~KAIROS’ POV~
I woke up screaming. Not a clean, sharp yell but more like something ripping its way out of me. It felt like every scream Elara had ever swallowed was clawing up my throat at the same time. My ribs ached deep, the kind of hurt you get when someone’s kicked you over and over. My stomach was hollow, like I hadn’t eaten in days, maybe weeks.
I tried to sit up. The room tilted hard. I was in my own bed, but the silk sheets scraped my skin like cheap burlap. Everything felt wrong.
"ELARA" my wolf whimpered. He sounded small. Broken. Not the proud thing that used to strut inside me like he owned the forest.
The door flew open. My mother, Mara rushed in. She looked terrified, but as soon as she saw me awake, the panic smoothed away fast, replaced by that calm, porcelain face she
