I didn't think.
I just moved.
Three years of training, three years of fighting mutated rogues, three years of learning to control the Lycan hunger—it all came down to this moment.
I slammed into Blackwood.
He was faster than he looked—more agile than a man his age should be—and he dodged my first swipe, rolling away and coming up with a weapon in hand.
A silver dagger.
Enchanted. I could feel the magic radiating from it.
*Poisoned,* Astrid sent urgently. *Don't let it touch you.*
*I won't.*
I feinted left, then right, forcing Blackwood back. He was good—I'll give him that—but he wasn't Lycan. He didn't have my speed, my strength, my centuries of evolutionary advantage.
*Guards!* he shouted. *Engage!*
The twelve elite guards moved as one unit.
*I GOT THEM,* Kael sent, already shifting. *TAKE BLACKWOOD.*
*BE CAREFUL.*
*YOU TOO.*
Our wolves joined the fight—Kael in his massive silver form, Marcus and Viktor and Reese shifting, Astrid moving with deadly precision, her knife flashing in the twilight.
I focused entirely on Blackwood.
*You're alone,* I growled, still in Lycan form, my voice distorted but understandable. *Your guards are occupied. Your weapon is outmatched. Your—*
*I'm never alone.* Blackwood's smile was terrible. *I always have a backup plan.*
He pressed something on the device.
*Lucian,* he called out. *Kill her. NOW.*
The boy convulsed.
*NO,* I sent urgently. *LUCIAN, FIGHT IT. IT'S A COMMAND—*
*Can't,* he gasped, clutching his head. *Too strong. He's—*
*You're stronger,* I insisted. *You're Lycan royal. You're a king. FIGHT IT.*
*Trying—*
Lucian's eyes rolled back and he shifted.
Into the corrupted, massive form Blackwood had tortured him into.
*Kill the Queen,* Blackwood commanded. *NOW.*
Lucian launched himself at me.
I barely dodged—his claws raked across my side, tearing through fur and muscle, and I snarled in pain and rage.
*I don't want to hurt you,* I sent, dodging another swipe. *Lucian, please—*
*Can't stop.* His mental voice was distorted, barely coherent. *He's in my head. Controlling. Forcing—*
*Then I'll free you.*
I didn't attack Lucian.
I attacked Blackwood.
While Lucian was distracted—while Blackwood was focused on controlling his weapon—I turned my attention back to the Alpha.
*You're using him,* I snarled, dodging Lucian's claws while pressing forward toward Blackwood. *You're using a child. You're disgusting.*
*I'm practical.* Blackwood slashed at me with the silver dagger. *Whatever works. Whatever wins. Whatever—*
*Some things are more important than winning.*
*Like what?*
*Like honor.* I took a hit—let the dagger graze my shoulder—so I could get close enough to grab Blackwood's wrist. *Like protecting children. Like not being a monster.*
*I AM NOT A MONSTER.*
*You are.* I twisted his wrist, heard bones snap, felt the dagger fall. *You're exactly what you accuse me of being. A Lycan who lost control. A ruler who forgot their duty. A—*
*I NEVER HAD CONTROL.* Blackwood's mental voice was pure rage. *I WAS BORN LIKE THIS. BORN BROKEN. BORN WRONG.*
*So was I,* I sent back. *But I didn't let it define me.*
*You WILL.* Blackwood grabbed my throat with his other hand—surprisingly strong, enhanced somehow. *You'll see. The hunger always wins. Always.*
*Not this time.*
I drove my claws into his chest.
Not to kill.
To distract.
To make him drop the device.
*THE DEVICE,* Astrid sent urgently. *MAKE HIM DROP IT.*
*TRYING—*
Blackwood realized what I was doing. He tightened his grip on the device, on my throat, and—
Pain.
Fire in my veins.
*Poison,* I realized. *The dagger—*
*ELENA!* Kael sent, panicked. *ELENA, YOU'RE—*
*I'M FINE.* I lied. *FOCUS ON THE GUARDS. I GOT THIS.*
I couldn't breathe.
Blackwood's grip on my throat was crushing. The poison was spreading—fire, ice, agony all at once.
But I didn't let go.
Kept my claws buried in his chest.
Kept pressing toward the device.
*Lucian,* I sent, my mental voice weakening. *Please. You have to fight. You have to—*
*Mama?*
Darius.
My son, broadcasting to the entire pack grounds, his mental voice small but clear.
*Darius, stay back,* I sent. *It's dangerous—*
*Let me help.*
*I can't—*
*Yes you can.* Darius's mental voice firmed. *You taught me. You and Astrid. You taught me how to use my power. How to project. How to—**
*Not like this.* I gasped for air. *Not in battle. You're only three—*
*I'm Lycan,* Darius said simply. *And I can help.*
*Darius, NO—*
*Too late.*
I felt it—my son's power reaching out, connecting to Lucian's mind, to Blackwood's control, to the invisible tether that bound weapon to master.
