The war tent glowed with low golden light as the sun began to fall behind the ridge. The fabric overhead caught the amber hues, casting long shadows over the faces of the leaders seated in the ring.
Twelve Alphas. One Queen. And something under the surface that none of them would name aloud.
Nova sat at the far side of the council circle, still and calm. The edges of her dark cloak swept the furs behind her. No one could see the armor and hard shell training suit beneath. Her dagger was hidden against her thigh. Her bow lay tucked in her thick cloak. Her hair was down to hide it.
She said nothing.
But her eyes saw everything.
Bloodmoon sat to her left, armored. Silent. Eyes unreadable.
Redmoon, armored as well. Tension rolled off him like heat.
They were all waiting.
No one knew when it would happen.
Only that it would.
And then— A sound.
Not a loud one.
Just a tick. A shift of weight that didn't belong.
Balen's hand slid an inch across the table. Redmoon's eyes narrowed.
Nova didn't move. And then it happened all at once.
The scent of betrayal struck first—blood and shadow.
Bardoff moved suddenly, lunging from his seat with a curved blade, plunging it into the throat of his own Beta. A wet sound, a gurgle. Blood sprayed the council table.
Hallowbrook stabbed one of the Bloodmoon liaisons with a hidden dagger—three quick, practiced strikes. Another wolf fell gasping at his feet.
Eclipseborne went for the back wall—throwing open the tent to signal something outside.
And Starfang?
He didn't draw steel.
He simply smiled and whispered, "Long live the true heir."
Then he lunged for Nova.
He moved with shocking speed, cloak flaring behind him, dagger glinting.
Nova didn't flinch because she expected Jax.
But Jax wasn't there. He should've been. He always was. But the space behind her was empty. Her breath caught.
Then—Rex moved.
He collided with Starfang mid-lunge, knocking him back with a snarl that split the air. The two crashed to the ground. Steel rang. Starfang rolled, kicked off, and retreated.
Nova's green eyes burned silver. And then the power broke loose..
A shockwave exploded from her as she raised one gloved hand.
Starfang was thrown back across the table, chairs splintering beneath him.
The traitor Alphas froze.
That's when the kill orders dropped.
Balen gave the nod.
And Redmoon's officers and captains struck like shadows.
Knives drawn from sleeves, throats cut clean.
Bloodmoon blades slid across the necks of Blackthorne and Eclipseborne's inner circle.
Redmoon and Bloodmoon warriors stepped out of the shadows and gutted Bardoff and Blackthorne lieutenants before they reached the door.
Caspian reached for a spellmark on his palm—but a Bloodmoon captain slit his wrist before he could finish it, then his throat a second later.
Bodies dropped. Fast. Hard. But it was still chaos. Starfang bolted.
Bleeding from the mouth, dragging one arm, he dove through the side of the tent and vanished into the dark.
And that's when the second noise reached them—Screams.
From outside the tent.
A howl. Two. Then dozens.
The flap burst open. A young Moonfang scout tumbled inside, blood soaking his leathers.
"They're inside the camp—dark wolves—mages—it's a slaughter—"
Nova didn't hesitate. She ran out, Rex right behind her.
"We need the sky. Now." He said. He grabbed her hand.
They ran through the burning tents. Past the fallen guards. Past mages cracking wards and wolves mauling through supply lines.
They reached the rise at the edge of the command cliff and Onyx was already there.
The gold dragon's eyes burned with fury. Smoke poured from his nostrils. Nova didn't break stride.
She vaulted onto the dragon's back as Rex hauled himself up behind her.
"Where's Jax?" she shouted.
Rex's jaw clenched. "My pack's mindlink is spotty. I think he's fighting on the east flank. They split the assault to pull him from the tent."
Nova's throat tightened. But she didn't have time to break.
Onyx leapt into the sky.