The forest did not exhale after the Council vanished.
It held its breath.
Astra felt it beneath her bare feet—an unease rippling through roots and soil, like the land itself had learned fear. Magic lingered thick in the air, metallic and sharp, clinging to her skin long after the last echo of the Council's power dissolved into the night.
The ravine was ruined.
Stone lay split open like broken bone. Trees leaned at unnatural angles, bark scorched where ancient runes had flared too hot to contain. Blood—some Kael's, some not—darkened the earth, soaking into ground that had witnessed far too many wars already.
Kael stood beside her, unmoving.
Moonlight cut across his form, outlining broad shoulders and the lethal stillness of a predator who had not yet decided whether the hunt was over. His silver eyes scanned the shadows relentlessly, every muscle in his body coiled and ready.
"They didn't retreat," he said at last, his voice low and edged with something dangerous. "They announced you."
Astra's chest tightened.
"I know," she replied quietly.
She felt it too—felt the shift ripple outward beyond the forest, like a stone dropped into still water. Power did that. Once revealed, it could never be unseen.
Kael turned to her then, his gaze sharp, searching. "The Council has named you Starborn in front of rival packs. That is a death sentence… or a crown."
Her pulse skipped.
"Which one do they want?"
His lips curved into a humorless smile. "Both."
The bond stirred at his words, heat unfurling slowly through her veins. She felt his tension bleeding into her, the Alpha instinct roaring beneath his restraint. Possession. Protection. Violence.
Not fear.
Never fear.
A howl rose in the distance.
Not a challenge.
A signal.
Kael's head snapped up. "There."
Another howl answered. Then another.
Astra's breath hitched as she realized what she was hearing—not a single pack, but many. Different pitches. Different territories.
"They're calling each other," she whispered.
"Yes," Kael said. "The hunt has begun."
The bond tightened suddenly, pulling her toward him. She hadn't moved—but her body leaned instinctively, drawn by the certainty of his presence. Kael's hand came down on her lower back, firm and grounding, his touch burning through fabric and skin alike.
"You stay close," he ordered softly.
She looked up at him. "I won't hide."
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes—approval, edged with concern.
"You won't," he agreed. "But you will survive."
The forest exploded into motion.
A wolf burst from the treeline without warning, shifting mid-leap, claws slashing through the air where Astra had been standing seconds before. Kael reacted instantly, shoving her aside as he met the attacker head-on.
The impact was brutal.
They slammed into the ground, rolling, snarling, teeth flashing under moonlight. Astra scrambled upright, heart pounding as another shape emerged from the shadows—then another.
Too many.
Kael tore into his opponent, shifting fluidly, bone and sinew reshaping as his wolf surged free. Black fur streaked with silver moonlight, eyes blazing with murderous intent.
He killed fast.
But not fast enough.
Astra felt it before she saw it—a cold pressure sliding along her spine. She spun just as a blade caught the light, aimed for her throat.
Instinct took over.
She thrust her hand forward.
The earth answered.
Stone erupted upward in a violent arc, hurling the attacker backward with a bone-shattering crack. The ground trembled as Astra gasped, the power roaring through her like wildfire—too much, too fast.
Pain flared behind her eyes.
Kael felt it immediately.
He howled, the sound tearing through the night as he ripped free from the last of his attackers and launched himself toward her. He shifted mid-stride, catching Astra as her knees buckled, his arms crushing her against his chest.
"Breathe," he commanded, forehead pressed to hers. "Anchor. With me."
The bond surged—hot, intimate, consuming.
She focused on him. His heartbeat. His scent. His strength.
The power stabilized.
Around them, the forest fell eerily quiet.
Bodies lay still. Survivors had fled.
Kael didn't loosen his grip.
His breathing was uneven now, chest rising hard against hers. The adrenaline, the bond, the closeness—it all tangled into something raw and volatile.
"You gave too much," he murmured.
She swallowed. "They were going to kill you."
His jaw tightened. "I would have survived."
"That's not the point."
She looked up at him, eyes blazing despite her exhaustion. "I won't watch you bleed while I stand helpless."
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then his hand slid from her back to her wrist, thumb brushing the glowing mark there. The touch sent a shiver through her body—warm, electric, unsettling in how deeply it reached.
"You don't yet understand what you are," he said quietly. "Every time you use that power, the world feels you. And the world is cruel."
Her voice dropped. "So are you."
His lips twitched despite himself.
"Yes," he admitted. "That's why I'm still alive."
Another howl echoed—closer this time.
Kael stiffened. "We move. Now."
They didn't run.
They hunted their way through the forest, moving fast and silent, Kael leading, Astra close at his side. She felt the bond guiding her steps, anticipating danger before it struck, her senses sharpening unnaturally.
They reached a high ridge overlooking the valley just as torches flared below.
A pack camp.
Not Dark Pack.
Ironfang.
Astra's stomach dropped. "They're early."
"They've been waiting," Kael said grimly.
The Ironfang Alpha stepped into the open, gaze lifting as if he could sense them watching. His smile was slow and knowing.
"He smells you," Astra whispered.
Kael's arm slid around her waist, pulling her back against him. The gesture was unmistakably possessive—intimate enough to make her breath catch.
"Good," he murmured near her ear. "Let him."
Heat coiled low in her belly at the sound of his voice, at the certainty in his touch. The bond pulsed, dark and hungry, responding to the danger and the closeness alike.
"Kael," she said softly. "If this turns into war—"
"It already has," he cut in.
His mouth hovered near her temple, not quite touching. The restraint burned more than any kiss.
"They will try to break you," he continued. "Claim you. Use you. They will say I'm unfit to stand beside you."
Her hand tightened on his arm. "And what do you say?"
His lips brushed her ear, voice a promise wrapped in steel. "I say they can try."
Below them, the Ironfang Alpha lifted his head and howled—a declaration that echoed across the valley.
The stars above flared brighter, responding to Astra's rising power.
Kael smiled.
The Dark Alpha never smiled before a battle.