The forest lay in an uneasy quiet after the skirmish with the rogue pack. Broken branches and scattered leaves marked where teeth and claws had torn through the underbrush. Nyra's silver veins glowed faintly in the moonlight, a reminder of the energy she had channeled during the fight.
Kael knelt beside her, his golden eyes scanning the horizon for lingering threats. The rogue wolves had retreated, but the shadow in their eyes lingered — and Nyra knew it wasn't just fear that drove them.
"You handled yourself well," Kael murmured, brushing leaves from her shoulder. His voice was calm, but the intensity behind it made her pulse quicken. "You're stronger than I thought."
Nyra lowered her gaze, feeling a mixture of pride and fear. "I had to. I can't let anything hurt the pack… or you."
Kael's lips twitched into a rare, almost tender smile. "Then you understand why I worry."
A sudden howl shattered the fragile calm. Nyra's veins flared bright silver as she instinctively looked toward the source. The voice wasn't from the rogue pack — it was older, deeper… almost otherworldly.
She stumbled back, gripping Kael's arm. "I… I see it again. The visions… the prophecy."
Kael's brow furrowed. "Tell me."
Nyra closed her eyes, and images flooded her mind:
Shadowfang territory burned under a blood-red sky.
Wolves torn apart by invisible forces.
Kael falling beneath a dark figure shrouded in shadow.
A voice echoing through her soul, chilling and commanding:
"The heir must choose: protect or sacrifice."
Nyra gasped, clutching her head. The mark on her arm flared violently, and she dropped to her knees.
"Nyra!" Kael shouted, supporting her as the energy crackled around her. "What's happening?"
"I… I don't know," she whispered, trembling. "The prophecy… it says… I might have to choose between saving the pack… or saving you."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Impossible. I'm not letting that happen."
"You can't stop it!" Nyra cried, her voice raw with fear. "I've seen it. If I fail… it's not just me who dies."
Kael gripped her shoulders firmly, forcing her to meet his golden gaze. "Listen to me. Prophecies are warnings, not chains. You are not bound by some words written centuries ago. You decide the outcome."
Nyra's eyes shimmered with tears and moonlight. She had believed in the prophecy, had feared it… but Kael's unwavering faith ignited something inside her.
"I…" she faltered, her silver glow pulsing with raw power. "I want to protect everyone… but I don't want to lose you."
Kael's hand brushed her cheek, and the warmth of his touch grounded her. "You won't. We face it together. Always."
For the first time, Nyra felt a sense of clarity. The prophecy might hint at death and destruction, but she had a choice — and with Kael by her side, she felt ready to fight.
A distant howl cut through the night, sharper and closer than before. Nyra's silver glow intensified.
"They're coming," she said, voice steady now. "And this time… it's not just the rogue pack. Something bigger… darker."
Kael nodded, his wolf instincts already rising. "Then let's show them what Shadowfang and its heir can do."
Nyra rose to her feet, standing shoulder to shoulder with Kael. The silver light of her veins merged with the golden fire of his eyes. Together, they were a force neither the prophecy nor any enemy could ignore.
The Blood Moon shone brighter above, illuminating the bond between mate and Alpha, heir and protector, ready to face whatever darkness awaited them.