathe.
Kael leaned close, his voice rough. "We've cracked the walls, Selene. Now we must tear them down."
She nodded, her hand slipping into his. "Together."