Chapter Fifteen

The dawn light softened, spilling golden across the courtyard, but the air still carried the weight of the night’s battle. My body ached, my shoulder stinging where claws had grazed me, but I stood tall, Rex’s hand warm in mine, his scent—pine and iron—grounding me. The pack moved around us, their voices low, their hands busy repairing what the rival wolves had broken. My hand rested on my stomach, the flutter of my child stronger now, a quiet promise that tethered me to this place, to these people. I was Lycan, a mother, a warrior, and for the first time, I felt like I belonged.

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‎Rex’s red eyes met mine, steady but soft, carrying the weight of his confession: *I love you.* The words lingered, heavy, weaving through the bond that pulsed between us, stronger under the fading echo of the blood moon. I wanted to hold onto them, to believe in them, but fear still gnawed at me—not of him, but of what we faced, of the child I carried, of the prophecy’s shadow that wasn’t fully gone.

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‎Sage Elara approached, her silver hair catching the light, her eyes sharp but warm. “The blood moon has passed,” she said, her voice clear, “but its power lingers in you, Talia. The cursed wolf has chosen salvation, but the path ahead is not clear.”

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‎I swallowed, my throat tight. “What does that mean?” I asked, my voice steady despite the unease curling in my chest. “The rival pack is gone. We won.”

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‎She shook her head, her gaze distant, like she saw something I couldn’t. “The prophecy is not a single night. It’s a life, a choice you’ll make again and again. You carry the Lycan blood, and with it, the strength to shape our future—or break it.”

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‎Rex’s grip tightened, his jaw set. “She’s done enough,” he said, his voice low, protective. “She’s saved us. Let her be.”

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‎Elara’s eyes flicked to him, a faint smile touching her lips. “She is yours, Alpha, but she is also her own. The child she carries will carry her power, her choice. Protect them, but do not cage them.”

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‎My heart raced, my hand pressing harder against my stomach. The child. My child. Not Cassian’s, not anymore—just mine, a part of me, Lycan like me. I looked at Rex, his face tense, his eyes searching mine, and I saw it—the fear, the love, the weight of everything we’d fought for.

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‎A shout broke the quiet, sharp and urgent, from the manor’s gates. Rex turned, his body tensing, and I felt my wolf stir, alert, ready. “Stay here,” he said, his voice firm, but I shook my head, stepping closer.

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‎“No,” I said, my voice steady. “I’m with you.”

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‎He hesitated, his eyes flashing with pride and worry, then nodded. We moved together, the pack falling in behind us, their steps quick, their faces set. At the gates, a lone figure stood—a wolf, human now, his clothes torn, his face bloodied but defiant. He wasn’t one of ours, but he wasn’t attacking either. His eyes locked on me, sharp and knowing, like he saw something I didn’t.

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‎“You’re the Lycan,” he said, his voice rough, carrying over the courtyard. “The cursed wolf. They said you’d come.”

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‎Rex stepped in front of me, his growl low, primal. “Who are you?” he demanded, his red eyes blazing. “What do you want?”

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‎The man raised his hands, empty, no weapons. “I’m not here to fight,” he said, his gaze still on me. “I’m from the Ironclaw Pack. We’re not like the others. We don’t want war. But we need her.”

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‎My heart stopped, the warmth in my chest flaring, sharp and hot. “Me?” I asked, my voice sharp. “Why?”

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‎He stepped closer, ignoring Rex’s snarl. “Your blood,” he said, his voice low, urgent. “The Lycan blood. It’s the only thing that can heal our land, our people. The curse that’s killing us—it’s tied to you, to your line.”

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‎I froze, my breath shallow, Sage Elara’s words echoing: *A choice you’ll make again and again.* “What curse?” I asked, my voice trembling but firm. “What are you talking about?”

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‎The man’s eyes softened, almost pleading. “Our pack is dying,” he said. “The land is barren, our wolves weak. The old stories say a Lycan, born of shadow, can break the curse. We’ve been searching for you, Talia.”

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‎Rex’s hand found mine, his grip tight, grounding. “She’s not going anywhere,” he said, his voice a growl. “She’s ours.”

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‎The man’s eyes flicked to Rex, then back to me. “It’s her choice,” he said, his voice steady. “Not yours.”

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‎I felt the pack’s eyes on me, their silence heavy, waiting. My hand pressed to my stomach, the flutter steady, a reminder of what I fought for. I was Lycan, yes, but I was also Talia, a mother, a mate, a woman who’d found her place. I looked at Rex, his face fierce but open, trusting me, and I knew what I had to do.

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‎“I’ll help,” I said, my voice loud, carrying over the courtyard. “But not alone. I’m part of this pack, and they come with me.”

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‎The man nodded, respect in his eyes. “Fair enough,” he said. “We’ll wait for you, at the border of our lands. Come when you’re ready.”

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‎He turned, disappearing into the forest, and the pack erupted in murmurs, their voices a mix of awe and unease. Rex turned to me, his eyes searching mine, worry etched deep. “You don’t have to do this,” he said, his voice low, almost pleading. “You’ve given enough.”

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‎I shook my head, my hand tightening in his. “I have to,” I said, my voice steady. “If my blood can help them, if it can stop another war, I can’t turn away. Not now.”

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‎His jaw clenched, but he nodded, his thumb brushing my hand, warm and sure. “Then we go together,” he said, his voice fierce. “You, me, the pack. No one faces this alone.”

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‎I smiled, small but real, the warmth in my chest steady, not just the bond but love, trust, strength. I wasn’t the girl who’d arrived here, trembling, broken. I was Lycan, a warrior, a mother, and I had a family now—Rex, the pack, the child I carried. The prophecy wasn’t done, but I wasn’t afraid. I’d face it, like I’d faced everything else, with my head high and my heart whole.

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‎As we walked back to the manor, the pack behind us, their voices rising in a low, steady howl, I felt the future open, wide and uncertain but mine to shape. The child fluttered, the bond pulsed, and Rex’s hand stayed in mine, a promise we’d keep together, no matter what came next.