Elara sat in front of the hearth, her hands trembling as she stared into the flames. The warmth did nothing to chase away the chill sinking into her bones. The scent of blood—Kael's blood—still clung to her memory, sharp and coppery.
He had nearly died protecting her.
Across the room, Kael stood bare-chested, letting Thorne clean the gash across his ribs. The wound was deep, but already beginning to close—his Alpha healing slowed only by the wolfsbane laced into Vael's claws.
"I should've been faster," Kael muttered, flinching as Thorne dabbed a cloth against the wound.
"You saved me," Elara said, her voice low.
Kael turned to her, pain in his eyes—physical and something deeper. "And next time? What if I'm not there in time?"
"I'm not helpless," she said firmly, though her voice wavered. "I'm trying. I just—" She paused. "Who was that?"
Thorne looked to Kael, then silently exited the room.
Kael walked over to her, crouching in front of the fire. "His name is Vael. He was once part of a rival pack. Betrayed them. They say he hunts the Moonmarked… drains their magic. He's been chasing legends for years. Now, he's found you."
Elara touched her mark, the skin still hot beneath her fingers. "Because of this?"
Kael nodded. "Your blood holds power, Elara. And Vael isn't the only one who'll come for it. That mark… it's not just a symbol. It's a key."
"To what?" she whispered.
Kael hesitated, then pulled something from around his neck—a pendant shaped like a crescent moon, carved from obsidian. "My mother gave this to me before she died. She said one day, the Moonmate would return, and when she did, the truth would be revealed."
Elara took it, feeling warmth pulse through the stone. It matched her mark exactly.
Kael brushed a thumb across her cheek. "We need answers, Elara. From the seer. From your bloodline. If we don't figure out what's coming…"
"We'll lose more than just each other," she finished for him.
They sat in silence, the fire flickering between them, casting shadows like secrets on the walls.
And in the darkest corners of the forest, Vael smiled through the pain, already planning his next move.
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