POV: Sera
I watched Kade walk away to destroy himself.
Every instinct screamed to follow. To stop him. To tell him there had to be another way.
But there wasn't.
I felt it through the bond his certainty, his resignation, his absolute conviction that this was the only path forward.
"Mama?" Ember stirred in my arms. "Where's Daddy going?"
"To do something very brave, baby."
"Is it going to hurt?"
Yes. God, yes. Breaking an alpha bond was like severing a limb. Worse. It was tearing out the very thing that made him who he was.
"A little," I lied. "But he's strong. He'll be okay."
Ember looked at me with those too-knowing eyes. "You're lying."
"I know."
Kai appeared at my side. Bandaged now, but still moving like every step hurt. "You can't stay here. Not for the severing. It'll be.