*Break,* Darius whispered.
And it broke.
Lucian gasped, shook his massive head, and—
*Elena?* His mental voice was clear. *What—*
*BLACKWOOD,* I sent. *THE DEVICE—*
*On it.*
Lucian turned on Blackwood with a roar of pure rage.
The Alpha's eyes widened.
*No. You can't—*
Lucian ripped the device from Blackwood's hand.
Crushed it.
And turned back to me.
*I'm sorry,* he sent. *I'm so sorry—I didn't want to—*
*It's not your fault.* I pulled away from Blackwood, collapsing as the poison really hit me. *It's his. All his.*
*Elena!* Kael was there instantly, shifting back to human form, catching me as I fell. *Elena, stay with me. Stay—*
*Poison.* I gestured weakly toward Blackwood, who was backing away, his weapon broken, his control gone, his guards—*
I looked around.
Our wolves had won.
The twelve elite guards were dead or captured. The pack was rallying, surrounding us, forming a protective circle.
But Blackwood was still there.
And he was smiling.
*You think you've won,* he said. *You think breaking the device saves the boy.*
*It does,* Kael snarled, supporting me. *It bought us time. We'll find the implant. We'll remove it. We'll—*
*It's not just an implant.* Blackwood's smile widened. *It's connected to his nervous system. His brain. His very life force. Breaking the trigger didn't defuse it. It accelerated it.*
*What?* Lucian's mental voice was panicked. *What do you mean—*
*You have maybe an hour,* Blackwood said casually. *Two, if you're lucky. Then the toxin releases. And there's no antidote. No cure. No—*
*You're lying,* Astrid challenged, stepping forward with her knife raised. *You're trying to bargain. To buy time.*
*Am I?* Blackwood raised an eyebrow. *Check his neck. Left side. There's a scar. That's where they implanted it.*
Lucian reached up, felt the scar.
*It's real,* he whispered. *I remember. They put it in when I was six. Said it was to make me stronger. To make me—*
*To make you controllable,* I finished, the poison making my vision swim. *To make you a slave.*
*Yes.* Lucian's mental voice broke. *I'm going to die, aren't I?*
*No.* Kael's voice was fierce. *No, you're not. We'll figure something out. We'll—*
*How?* Blackwood challenged. *None of you are healers. None of you have medical knowledge. You'll never be able to extract it without killing him. Without triggering the release. Without—*
*SHUT UP.* I tried to stand, couldn't. *Darius?*
*I'm here.* My son moved to my side, his small hands on my arm. *Mama, you're—*
*I'll be fine.* I hoped. *I need you to do something. Something hard.*
*What?*
*Connect to Lucian.* I gasped as pain spiked. *Connect to his mind. To the implant. To the... to everything. See if you can... can find a way to—*
*To disable it?* Darius asked. *Without triggering it?*
*Yes.*
*But if I mess up...*
*I know.* I looked at Lucian, whose violet-gold eyes were filled with fear. *But we have to try.*
*Okay.* Darius took a deep breath. *Okay. I can do this.*
He closed his eyes.
And for a terrible moment, nothing happened.
Then—
*Got it,* Darius whispered. *I can see it. The implant. The connections. The toxin. It's... it's complex.*
*Can you disable it?* Kael demanded.
*I think so.* Darius's mental voice was strained. *But I need help. Someone to keep his body stable. Someone to—*
*I got him.* Lucian shifted back to human form—small, thin, terrified—and knelt beside me. *What do I do?*
*Just... stay calm,* Darius said. *Stay focused. I'm going to try to... to disconnect the toxin reservoir from the release mechanism. But if I'm not precise—*
*If you're not precise,* Blackwood cut in, *you'll trigger the release and kill him instantly.*
*Shut up,* Astrid snarled, moving to stand between us and Blackwood. *Just... shut up.*
*No.* I forced myself to sit up, Kael supporting me. *He's right. This is dangerous. Lucian, you need to know—*
*I know.* Lucian's violet-gold eyes met mine. *I know the risks. But I'd rather die free than live as a slave.*
*You're not going to die,* I said fiercely. *I won't let you.*
*Why?* he challenged. *You barely know me. I tried to kill you. I'm—*
*You're family.* I reached out and took his hand. *Lycan royalty. My counterpart. My... my responsibility.*
*Family.* Lucian tested the word. *I don't... I don't remember what that means.*
*It means,* Kael said, crouching beside us, *that we protect each other. That we fight for each other. That we don't give up on each other.*
*Even if we're broken?*
*Especially then.*
*Okay.* Lucian nodded. *Okay. Do it. Darius?*
*I'm ready.* My three-year-old son took a deep breath. *I'm ready.*
*Do it.*
For a long moment, nothing happened.
I could feel Darius's power reaching out, delicate, precise, working with the complexity of an eight-year-old's brain and an implant I didn't understand.
*Almost there,* Darius whispered. *Just need to... need to...*
His face went pale.
*What's wrong?* I demanded.
