POV: Kael
Ezra.
The name hits like a physical blow. Isaac's face has gone white. Natasha looks terrified.
Who is Ezra? I demand.
My brother, Isaac whispers. Elena and Mara's brother. The one who betrayed our family to the hunters twenty years ago.
Seraphina's eyes widen. My uncle?
Former uncle. Isaac's voice hardens. He sold out the Moonborn for power. Helped the hunters find our families. I tracked him down and killed him. Or so I thought.
Clearly you failed, one of the Alphas growls. Because he's killing our wolves right now.
How many rogues? I ask the messenger.
Three hundred. Maybe more. The warrior's voice shakes. They're coordinated. Working as a pack. It's not natural.
Three hundred rogues who fight like a pack. That's impossible unless
He's controlling them, Seraphina says, understanding dawning. Using Moonborn power to force pack bonds.
That's forbidden, Natasha breathes. It breaks minds. Turns wolves into puppets.
Ezra doesn't care, Isaac says grimly. He never did.
The scarred Alpha steps forward. Our alliance can wait. We need to stop this attack now.
Agreed. I turn to Finn. Get our warriors to the south border. All of them.
What about the alliance bond? Seraphina asks. We were almost finished
Later. I grab her hand. Right now, we fight.
The six packs move as one toward the south border. Over a thousand wolves running together. It should feel powerful.
Instead, I feel dread settling in my gut.
We reach the border to find carnage. Bodies everywhere rogues and pack wolves mixed together. The rogues fight with empty eyes. No fear. No hesitation.
Controlled.
There! Finn points.
A man stands on a ridge overlooking the battle. Even from here, I can see his violet eyes glowing. Moonborn eyes.
Ezra.
Seraphina, stay back, I order, shifting mid-run.
Through our bond, I feel her fear. Not for herself for me.
I lead the charge. The other Alphas follow. We slam into the rogue army like a tidal wave.
The fighting is brutal. The controlled rogues don't retreat. Don't surrender. They fight until they're dead or too broken to move.
I tear through them, heading for Ezra. If I can take him down, the control breaks.
I'm fifty feet away when Ezra smiles. He raises his hands.
White light explodes from his palms. Not at meat Seraphina.
NO! I roar, spinning around.
Seraphina throws up a shield just in time. Ezra's power slams into it. The impact throws her backward.
Isaac and Natasha rush to her side, adding their power to hers. Three Moonborn against one.
But Ezra just laughs.
You think you can beat me? His voice carries across the battlefield. I've been harvesting Moonborn power for twenty years. I'm stronger than all of you combined.
He proves it. Another blast of power this one catches Isaac. My uncle screams and collapses.
Isaac! Seraphina cries.
I'm fine, Isaac gasps. Keep your shield up!
I need to get to her. Need to protect her. But rogues block my path, controlled by Ezra's will.
Kael! Finn appears beside me. We can't reach her. There's too many.
Through the bond, I feel Seraphina's power building. She's planning something big.
Everyone get back! she shouts.
Her power explodes outward in a massive wave. Every controlled rogue in a hundred-foot radius collapses.
She severed their bonds. All at once.
Ezra staggers. Impossible. That should have killed you.
I'm the prophesied Luna, Seraphina says. Blood drips from her nose, but she stands tall. And you're going down.
Ezra's smile turns vicious. Am I? Then let's see how you handle this.
He reaches into his coat and pulls out a vial. Dark red liquid.
Concentrated Moonborn blood, Isaac breathes in horror. Just like Damien had.
Not just like Damien's, Ezra corrects. This is from your mother, Seraphina. Mara's blood. I harvested it the night I killed her.
Seraphina goes white. You murdered my mother?
She wouldn't give me her power willingly. He uncorks the vial. So I took it. Just like I'm going to take yours.
He drinks the blood.
Power floods him I can see it, feel it through the air. His violet eyes blaze brighter. His entire body glows.
Now, Ezra says, his voice echoing with unnatural power. Let me show you what a true Moonborn can do.
He raises his hands. Every wolf on the battlefield friend and enemy freezes.
I can't move. Can't shift. Can't breathe.
He's controlling all of us.
See? Ezra walks through the frozen battlefield toward Seraphina. I can control anyone. Even Alphas. Even you, dear niece.
Seraphina struggles against his control. Through our bond, I feel her panic.
Stop fighting, Ezra says. You can't win. Your mother couldn't. Isaac couldn't. What makes you think you're different?
Because I'm not alone. Seraphina's voice is strained but determined.
She reaches through our mate bond. I feel her power flowing into me not controlling, but strengthening.
I can move again.
Ezra's eyes widen. What
Seraphina does the same for Isaac and Natasha. Then the five Alphas. Then our warriors.
One by one, wolves break free of his control.
Impossible! Ezra snarls. You can't
I'm the prophesied Luna, Seraphina says. And you're just a thief.
We attack as one. Six packs. A thousand wolves.
Ezra fights back with stolen power. The battle is chaos blood and light and screaming.
I reach him first. My jaws close around his throat.
But before I can finish it, Ezra's hand shoots up. Red energy blasts into my chest.
Pain. Unimaginable pain.
Through the bond, Seraphina screams.
I collapse, my wolf form flickering.
The last thing I see is Ezra standing over me, smiling. Your mate is strong, War Chief. But not strong enough to save you.
Then darkness swallows me whole.