Chapter 18: For Her

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*Chapter 18: For Her*

The door didn’t last.

Wood exploded inward and 6 wolves poured into the cabin. 

Gamma Rafe in front. Eyes black. Smiling.

“Alpha Kieran,” Rafe said. “You look tired. Been keeping my sister-in-law up?”

Kieran didn’t answer. He just moved.

He shoved me behind him and stepped forward. Shirtless, bandaged, and furious.

“Touch her and you die.”

Rafe laughed. “Bold words from a man with a death sentence. The moon gave you a year, right? We can wait.”

“My year is none of your business.”

“Oh but it is.” Rafe tilted his head. “Mae’s been crying every night. Because of you. Because of her.” He pointed at me. “So we’re taking her. Justice for Mae.”

“No one is taking her.”

The first wolf lunged.

Kieran caught him mid-air and threw him through the wall. 

The cabin shook.

“Stay behind me,” Kieran said to me, not looking back. His voice was steel.

I pressed myself against the wall. My heart was pounding. The mark burned.

Two more wolves came. Kieran fought like a man with nothing to lose.

Because he didn’t.

He had a year.

Claws. Teeth. Blood on the floorboards.

Rafe watched for a second, then his smile dropped. “Enough playing.”

He shifted. 

Huge. Black. Bigger than Kieran.

“Alpha to Alpha,” Rafe growled. “Let’s see who the moon really favors.”

They collided.

The sound was awful. Bone on bone. Growling that shook the windows.

I couldn’t breathe.

Kieran was good. Fast. But Rafe was bigger. And Kieran was still healing from the cut on his side.

Rafe got a hit in. Clawed across Kieran’s chest.

Kieran roared.

Pain shot through me. The bond. I was feeling it.

“No,” I whispered.

Rafe had Kieran pinned. Teeth at his throat.

“Any last words, Blackwood?” Rafe asked.

Kieran’s eyes met mine over Rafe’s shoulder. Blue. Calm.

“I love her,” he said. To me. Not to Rafe.

Something in me snapped.

The silver lines on my neck went white hot.

“GET OFF HIM!”

I didn’t think. I ran.

Rafe turned at the last second.

And I hit him.

With everything.

With the bond.

With 18 years of being called weak.

With love.

Light exploded out of me.

Rafe flew back and hit the far wall. Hard.

Silence.

The other wolves froze. Staring at me.

I was shaking. My hands were glowing. Silver.

The mark had spread down to my shoulder. Half black, half silver now.

“What... what are you?” Rafe whispered.

“I’m his,” I said. Voice shaking but loud. “And you will never touch him again.”

Kieran got to his feet. Staring at me. Shock. Pride. Fear.

“Rejoice,” he breathed.

Rafe got up slowly. Blood on his mouth. “This isn’t over. The Shadow Moon Pack will come for her.” He looked at me. “You should’ve run when you had the chance, little sister.”

Then he and his wolves ran. Into the woods.

Gone.

Kieran was at my side in a second. Hands on my face. Checking me.

“Are you hurt? Did they—”

“I’m okay,” I said. “Are you?”

He looked down at his chest. The claw marks were already healing. 

Because of me.

“You did that,” he said. “You used the bond.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“You saved me.” His thumb brushed my cheek. “You chose me. Freely.”

Step one. Sacrifice.

I had just risked my life for him.

The silver had spread more.

Kieran pulled me into his arms and held me so tight it hurt.

“I thought I lost you,” he whispered into my hair.

“You won’t,” I whispered back. “Not for 365 days. Not if I can help it.”

He pulled back and kissed my forehead. Then my cheek. Then stopped himself.

“We need to go,” he said. “They’ll be back with more.”

I nodded.

As we packed, I caught my reflection again.

Black. Silver. 

Halfway to gold.

And outside, the snow was falling harder.

Like the moon was watching.

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*END OF CHAPTER 18