"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't." He opened his eyes, those silver-blue depths catching the first light of morning. "I was already awake. Just enjoying holding you."
My heart squeezed. "We should get up."
"Should. But don't want to." His arms tightened around me, drawing me closer. "Can we have five more minutes?"
"Five minutes won't change anything."
"Five minutes of peace before we walk into danger? That changes everything."
He had a point.
I exhaled softly and settled back against him, breathing in his scent—pine, smoke, and something raw and uniquely him. The mate bond hummed between us, steady and warm, pulsing with quiet contentment that made my chest ache.
"Kael?"
"Mm?"
"Last night… was it—"
"Perfect," he said before I could finish. "It was perfect. You were perfect. We were perfect together."
Heat crept up my neck. "I meant… are you okay? I know you waited a long time—"
"Two hundred years," he said simply. "And you were worth every second." He pressed a kiss to my temple. "Stop doubting yourself. What we have is real. It's right. And I wouldn't change a single moment."
The tightness in my chest eased. "Okay."
"Okay." He lingered for one more heartbeat before shifting away with a reluctant sigh. "But you're right. We should get ready."
We dressed quickly, stealing glances at each other like awkward teenagers. It was strange—last night we'd been completely vulnerable, souls and bodies bared, and now we were both a little shy. The bond helped; through it, I could feel his emotions—happiness, protectiveness, and a fierce determination to keep me safe.
And underneath it all, love.
Deep, steady, unshakeable love.
It made everything easier.
An hour later, we gathered in Garrett's office for one last meeting before we left.
"The supplies are packed," Marcus reported. "Food for a week, medical kits, weapons, and cold-weather gear for the mountains."
"Good." Garrett's eyes found mine. "Sophia, are you sure about this? You don't have to go."
"Yes, I do." I met his gaze, steady. "This isn't just about stopping Leighton. The cult killed my mother. They're targeting my bloodline. I have to see this through."
He studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Then take this." He handed me a small leather pouch. "Emergency flares. If you get into real trouble, light one. We'll send reinforcements immediately."
"Thank you."
Helena stepped forward, pulling me into a tight hug. "Come back safe, Sophia. Erica needs her mother."
Guilt twisted deep in my gut. "Where is she? I need to say goodbye."
"Still sleeping," Helena said softly. "I thought… maybe it would be easier if you left without—"
"No." The word came out sharper than I intended. "I'm not leaving without telling her."
Helena's mouth pressed into a thin line, but Kael touched her shoulder gently. "Let her say goodbye. She needs this."
I found Erica in her room, curled under a mountain of blankets. She looked so small, so heartbreakingly innocent.
How much of that innocence had Leighton already stolen from her?
"Erica," I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "Wake up, sweetheart."
Her eyes fluttered open. "Mom?"
"I need to tell you something." I sat on the edge of her bed. "I'm going away for a few days."
She sat up immediately, sleep forgotten. "Where?"
"North. To the mountains. There's something I need to do."
"Is it dangerous?"
I hesitated. Lying would be easier—but she deserved the truth. "Yes."
"Then I'm coming with you."
"No, you're not." I took her hands in mine. "You're staying here, where it's safe."
"But—"
"Erica." My voice softened, but I didn't let go. "I need you to stay. To be strong. Can you do that for me?"
Tears welled in her eyes. "What if you don't come back?"
"I will. I promise."
"You can't promise that."
She was right. I couldn't.
"You're right," I said quietly. "I can't promise I'll come back. But I can promise I'll fight with everything I have. And I can promise that Kael will be with me. He won't let anything happen to me."
"You really trust him?"
"With my life."
She studied me, then nodded slowly. "He makes you happy."
It wasn't a question, but I answered anyway. "Yes. He does."
"Good." She flung her arms around me. "You deserve to be happy. But you'd better come back. Because if you don't, I'll be really mad."
I laughed through my tears. "I'll come back. I love you, baby."
"I love you too, Mom."
