Iris POV
The medical bay is carved from the same dark stone as the rest of Shadowpaw's territory, but someone's tried to make it welcoming. Herbs hang from the ceiling, filling the air with the scent of lavender and sage. Soft furs line the cots. A fire crackles in the corner, casting warm light across the space.
Sera works in silence, checking my injuries. The scratches from squeezing through the door are worse than I thought—deep gouges across my shoulders that sting when she applies salve.
You're lucky these didn't get infected, she mutters. Shifting while injured is dangerous, especially for an omega as weak as She stops herself. As weak as you should be.
I look up sharply. What?
Sera's eyes are thoughtful as she wraps bandages around my shoulders. You pulled alpha power through a mate bond tonight. That shouldn't be possible—not for an omega, and especially not for one as weak as you.
But I did it.
Yes. Which means either you're stronger than anyone realized, or the bond between you and Kael is... unusual.
Unusual how?
She doesn't answer immediately. Instead, she gestures to the cot across from mine, where Kael sits under guard. He's been chained again—not just his wrists this time, but his ankles too. The silver is burning his skin, filling the air with the acrid smell of seared flesh.
But his eyes are human again. Brown with just flecks of gold. And they haven't left me since we were brought here.
The curse feeds on connection, Sera says quietly. The more he cares, the stronger it gets. That's why Elena's rejection actually helped—it gave him nothing to lose, which slowed the progression.
My stomach sinks. So me being here is making him worse.
That's what should be happening, yes. Sera ties off the bandage. But when you pulled his power tonight, I felt something shift. The curse paused. Like it was... confused.
I don't understand.
Neither do I. But five years of research tells me that this curse was designed specifically for Kael. Morganna crafted it to torture an alpha with no mate, no hope, no future. She meets my eyes. She didn't account for you.
Hope flares in my chest. So the bond might actually help?
Or it might kill you both faster. Sera's expression is grave. This is uncharted territory, child. The Moonfire Ritual is still your safest option.
Across the bay, Kael makes a low sound of protest.
Absolutely not, he growls. We're not discussing that ritual again.
Sera sighs. Alpha, be reasonable
I am being reasonable! His chains rattle as he shifts forward. Iris is not sacrificing her wolf for me. End of discussion.
It's my wolf to sacrifice, I point out.
No.
You don't get to decide
I'm your alpha. I absolutely get to decide.
Something in my chest ignites. You're my mate, not my owner. There's a difference.
His eyes flash gold for a second before he forces them back to brown. Don't do this, Iris. Don't make me watch you destroy yourself.
Then don't make me watch you die!
The words echo off the stone walls. Sera quietly excuses herself, leaving us alone except for the guards by the door.
Kael slumps back against the wall, exhaustion written in every line of his face. You've known me for one night. One. Single. Night. Why are you willing to give up everything for someone you barely know?
Because you did the same for me. I push off my cot, ignoring Sera's orders to rest, and move to sit in front of him. Close, but not quite touching. You broke silver chains to protect me. You fought while your own curse was eating you alive. You put yourself between me and a witch who wants to kill me. All for someone you barely know.
That's different
How? How is it different?
He's quiet for a long moment. Then: Because I'm already dying. You have a whole life ahead of you. You could
Could what? Go back to Silvercrest where my family treats me like garbage? Find another pack that will look at my weak wolf and dismiss me? Spend the rest of my life being invisible? I shake my head. I've been surviving, Kael. Not living. Just... existing. Being useful enough that people don't abandon me completely.
His expression softens with understanding that hurts to see.
But tonight, I continue, my voice dropping, tonight I pulled alpha power through a bond and drove off a witch. I fought. I mattered. For the first time in my life, I wasn't useless.
You were never useless, he says fiercely. Your pack are fools who couldn't see your worth.
Maybe. But you saw it. I finally close the distance, placing my hand over his chained one. The bond flares gently between us. You saw me, Kael. Not the weak omega. Not the disappointment. Just... me. And you thought I was worth protecting.
His throat works as he swallows. You are worth protecting.
So are you.
We sit like that, connected by touch and bond, the guards pretending not to watch. Through our connection, I feel his emotions, fear and longing and desperate, fragile hope that he's trying so hard to suppress.
Tell me about her, I say quietly. Elena. What happened?
Kael's hand tenses under mine. Why do you want to know?
Because she hurt you. Because you're afraid I'll do the same. And because I need you to understand, I'm not her.
For a long moment, I think he won't answer. Then he sighs, and the story comes out in quiet, painful pieces.
We weren't just mates. We grew up together. Best friends since we were cubs. When the bond snapped for us at eighteen, it felt like destiny. His eyes are distant, lost in memory. She was beautiful. Strong. Everything an alpha's mate should be. We were planning our bonding ceremony when the territorial dispute happened.
He pauses, and I squeeze his hand gently.
I didn't mean to kill the witch's sister, he continues. It was chaos. A rogue pack attacked our borders, and she was caught in the crossfire. I tried to save her, but... He shakes his head. Morganna appeared three days later. Cast the curse in front of the entire pack. And I started changing.
I can feel the pain through our bond—not just physical, but the deep, soul-crushing agony of transformation.
The first shift was the worst. My bones breaking and reforming but never completing the change. Fur spreading across my skin. My face... changing. When I looked in the reflection of the pool, I didn't recognize myself.
