I stood in the heart of the war-torn territory, the wind biting through my cloak, carrying the scent of smoke and fresh earth. The crimson moon hung low in the sky, but its eerie glow no longer terrified me. Instead, it felt like a reminder of everything I had fought for. I was no longer the broken girl rejected by Kael; I had forged my own path, leading the packs and pushing them toward unity, despite the constant friction that sparked between us.
But this—this moment—was just the beginning.
“You did it,” Lucian’s voice broke through my thoughts, warm and steady. His hand brushed against mine as he fell into step beside me, his familiar presence a comfort I never thought I would find again. “You brought them together.”
I didn’t respond immediately. My eyes swept over the horizon, where
