LOGINNate's POVThe tendrils struck our shield like hammers against glass.Cracks spiderwebbed across the barrier. The combined power of thousands of wolves. Channeling. Linking. Holding. But it was not enough. The Eternal Night was too strong. Too ancient. Too hungry."Hold." Dora's voice cut through the chaos. Strained. Desperate. "Do not break formation. We can do this."But I saw the truth. Saw the shield fracturing. Saw the darkness pressing closer. We were going to fail. Going to die. All of us together.I stood outside the formation. Support team. No power to contribute. Just watching. Helpless. Useless. The worst feeling in the world. My mate fought for our survival and I could do nothing."This is wrong." Marcus appeared beside me. Jaw set. Determined. "We should be helping.""We are human." I reminded him. Bitter. Angry. "What can we do against that?""Die trying." He said simply. "Better than watching them fall alone."He was right. I would rather die fighting than live knowing
Theodora's POVThe world tilted beneath me.Everything we had done. Every sacrifice. Every risk. All of it meaningless. The Dawnblade was not salvation but damnation. A weapon designed by the enemy to consume heroes. To feed on hope itself."You are lying," I said. Voice shaking. Desperate. "The Moon Mother would not allow this. Would not let us be deceived.""The Moon Mother." The Eternal Night laughed. Infinite. Mocking. "Is silent. Has been silent for centuries. Where do you think she went? I consumed her realm long ago. Ate her followers. Drank her power. She cannot help you. No one can."The words hit like physical blows. The Moon Mother. Gone. Consumed. We were truly alone."If Dora had activated the blade." Aurora's voice was ice. Fury barely contained. "What would have happened?""She would have died." The entity answered. Pleased. Satisfied. "Her essence channeled through the weapon. Fed directly to me. Making me stronger. Hastening your world's end. It is beautiful really. H
Nate's POVI felt her intention before she moved.Through the mate bond. Clear. Devastating. Final. Dora planned to die alone. Planned to use the Dawnblade without us. Sacrifice herself before anyone could stop her."No." The word ripped from my throat. "DORA NO."She was already running. Silver Wolf speed carried her away. Out the door. Down the hallway. Gone before most people even registered what happened.I bolted after her. Emily right behind. Aurora. Erik. Yuki. All of us chasing. But Dora had a head start and desperation fueled her."Stop her," Emily screamed. Voice breaking. "Someone stop her."We could not. She was too fast. Too determined. I pushed harder. Legs burning. Lungs screaming. The mate bond stretched between us. Taut. Aching.Through it I felt everything. Her love. Her regret. Her absolute conviction this was right. That dying alone was better than risking us all. The feelings gutted me."Dora please." I sent through the bond. Desperate. Begging. "Wait. Let us help
Theodora's POVThe word hung in the air like a death sentence.Now. We would face the Eternal Night now. Use the Dawnblade now. Possibly die now. My heart hammered against my ribs. Too fast. Too hard. I was eighteen years old and I might have minutes left to live."We need to convene the Council first," Selene said quickly. "Get approval. Coordinate with the other packs. This affects everyone.""There is no time," I argued. But even as I spoke doubt crept in. Was I rushing? Was I scared enough to be reckless?"An hour." Selene insisted. "Give me one hour to gather the Council. To make this official. You owe them that much."I looked at Nate. He nodded slightly. One hour would not doom us. Would not save us either. But protocol mattered. Unity mattered."Fine." I agreed. "One hour."The Council chamber filled rapidly. Every Silver Wolf. Every alpha. Representatives from allied packs. The room buzzed with tension. Fear. Desperation. Everyone knew what we faced. Everyone knew the stakes.
Nate's POVWe tumbled through reality and hit solid ground hard.The impact knocked the breath from my lungs. For a moment I just lay there. Gasping. Disoriented. Then I registered where we were. Council headquarters. The ritual room. Familiar. Safe. Home."You are back." Selene's voice cut through my daze. Relief. Surprise. "You actually survived."I pushed myself up. Every muscle protested. The hollow feeling from the sacrifice ritual remained. Part of me was missing. Gone forever. But I was alive. We all were."How long?" Dora asked. She still clutched the Dawnblade. The sword glowed softly in her grip. Beautiful. Deadly."Two hours," Selene answered. "You left two hours ago.""Two hours?" Aurora sat up slowly. Stunned. "We were gone three days. Time moves differently between dimensions.""Show me the blade." Selene approached carefully. Her eyes locked on the sword. Hungry. Wary. "Let me examine it."Dora hesitated. Then extended the Dawnblade. Selene did not take it. Just studied
Theodora's POVI could not let Nate stay behind.The thought of him trapped here. Alone in this nightmare realm. Going slowly mad like those survivors. It destroyed me. Ripped me apart. The mate bond screamed against the idea. Rejected it with every fiber of my being."No," I said again. Firmer. Louder. "Nate you are not staying. I refuse. I will find another way.""There is no other way." The creature spoke with my father's voice now and it gutted me. "The Dawnblade requires balance. To take its power from this realm you must leave something equally powerful behind. A life. A soul. An anchor to maintain equilibrium.""Then take me." Aurora stepped forward. Resolute. Determined. "I have lived thousands of years. Seen empires rise and fall. I would not mind the rest. My sacrifice means less than theirs.""You are needed," Emily argued. Moving beside her. "You have knowledge. Wisdom. Experience we cannot replace. It should be me. I only recently awakened. I am less skilled. Less valuabl