*It's booby-trapped,* Darius said. *The implant. If I disable the release mechanism... it triggers a secondary system. A fail-safe.*
*What kind of fail-safe?*
*A heart attack,* Darius said quietly. *Instant. Fatal.*
*So we can't disable it,* Kael realized.
*No.* Darius opened his eyes. *But... there's another option.*
*What?*
*I can absorb it.*
*What?* I stared at my son. *You can't—*
*The toxin.* Darius's mental voice was firm. *It's magical. Poisonous. But... I can feel it. I can... I can pull it into myself. Into my own magic. Disperse it. Neutralize it.*
*That could kill you,* I protested.
*Maybe.* Darius shrugged. *But I'm strong, Mama. You said so yourself. I'm the most powerful Lycan in generations. I can handle it.*
*You're three years old.*
*I'm also Lycan royalty.* Darius's eyes flashed violet-gold. *And I'm done letting people hurt my family.*
Before I could stop him, he reached out and grabbed Lucian's hand.
*DARIUS, NO—*
*It's okay,* Darius sent, his mental voice calm. *I got this.*
I felt it—felt the toxin moving, leaving Lucian's body, flowing into Darius, and my son gasped, his face going pale, sweat beading on his forehead—*
*It's... it's a lot,* he whispered. *But I can... I can take it.*
*You don't have to—*
*Yes I do.* Darius's mental voice was strained. *Because he's my family too. Because that's what we do. We protect each other. Even if it hurts.*
*Even if it hurts.*
The toxin finished transferring.
Lucian gasped, eyes wide, hand going to his neck.
*It's gone,* he whispered. *The implant's still there, but... the toxin's empty. It's—*
*It's safe,* I confirmed, checking the scar. *The reservoir's empty.*
*How?* Lucian looked at Darius, who had collapsed and was now breathing hard, completely exhausted.
*He absorbed it,* I said, pulling my son into my arms. *He took the poison into himself and neutralized it.*
*Why?* Lucian was horrified. *He could have died. He's only three—*
*And he's a king,* I said fiercely. *A Lycan king. And he just saved your life.*
Lucian stared at Darius, then at me.
*I don't understand.*
*You will.* I adjusted my grip on my son, who was already starting to recover. *Eventually. You will.*
*Now,* Kael stood, turning to face Blackwood, who was watching with narrowed eyes. *Where were we?*
*You were about to die,* Blackwood said casually. *All of you. The poison in Elena's veins will finish her within the hour. My guards may have lost, but I have more. An army, stationed just outside your territory. And—*
*You have nothing,* I cut him off, forcing myself to stand despite the pain. *No leverage. No weapon. No slaves.*
*I have an army—*
*That won't follow a liar.* I stepped closer. *Did you really think they'd fight for you after they found out what you did to Lucian? What you've been doing for years? Creating abominations. Torturing children. Experimenting on—*
*They follow strength,* Blackwood snarled. *They follow power. They follow—*
*They follow monsters,* I corrected. *And you are definitely a monster. But you're also a monster without an army. Because I just disabled your kill switch. And I'm about to call your bluff.*
I raised my voice, projecting it to every corner of the pack grounds—using the Royal Command, using everything I had.
*SOLDIERS OF BLOOD MOON PACK,* I sent. *YOUR ALPHA HAS LIED TO YOU. HE TOLD YOU HE WAS CREATING WEAPONS TO PROTECT YOU. INSTEAD, HE WAS TORTURING CHILDREN. CREATING SLAVES. EXPERIMENTING ON THE INNOCENT.*
Silence.
*HE TOLD YOU THE LYCAN QUEEN WAS A THREAT,* I continued. *BUT THE REAL THREAT IS HIM. HE'S THE MONSTER. HE'S THE TORTURER. HE'S THE ONE YOU SHOULD FEAR.*
*They won't believe you,* Blackwood sneered.
*Won't they?* I challenged him. *Because I can feel them. Feel their doubt. Their fear. Their suspicion. They know. Somewhere deep down, they know what you are.*
And I could feel it too—through the strange connection I had to all wolves, through the pack bond, through something older and deeper than I understood.
Doubt. Uncertainty. Rage.
*Check Lucian's neck,* I sent to the invisible soldiers. *See the scar. See the implant. Ask yourselves what kind of Alpha puts a bomb in a child's brain.*
*ENOUGH.*
Blackwood shifted.
I'd never seen anything like it.
Not a wolf. Not a Lycan.
Something else.
Something wrong.
His form was massive—twelve feet of corrupted power, matted fur, too many teeth, claws like daggers, and eyes that glowed with a sickly green light.
*Abomination,* Astrid whispered. *He didn't just create them. He... he became one.*
*Experimented on himself,* I realized. *Tried to enhance his own power. Made himself into—*
*A monster.*
*You want a fight, Lycan Queen?* Blackwood's voice was distorted, barely human. *You've got one.*
He lunged.
And I did the only thing I could think of.
I attacked.