KAI
I stood at the edge of the sacred grove, watching as silver-gold light emanated from Alexis's palms. She cradled our son against her chest, her voice strong despite the exhaustion etched across her features.
"Aetheren Kang-dae Xavier Larson, I name you under Mother Moon's watchful gaze. May you walk between worlds with courage and wisdom."
The Crown of First Light pulsed above them, crystal branches extending outward as if reaching for the sky. Our son—only twenty-four hours old—opened his mercury eyes, starlight patterns swirling across his skin in response to his name. My chest tightened. In a few hours, I'd leave them both behind to venture into territory no living wolf had visited in centuries.
Susan—my mother-in-law—stepped forward, her wolf-gold eyes reflecting the moonlight
