The valley lay in stunned silence after the Moonthorn surge, the air still crackling with residual magic. Ironclaw remnants fled into the distant treeline, their howls of defeat echoing off the mountains. Blackthorn warriors stood tall, chests heaving, eyes shining with awe at the power their future queen had unleashed. Akira swayed in Leon's arms, the rush of ancient energy draining from her limbs like water through cracked stone.
Her mother approached slowly, as if afraid the vision might shatter. Elder Elowen of Silverfang—long believed dead, mourned in secret rites—looked weathered by years in hiding, silver streaks threading her once-dark hair, scars crisscrossing her arms. Yet her eyes burned with the same fierce emerald fire as her daughter's.
"Akira," Elowen whispered, voice breaking. She reached out, fingers trembling as they brushed Akira's cheek. "My brave girl. You've grown into the guardian we always knew you could be."
Akira pulled free of Leon's supportive hold, stepping forward on unsteady legs. Tears blurred her vision—grief, joy, fury all tangled. "You're alive. All this time... why didn't you come back? Why let us think you were gone?"
Elowen's face crumpled. "To protect you. The Moonthorn Key awakens fully only when both bearers are ready—one to channel, one to anchor. If Roxas had found me alive, he would have forced the bonding prematurely, twisting the power to his will. I hid among rogues, building a shadow force, waiting for your mark to darken."
Jaden ran from the Blackthorn lines, throwing himself into his mother's arms. Elowen held him tight, murmuring apologies into his hair. Lara followed, grinning through tears, while Mia bowed deeply, recognition dawning—the healer had known all along, a silent guardian entrusted with messages.
Leon watched the reunion, his obsessive gaze fixed on Akira. Pride warred with unease; the power she wielded was magnificent, but dangerous. He stepped closer, hand resting possessively on her lower back.
"Your mother is welcome in Blackthorn," he said quietly. "As are her forces. We stand stronger together."
Elowen met his eyes, assessing the alpha king who claimed her daughter. "The bond is true. I sense it. But true mates must choose freely, not be bound by obsession alone."
Leon's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "I will earn her choice."
Akira glanced between them, exhaustion weighing heavy. "Later. First, we secure the field."
The pack moved efficiently—tending wounded, taking prisoners, cataloging Ironclaw supplies abandoned in the rout. Viktor lay dead in the dirt, throat torn by Leon's claws. But Roxas had escaped, and that gnawed at everyone.
That night, in the great hall transformed into a victory feast, toasts rang out. Elowen's rogues integrated with Blackthorn warriors, old alliances rekindled. Jaden sat wide-eyed as elders recounted Silverfang legends, his prodigy status earning respectful nods.
Akira slipped away to the moonlit balcony, needing air. The pendant—no longer needed—hung cool against her skin. The power hummed dormant now, waiting.
Leon found her there, as he always did. He didn't speak at first, simply standing beside her, shoulder to shoulder.
"The bond feels different," she said finally.
"Stronger since the awakening. Like I can feel your wolf pacing inside my chest."
He exhaled slowly. "Mine has been roaring since the gala. But tonight... seeing you command the field, save us all..." His voice roughened. "I would follow you into any battle, Akira. Not just claim you."
She turned to him, searching his rugged face. The obsession was still there, burning gold in his eyes, but tempered now with something deeper—respect.
Before she could respond, Kai approached, expression grave. "Alpha. Princess. Scouts found this on Viktor's body."
He held out the dark amulet Roxas had clutched in escape—a twisted obsidian stone etched with corrupted runes, pulsing faintly with stolen Moonthorn essence.
Mia's eyes widened as she joined them, examining it carefully. "Shadow binding. Roxas siphoned a fragment of the key's power during the surge—enough to twist it. He can corrupt bonds now, turn wolves against their alphas."
Elowen's face paled. "A failsafe. He always planned for defeat."
Akira's blood chilled. "Meaning?"
"Meaning he doesn't need you alive anymore," Elowen said softly. "With that amulet, he can force partial awakenings in others—create puppet alphas, sow chaos in packs from within."
Leon growled. "Then we hunt him. End this."
But the true twist came as Jaden burst onto the balcony, face ashen, clutching his side.
"Aki," he gasped. "Something's wrong. I feel... pulled. Like strings on my wolf."
He collapsed, shifting uncontrollably—fur rippling, eyes flickering unnatural red. The amulet in Kai's hand flared in response.
Roxas hadn't just stolen power.
He'd marked Jaden during the forest capture weeks ago—a dormant curse, activated now that the key was awakened. Her brother, the prodigy, was the perfect vessel: young, powerful, Silverfang blood.
Akira dropped to her knees beside him, channeling Moonthorn light to fight the corruption. But it spread fast, shadows coiling around Jaden's form.
Leon knelt too, gripping her shoulder. "Hold on. We'll break it."
Elowen joined, their combined power pushing back the darkness temporarily. Jaden stilled, breathing shallow.
"He needs the anchor," Elowen said urgently.
``The full bond—mate to mate, blood to blood. Only a completed true mate claim can sever Roxas's hold permanently."
Akira met Leon's gaze, understanding dawning. To save Jaden, she would have to surrender to the bond completely—mark and be marked, no more fighting.
The choice hung heavy under the moon.
In the distance, a corrupted howl rose—Roxas's signal. His next wave was coming, twisted wolves leading the charge.
Time was running out.