The battlefield smelled of rain, blood, and smoke.
Dawn crept slowly across Shadowfang territory, painting the sky in pale grey light as wolves carried their injured back toward the lodge. Healers moved quickly between them, their hands glowing with soft restorative magic, while warriors stood guard with tired, wary eyes.
Nyra sat quietly outside the healer's den, her hands still stained faintly with Kael's blood.
Inside, he rested.
Alive.
But barely conscious.
She stared at the wooden floor beneath her feet, guilt twisting tightly inside her chest. Every scream from the battlefield echoed in her memory. Every injured wolf felt like another weight pressing down on her shoulders.
Soft murmurs drifted through the courtyard.
At first, she tried to ignore them.
Then she realized they were about her.
"She brought them here."
Nyra's stomach tightened.
"The hunters never dared cross our borders before she arrived."
"She destabilizes the pack bond."
"I felt it during the battle. The Alpha almost killed our own warriors."
Each whisper cut deeper than the last.
Nyra wrapped her arms around herself, shrinking slightly where she sat.
"She's cursed," another voice said quietly.
"That's enough."
The sharp command sliced through the murmurs instantly.
Nyra looked up.
A tall woman stepped into the courtyard, her dark hair braided tightly down her back, her sharp amber eyes filled with authority. Scars lined her arms, marking years of battle experience.
Nyra recognized her immediately.
She was Kael's Beta.
Liora.
The wolves around them fell silent, though their tension remained heavy in the air.
Liora approached Nyra slowly, her expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Liora crossed her arms.
"You saved him," she said bluntly.
Nyra nodded slightly. "I didn't mean for him to lose control."
"That doesn't change the fact that he did."
The words landed like stones.
Nyra swallowed. "I never wanted to hurt your pack."
Liora studied her carefully, as if searching for lies beneath her skin.
"Intentions mean little in war," she said finally.
Nyra lowered her gaze. "I know."
Silence stretched between them before Liora spoke again.
"Do you understand what he risked by claiming you as his mate?"
Nyra blinked. "He didn't claim me."
Liora's expression darkened slightly. "Not publicly. But every wolf here feels your bond with him. It affects his decisions. His control. His priorities."
Nyra's chest tightened painfully. "I never asked for that either."
"No," Liora admitted. "But it exists regardless."
Before Nyra could respond, the healer's den door opened behind them. A younger wolf stepped out, bowing slightly toward Liora.
"The Alpha is awake," he said.
Nyra's heart jumped.
She stood instantly, but Liora stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"He needs rest," the Beta said firmly.
Nyra froze. "I just want to see if he's okay."
Liora hesitated, conflict flickering across her face.
"You are not the only one who cares about him," she said quietly. "He leads all of us. Not just you."
The words stung.
Nyra nodded slowly, stepping back. "You're right."
She turned to leave before her emotions betrayed her.
But Liora spoke again.
"The council gathers at midday," she said.
Nyra paused.
"They will decide whether you are allowed to remain inside Shadowfang territory."
Nyra's breath caught.
"If they decide I can't?" she asked quietly.
Liora's gaze hardened with brutal honesty.
"Then you will be asked to leave."
Nyra let out a shaky breath. "And if I refuse?"
"Then you will be forced."
The courtyard fell silent again.
Nyra nodded slowly, her throat too tight to speak. She walked past the gathered wolves, feeling their eyes follow her like shadows pressing against her back.
By midday, the council chamber filled with tension thick enough to choke on.
Nyra stood alone in the center of the large circular room, ancient symbols glowing faintly along the carved stone walls. Elders and high-ranking warriors sat around her in a half-circle, their expressions ranging from wary to openly hostile.
Liora stood beside the Alpha's empty throne, her posture rigid.
Kael was not there.
Nyra's chest ached at his absence.
An older elder leaned forward, his silver eyes sharp with judgment.
"Nyra Adeyemi," he said. "Since your arrival, our territory has been attacked, our Alpha has nearly lost control, and our pack bond has been disrupted repeatedly."
Nyra forced herself to meet his gaze.
"I didn't choose any of this."
"That does not lessen the danger you bring," another elder replied coldly.
A murmur of agreement spread through the chamber.
"You are a prophecy," one warrior said bitterly. "Prophecies bring destruction."
Nyra's hands trembled at her sides.
"I saved your Alpha's life," she said quietly.
"And nearly destroyed him in the process," the elder countered.
The words struck deep.
Nyra swallowed the rising emotion in her throat. "So what do you want from me?"
Silence followed.
Then the elder spoke again.
"We want you gone before the hunters return."
The sentence echoed through the chamber like a final verdict.
Nyra's heart shattered slowly inside her chest. She nodded, blinking back tears she refused to let fall.
"If my leaving protects your pack," she whispered, "then I'll go."
"Absolutely not."
The deep voice thundered through the chamber entrance.
Every head turned.
Kael stood in the doorway, pale but standing, bandages wrapped across his chest and shoulder. His golden eyes burned with fury as he stepped into the room.
Nyra's breath caught.
"You should be resting," Liora said sharply.
"I should be leading," he replied.
He walked toward Nyra slowly, his presence dominating the chamber despite his injuries. When he reached her, he placed himself firmly at her side.
"She stays," he said.
Murmurs erupted immediately.
"She endangers the pack!"
"She weakens you, Alpha!"
Kael's aura exploded outward, silencing the chamber instantly. The air vibrated with raw authority.
"She strengthens me," he said coldly.
Nyra's heart stuttered.
"If any of you believe removing her will stop the hunters," he continued, "then you misunderstand our enemy. They will come regardless. But with her… we have a chance to survive what's coming."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances.
Kael's voice lowered, turning deadly calm.
"She is under my protection. That is not a request. It is an Alpha command."
The chamber fell silent.
Nyra stared at him, emotion swelling painfully in her chest.
The council members reluctantly bowed their heads in submission, though their resentment remained heavy in the air.
The meeting ended quickly after.
As the chamber emptied, Nyra turned toward Kael, her voice barely steady.
"You shouldn't have done that," she said. "They're losing trust in you because of me."
Kael studied her quietly.
"They are learning to trust you," he corrected.
"They hate me."
"They fear what they don't understand," he said. "So did I… once."
Nyra looked down. "I don't want to be the reason your pack turns against you."
Kael gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"You are not a burden, Nyra," he said softly.
Her breath trembled.
"You are the future of this war."
His thumb brushed lightly across her cheek.
"And I will not face it without you."