Leaving her was one of the hardest things I'd ever done. But I did it because I had to. Because protecting her meant stopping the cult before they could hurt anyone else.
We left Black River Pack territory just as the sun cleared the horizon.
It was just the three of us—me, Kael, and Marcus. A small team moving fast.
The forest was beautiful in the early morning light. Mist clung to the ground. Birds sang in the trees. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was a peaceful day for a hike.
But I did know better.
We'd been walking for about two hours when Kael suddenly stopped.
"We're being followed," he said quietly.
Marcus's hand went to his sword. "How many?"
"Two. Maybe three. Staying about a hundred yards back."
"Leighton's scouts?" I asked.
"Probably."
We kept walking, pretending we hadn't noticed. But now I was hyper-aware of every sound, every movement in the trees.
"There's a clearing ahead," Marcus said. "Good place for an ambush—for us or them."
"Then we spring the trap first," Kael decided. "Sophia, can you use your rune magic to mask our presence?"
I reached for the power inside me. It responded eagerly, flooding through my veins. "Yes."
"Good. When we reach the clearing, you and Marcus hide. I'll be the bait."
"Absolutely not," I said immediately.
"It's the best plan." "It's a terrible plan. What if there are more than three? What if they're enhanced like those shadow assassins?"
"Then you two come out fighting, and we handle it together." He looked at me. "Sophia, we need information. We need to know how many people Leighton has searching for us."
He was right, but I hated it.
"Fine. But if things go bad, we're extracting immediately."
"Agreed."
The clearing appeared ahead—a wide space surrounded by thick trees. Perfect cover.
I wove the rune magic around Marcus and myself, creating a veil that bent light and sound. We faded from view, becoming ghosts.
Kael walked into the clearing alone, whistling casually like he didn't have a care in the world.
For a long minute, nothing happened.
Then three figures emerged from the trees.
Wolves in human form, wearing Silver Moon Pack colors. I recognized one of them—Derek, one of Leighton's most loyal warriors.
"Well, well," Derek said. "Kael Shadowbane. We've been looking for you."
"Have you?" Kael's voice was bored. "How flattering."
"Where's the woman? Sophia?"
"Which woman? I know several."
Derek's face darkened. "Don't play games. Leighton wants her back. And he wants the map you stole."
"Ah. That woman." Kael examined his fingernails. "Sorry. Can't help you."
"Then we'll make you talk."
The three warriors attacked at once.
Kael moved like water, flowing around their strikes. His blade flashed in the sunlight, deflecting blows with minimal effort.
But they were good. Well-trained. They pushed him back step by step.
"Now," I whispered to Marcus.
We dropped the veil and charged in.
I caught the first warrior by surprise, my blade opening a line across his back. He screamed and went down.
Marcus took the second one, their swords clashing in a storm of steel.
That left Derek for Kael.
"Two against three doesn't seem fair," Derek taunted.
"You're right," Kael said. "It's not fair to you."
They fought with brutal efficiency. Derek was strong, but Kael was faster. More experienced.
The fight ended quickly. Derek on his knees, Kael's blade at his throat.
"Now," Kael said calmly. "Let's talk about why Leighton really sent you."
"I'll never—"
"You will." I stepped forward, letting my rune magic flare to life. Silver light danced around my hands. "Because I can make you."
Derek's eyes went wide with fear. "You... you're using dark magic!"
"Funny. That's what Leighton calls it, too." I crouched in front of him. "But it's not dark. It's Silvermane's blood magic. And it can do very interesting things to people who lie to me."
I was bluffing. I had no idea if I could actually force the truth out of someone. But Derek didn't know that.
"What do you want to know?" he asked quickly.
"How many people is Leighton sending after us?"
"Just us. He would rather not draw attention."
"What else did he tell you?"
"That... that the Cult wants you alive. They have plans for you."
My blood ran cold. "What kind of plans?"
"I don't know! I swear! He just said to capture you alive and bring you to the northern stronghold."
"Where in the north?"