I had lost my first mate and child once, and I had survived it only because I had no other choice, but I would not survive it again, not this time.
As the howl faded into broken whimpers, one thought burned brighter than all the others, cutting through the despair with fierce clarity, because I would not let her die.
Beowulf stared at the heavens, his gaze filled with anger and hatred.
"We don't care about fate, or prophecies, or sacred trees, or balance. We have already lost too much in this game of fate.
If the world demands Ember's life as payment, then I would tear the world apart piece by piece until it learns to take something else instead, because she is my mate, that child is ours, and I refuse to lose them both." Our growls echoed through the air.
And as if the heavens had heard us, a bolt of lightning struck the sky followed by a roaring thunder.