His voice drops to barely a whisper. Elena was there. She took one look at what I'd become and she... she just turned and walked away. Rejected the bond without a word. Couldn't even look at me.
Tears sting my eyes. Kael...
The rejection should have killed me. Most alphas don't survive it. But the curse wouldn't let me die—it was designed to torture, not kill quickly. So I lived. And I've spent five years watching my pack try to pretend I'm still their alpha while they look at me with pity and fear.
He finally meets my eyes, and the vulnerability there breaks my heart.
So yes, he says. I'm terrified you'll wake up tomorrow and realize what you've gotten yourself into. That you'll look at me, really look, and see the monster everyone else sees. And I don't... I don't think I can survive that twice.
The confession hangs between us, raw and honest.
I reach up with my free hand and touch his face. He flinches but doesn't pull away. My fingers trace the rough fur on his cheek, the ridge where bone has shifted wrong, the scars from five years of fighting himself.
I'm looking, I whisper. And you want to know what I see?
His eyes search mine, desperate and terrified.
I see someone who's been fighting a war no one else can see. Someone who's protected his pack despite constant agony. Someone who's still trying to be noble and good when he has every reason to give up. My thumb brushes across his cheekbone. I see someone who's been hurt so badly he can't believe anyone would choose to stay. And I see someone who's absolutely worth fighting for.
A sound escapes his throat, half sob, half laugh. You're insane.
You've mentioned that.
This won't end well.
Maybe not. But it's my choice to make.
He turns his face into my palm, and I feel him trembling. Iris, I'm falling in love with you. And it's the most terrifying thing that's ever happened to me.
My breath catches. Through the bond, I feel the truth of his words—not just attraction or gratitude, but real, devastating love growing between us.
Good, I whisper. Because I'm falling for you too. And I'm not letting the curse win.
Before he can argue, before either of us can overthink it, I lean forward and kiss him.
It's awkward, his mouth is wrong, fangs in the way, his lips rough with the transformation. But underneath that, I feel him. Kael. My mate. My impossible, broken, beautiful alpha.
He makes a sound of surprise, then surrenders to it. His chained hands cup my face as gently as he can manage, and the bond between us ignites like wildfire.
Silver light floods the medical bay, so bright the guards cry out in alarm. Power surges through our connection, not his, not mine, but ours. Combined. Unified.
For just a moment, the curse recedes completely. I feel Kael's body shift, bones settling into their proper places. The fur fades. His face becomes fully human, handsome, scarred, but whole.
We break apart, both breathing hard.
What was that? he gasps.
I don't know. But through the bond, I feel something has changed. The curse is still there—we haven't broken it. But we've pushed it back. Proven that together, we're stronger than Morganna expected.
Sera rushes in, her eyes wide. Did you two just
We kissed, I say, still staring at Kael's human face.
You kissed, and the curse temporarily receded. Sera looks between us with something like awe. This changes everything.
But before any of us can process what happened, an explosion rocks the mountain.
Alarms blare. Wolves start howling in panic.
Rowan crashes through the door. Alpha! Morganna's back, and she brought an army! Not just rogues this time. She's convinced two other packs to join her. They're saying Shadowpaw is cursed, that we're a threat that needs to be eliminated!
Through the bond, I feel Kael's fury ignite.
How many? he asks, his voice deadly calm.
At least a hundred wolves. Maybe more. Rowan's face is grim. Alpha, we can't win this. Not with our numbers. We need to evacuate—
I'm not abandoning our territory!
Then you're sentencing everyone to death! Rowan's voice cracks. Please, Alpha. For once, don't be a hero. Get Iris to safety. Let me lead the evacuation. We'll regroup and
No. Kael stands, silver chains snapping like paper. His eyes are blazing gold, but there's clarity there too. Purpose. If Morganna wants a fight, we'll give her one. But on our terms.
He turns to me, and I see the decision in his eyes before he speaks.
Iris, he says quietly. Do the ritual. Break the curse. Now.
My heart stops. What?
If I'm going to lead my pack into battle, I need to do it as their true alpha. Not this cursed version. Not half-mad and barely in control. His eyes meet mine. I need you to free me.
But the price
I know the price. And I'm asking you to pay it anyway because it's the only way to save everyone. He moves closer, his hands—human now—cupping my face. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for asking this of you. But please, Iris. Save my pack. Even if it costs you everything.
Tears stream down my face as I feel his desperation through the bond. He's not asking for himself. He's asking for his wolves. His family.
How can I possibly say no to that?
Okay, I whisper. I'll do it.
Relief and anguish war across his face. Thank you.
Sera moves immediately. We need to get to the Moonstone Pool. It's the only place with enough of the Moon Goddess's presence to channel that much power.
The pool is in neutral territory, Rowan protests. In the middle of the Veil Woods. Morganna's army is between us and—
Then we fight through them. Kael's voice is absolute. Gather everyone who can fight. We leave in five minutes.
As the room explodes into organized chaos, as warriors rush to prepare, I feel the weight of what I've just agreed to settle over me.
In less than an hour, I'll give up my wolf. My connection to the Moon Goddess. Everything that makes me pack.
But Kael will be free. The curse will be broken.
And maybe, just maybe, that's worth any price.