The battle rages around us—clashes of steel, the cries of warriors, and the scent of blood thick in the air. My heart pounds in my chest as I stand at the front, leading our pack against Magnus and his forces. The weight of the moment is pressing down on me, but I can’t let it break me. Not now. Not when everything I’ve fought for is hanging by a thread.
Beside me, Elias is a force unto himself, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around us. He moves with precision, his eyes locked on the battlefield, but there’s a glimmer of something in his gaze as he watches me. I can feel it—a deep respect, admiration even—but there’s more than that. I know he sees me for who I truly am now, not just as a mate, but as an alpha in my own right.
“You’re more than just my mate,” Elias says a
