The battlefield roared with violence.
Nyra gripped the edge of the cliff, her breath shallow as she watched chaos unfold below. Wolves clashed with hunters in brutal, merciless combat. Silver weapons sliced through the air, glowing with deadly enchantments designed to weaken supernatural creatures.
And at the center of it all…
Kael fought like a living nightmare.
His massive black wolf tore through the hunters with terrifying precision. Every movement was lethal. Every strike devastating. Blood stained his dark fur as he ripped through enemies twice his size, his golden eyes blazing with savage fury.
Nyra had never seen anything so powerful.
Or so terrifying.
But something was wrong.
She noticed it in the way his attacks were becoming wilder… less controlled. His movements carried rage instead of strategy. He wasn't fighting like a leader anymore.
He was fighting like something trying to destroy everything in its path.
"Alpha is losing control," one of the warriors beside Nyra whispered in alarm.
Her heart dropped.
Below, Kael lunged toward another group of hunters, crushing them effortlessly. But instead of stopping, he kept attacking… even after they were already down.
His growls echoed unnaturally deep, vibrating through the forest like a warning from something ancient and unstable.
Nyra's chest tightened painfully.
"Why is he doing that?" she asked, panic rising in her voice.
"He's feeding off the battle rage," another wolf answered grimly. "If an Alpha loses control during war… the wolf can fully take over."
Nyra's stomach twisted.
"What happens then?"
"He forgets friend from enemy."
Her blood ran cold.
As if summoned by her fear, Kael suddenly turned away from the hunters.
His glowing eyes lifted toward the cliff.
Toward his own pack.
Nyra's breath hitched.
"No…" she whispered.
Kael released a deafening roar that shook the trees themselves. Several wolves below froze in terror as his aura exploded outward like a shockwave.
He charged toward his own warriors.
Chaos erupted as Shadowfang wolves scattered, trying to avoid him without attacking their Alpha. Several were knocked aside by his massive body, crashing into trees and stone.
"Someone stop him!" a warrior shouted desperately.
"No one can," another replied. "Not without killing him."
Nyra's heart slammed violently against her ribs.
She didn't think.
She ran.
"Nyra, don't!" voices shouted behind her.
She ignored them.
She raced down the narrow cliff path toward the battlefield, branches whipping against her arms as fear and instinct drove her forward. The closer she got, the stronger her power stirred beneath her skin — reacting to Kael's spiraling rage like it was calling to him.
Below, Kael had pinned one of his own warriors against the ground, claws raised, ready to strike.
"KAEL!" Nyra screamed.
The world seemed to pause.
Kael froze mid-attack.
His massive head snapped toward her voice, golden eyes blazing with wild, unrecognizable fury.
Nyra's heart shattered at the sight.
There was no recognition in his gaze.
Only instinct.
Only the wolf.
He released the terrified warrior and turned fully toward her instead.
Several wolves shouted warnings.
"Run!"
"He won't know you!"
But Nyra stood her ground, though her entire body trembled.
Kael began walking toward her slowly, his heavy paws cracking branches beneath his weight. Blood dripped from his jaws, his chest heaving with unstable rage.
Nyra forced herself to breathe.
The same way he taught her.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Her power stirred gently, responding to her focus.
"Kael…" she whispered, her voice shaking but steady enough to carry through the battlefield.
The wolf paused briefly.
Just for a second.
Nyra stepped closer.
Warriors gasped in horror around them.
"Remember me," she said softly. "You told me to focus on your heartbeat… now focus on mine."
Kael snarled, shaking his massive head as if fighting something invisible inside himself. The ground beneath him cracked slightly as his aura pulsed violently.
Nyra felt his pain like it was her own.
She reached deeper inside herself, letting her power rise — not as a weapon, but as a connection. Silver light shimmered faintly beneath her skin, spreading outward like soft moonlight instead of explosive force.
The air calmed around her.
"Come back to me," she whispered.
Kael roared again, stumbling slightly as his body trembled between rage and restraint. His glowing eyes flickered, the wild fury battling something deeper… something human.
Nyra stepped closer again, ignoring the deadly claws inches from her.
"You said I anchor you," she said, tears blurring her vision. "Then let me."
Kael lunged forward suddenly.
Gasps erupted across the battlefield.
Nyra didn't move.
At the last second, Kael's massive body collapsed in front of her instead of attacking. His claws dug into the earth as he fought against his own instincts, his breathing ragged and broken.
Nyra slowly reached out.
Her trembling hand touched his blood-soaked fur.
The moment contact was made, her power surged — but this time it flowed into him instead of exploding outward. Silver light spread across his dark fur, glowing faintly as their bond strengthened.
Kael released a low, pained whine that shattered Nyra's heart.
"I'm here," she whispered, pressing her forehead gently against his.
The battlefield fell silent around them as the violent aura surrounding Kael slowly began fading. His breathing steadied. The savage tension in his body loosened as her presence grounded him.
Seconds passed.
Then Kael's massive wolf form began shifting.
Bones cracked.
Fur receded.
Within moments, he collapsed onto the forest floor in human form, bruised, bleeding, and breathing heavily. Nyra dropped beside him instantly, cradling his head carefully in her lap.
His golden eyes fluttered open weakly.
"Nyra…" he rasped.
Relief crashed through her chest so hard it almost knocked the air from her lungs.
"You scared me," she whispered.
His gaze softened painfully as he looked up at her. "Did I… hurt anyone?"
"No," she said quickly. "You stopped."
He closed his eyes briefly, exhaustion and guilt flooding his expression.
"You shouldn't have come near me," he murmured. "I could have killed you."
Nyra's grip tightened slightly on his hand.
"But you didn't."
Kael studied her face quietly, emotion flickering behind his eyes.
"You risked your life to save me," he said.
Nyra swallowed, her voice barely above a breath.
"You risk yours every time you protect me."
Their gazes locked, the weight of unspoken feelings heavy between them.
Around them, the battle had slowed. The remaining hunters retreated into the forest, pulling their wounded with them. And from the shadows of the trees, Lucien watched silently before disappearing into darkness.
But Nyra barely noticed.
Because Kael lifted a trembling hand, brushing his fingers against her cheek with fragile care.
"You are becoming my greatest strength," he said quietly.
Nyra's heart fluttered painfully.
"And my greatest weakness."