*******
Kael.
He'd pinned Cain, his jaws locked around the rival Alpha's throat not killing, but dominating.
Cain submitted with a choked snarl.
Kael released him and shifted back to human form, not caring about his nakedness, his body covered in blood and claw marks.
"Retreat," he commanded. "Now. Or I finish this."
Cain shifted back as well, clutching his torn throat. Blood ran between his fingers, but his eyes were locked on Seraphine.
On the power still glowing in her eyes.
"The prophecy is real," he whispered, voice filled with awe and hunger. "She's the one."
"She's mine," Kael corrected coldly. "Leave. While you still can."
Cain stumbled to his feet, his wolves immediately surrounding him protectively.
He looked at Seraphine one more time, his expression calculating.
"This isn't over, Dreadmore. The entire werewolf world will want her now."
He shifted and ran.
His pack followed, retreating into the forest like a red tide pulling back from shore.
The Moonwalk wolves didn't pursue.
They were too busy staring at Seraphine.
At the power that still hummed around her, making her hair float slightly, making the air crackle with energy.
Kael crossed the battlefield in long strides, stopping directly in front of her.
His silver eyes met her glowing white ones.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Seraphine's power flickered.
Dimmed.
Died.
Her eyes returned to their normal brown.
And she collapsed.
Kael caught her before she hit the ground, pulling her against his blood-soaked chest.
"I've got you," he murmured. "I've got you."
"Did I" Her voice was weak. "Did I hurt anyone?"
"No." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "You saved them."
She looked up at him, exhausted and terrified and confused.
"What am I?" she whispered.
Kael's expression was fierce, protective, and something deeper.
"You're extraordinary," he said quietly. "And you're mine."
He lifted her into his arms, cradling her like something precious and fragile.
Then he turned to face his pack.
Hundreds of wolves, warriors and servants, Beta and omega stared at them.
Some with fear.
Some with awe.
Some with suspicion.
But none with disrespect.
They'd all seen what she could do.
"Listen carefully," Kael's voice rang out across the battlefield. "What you witnessed today doesn't leave this territory. No one speaks of this to outsiders. Is that understood?"
A chorus of "Yes, Alpha King" echoed back.
"Good." He looked down at Seraphine, his expression softening. "Now let's get you home."
He began walking back toward the mansion, Darius and Garrett falling into step beside him.
Behind them, Thorne directed the warriors to tend to the wounded and collect the dead.
The battle was over.
But everyone knew the war had just begun.
***** An Hour Later****
Seraphine woke in an unfamiliar bed.
Larger than hers. Softer. The sheets smelled like Kael dark pine and smoke.
She was in his chambers.
His private bedroom.
She sat up slowly, every muscle aching. She'd been cleaned someone had washed away the dirt and blood and dressed in a soft nightgown.
The room was dark except for firelight and moonlight streaming through massive windows.
A figure sat in a chair beside the bed.
Kael.
He'd cleaned up too. the blood gone, dressed simply in dark pants and an open shirt. But exhaustion lined his face, and several healing claw marks were still visible on his chest and arms.
"You're awake," he said quietly.
"How long was I"
"Two hours." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "You used too much power too fast. Your body shut down to protect itself."
"I didn't mean to I don't know how I"
"I know."
He reached out, taking her hand.
"What you did tonight... you saved lives, Seraphine. Garrett would have died if you hadn't stopped that wolf. Maybe others too."
"But now everyone knows," she whispered. "They all saw"
"They saw their future queen protect her pack."
Seraphine's eyes widened. "What?"
Kael's thumb traced circles on her palm.
"The Council can't question you anymore. Not after tonight. You proved you're not a threat you're an asset."
He lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
"And you proved something else."
"What?"
His silver eyes met hers, intense and unwavering.
"That you're exactly where you belong. At my side."
Seraphine's breath caught.
"Kael, I don't understand what's happening to me. These powers, the prophecy, everything"
"We'll figure it out," he said firmly. "Together."
He moved from the chair to sit on the edge of the bed beside her.
"But first, you need to rest. Really rest. You're safe here."
"In your bed?" she asked, heat rising in her cheeks.
A small smile touched his lips rare and devastating.
"In my bed. In my chambers. Under my protection."
He brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"I'm not letting you out of my sight again. Not after tonight."
"The Council"
"Can go to hell."
"Kael"
He silenced her with a gentle finger against her lips.
"Sleep, Seraphine. We'll deal with everything else tomorrow."
She wanted to argue. Wanted to demand answers about the prophecy, about what Cain had said, about what she was becoming.
But exhaustion pulled at her like a tide.
Her eyes drifted closed despite her best efforts.
The last thing she felt was Kael's hand in her hair, his touch gentle and protective.
"Sleep," he murmured again. "I'll keep watch."
And for the first time since this nightmare began, Seraphine felt truly safe.
*********
Darius stood guard outside Kael's door, his expression troubled.
Thorne approached, his footsteps quiet.
"How is she?" the elder asked.
"Resting. The king is with her."
Thorne nodded slowly. "What she did tonight... I've never seen anything like it."
"Neither have I." Darius's jaw clenched. "And neither has anyone else. Which means"
"Every Alpha King within a thousand miles will hear about this within days," Thorne finished grimly. "Blackwater will spread the word. He'll want allies in his next attempt."
"If there is a next attempt."
"There will be." Thorne's voice was certain. "She's too valuable now. Too dangerous. Every power-hungry Alpha will want to control her or kill her."
Darius's hand moved to the sword at his hip.
"They'll have to go through all of us first."
Thorne smiled slightly. "You've changed your mind about her."
"I saw her stand against an Alpha King's aura. Saw her protect our wolves when she could have run." Darius looked at the closed door. "She's not the threat. She's the target."
"Then we'd better be ready," Thorne said quietly. "Because this was just the beginning."
Inside the chambers, Seraphine slept.
Unaware that in a territory hundreds of miles away, Alpha Ronan Ashford was receiving a very interesting report.
Unaware that in another direction, Alpha Thaddeus Crane was already plotting his next move.
Unaware that the Rogue King himself had heard whispers of a Hidden Omega with power over Alphas.
And most importantly
Unaware that deep in the oldest archives of the Moonwalk Pack library, there was a book.
A book that Elder Marcellus had just discovered.
A book that contained the complete prophecy.
And the terrible price it demanded.
Marcellus smiled in the darkness of the archive, candlelight casting shadows across his face.
"Oh, my king," he whispered to himself. "You have no idea what's coming."
He turned the page.
And began to read..