Lena’s POV
The world narrowed to a single point of crystalline focus as I stood between Riven and Kael, their hands gripping mine with desperate strength. I could feel everything through our incomplete bonds—their fear for me, their determination to protect me, their willingness to die if it meant keeping me safe. And surrounding us on all sides were enemies who wanted me dead, led by a female Lycan whose hatred burned brighter than any flame.
“Lena, we need to move,” Kael said, his voice tight with control even as I felt his panic bleeding through our connection. “We can’t hold this position.”
But I wasn’t listening to him anymore. I wasn’t listening to anything except the roar of power building in my chest, in my blood, in every cell of my body. It had been building throughout this en
