---
Dawn came cold and silver.
The Moon Field was ancient ground. Sacred to wolves and Lycans both. Where challenges were made, bonds were broken, and blood decided truth.
I stood in the center with Darius and Elias flanking me. Kade stood across from us with his three Alpha enforcers and the two traitor elders. Between us: 50 paces of frost-covered grass and 5 years of hate.
He looked different in the morning light. Smaller somehow. Like seeing me as Lycan had stripped away his Alpha arrogance and left just a scared wolf.
“You don’t have to do this, Elara,” he said, voice low enough that only we could hear. “Call it off. We can talk.”
I tilted my head. “Talk about what? How you rejected me for being wolfless? How you called my son a mistake? How you didn’t even know I was pregnant?”
