Chapter 48: The Coldfang Exodus

The wind at the mountain’s base was a wild thing, biting and untamed.

Serena pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, the flames within her doing little to shield her from the external cold. Snow crunched underfoot as she and Elias made their way up the shadowed trail winding toward the Coldfang Fortress.

It had been two days since they left the ruins. Two days of near-constant movement, running through moonlit forests, sleeping in caves cloaked in illusion, and fighting off the creeping presence of dark creatures whose forms grew more twisted the closer they got to the Veiled Alpha's awakening.

But none of that shook Serena like the look Elias gave her now and then when he thought she wasn’t watching.

It was more than admiration.

It was fear.

Not of her—but for her.

“You’re quiet,” Elias said, breaking the silence.

“I’m thinking,” she replied.

“Dangerous pastime.”

She smiled faintly but didn’t look at him. “You’re wondering if I’m losing control.”

His footsteps slowed slightly. “I’m wondering how much more of this magic you can absorb before it eats you from the inside out.”

A gust of wind nearly knocked her off balance. She stumbled and Elias caught her waist, steadying her with one arm. His grip lingered, warm and solid.

“You keep me grounded,” she said softly.

He looked down at her. “Do I?”

She nodded. “When it starts to spiral, when the fire wants to burn everything—I think of you.”

He stared at her for a moment longer, then leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We’ll get through this. Together.”

They climbed in silence after that, but the silence was comfortable. Charged.

By midday, the path widened into a cliff ledge, revealing the fortress high above them—massive, ancient, carved into the mountain like it had always been there. Tall spires stabbed the sky, and rune-inscribed walls shimmered faintly under the sunlight. The Coldfang Fortress wasn’t just a relic of old power—it hummed with it.

“Home of the last Sentinels,” Elias murmured. “They won’t be happy to see me.”

Serena arched a brow. “Why not?”

“I left without permission. Abandoned the oath. I was supposed to take the High Wolf’s seat—protect the realm. Instead, I chased a rogue Alpha… and found you.”

Her heart thudded. “Do you regret it?”

He looked at her as if the question wounded him. “Not for a second.”

Before she could respond, the air shimmered—and a ring of arrows pointed at their throats. Camouflaged guards stepped from the trees, faces masked in carved bone.

“Halt. Identify yourselves,” the lead guard commanded.

“I am Elias Thorne, ex-Sentinel,” Elias said, raising his hands slowly. “And this is Serena Duskbane, bearer of the Flame.”

A murmur rippled through the guards.

“The cursed one?” one whispered.

“She broke it,” Elias said sharply. “And awoke something worse in the process. We need sanctuary. An audience with the High Watch.”

The guards exchanged glances before the lead one nodded. “Lower your weapons.”

They were escorted through an invisible barrier and into the fortress walls. As they passed into the great hall, Serena’s gaze swept over carved wolf statues, ancient murals depicting war and prophecy, and torches that burned with blue fire. The place felt like power incarnate.

Waiting at the end of the hall was a woman cloaked in silver and blue, hair braided with wolf teeth and frost flowers. Her eyes glowed faintly.

“Elaya Snow,” Elias murmured. “She’s the new High Watch.”

The woman stepped forward. “Elias. Back from exile, I see.”

“Not by choice,” he said, bowing his head. “We come with warning.”

Her gaze flicked to Serena. “The Flame-Bearer.”

Serena felt a pulse of magic pass between them—an assessment.

“She’s unstable,” Elaya said bluntly.

“She’s the only reason we’re still breathing,” Elias replied. “The Veiled Alpha stirs.”

That silenced the entire hall.

Elaya’s expression turned grave. “He cannot rise. The world won’t survive it.”

“We know,” Serena said. “That’s why I need help mastering this power. If there’s even a chance I can stop him, I need to be ready.”

Elaya studied her for a long moment. Then she nodded. “You’ll train with the Lorebound. But be warned—if you falter, if the flame consumes you, we’ll put you down. Kindly, if possible.”

Serena nodded. “Understood.”

Later that night, after settling into her chamber, Serena stood on the fortress balcony, staring out at the snow-covered peaks. Her body felt different—stronger, yes, but not entirely hers. The flame inside her had started to whisper.

“Burn. Break. Reclaim.”

She shivered.

Elias stepped up behind her, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders.

“You always know where I am,” she said, leaning into him.

“Your flame sings to me.”

“That sounds poetic.”

“It’s true.”

They stood there for a while, silent except for the wind. Then Serena turned to him.

“If I don’t make it—”

“Don’t,” Elias said. “Don’t say that.”

“You need to know. I’m not afraid to die. But I’m afraid of leaving you behind. Of not being able to tell you that I—”

He kissed her.

It wasn’t slow. It wasn’t gentle.

It was desperate. Wild. His hands buried in her hair as he backed her into the wall, his lips trailing down her neck. She gasped when he found the spot just beneath her ear.

“I want you,” he growled. “All of you. Flame, fury, everything.”

She moaned, wrapping her legs around his waist as he lifted her. “Then take me.”

And he did.

Right there on the balcony, under moonlight and starlight and the watchful eyes of old gods. They burned together—body and soul. And when it was over, they held each other like the world was ending.

Because in many ways, it already was.

And yet, in each other, they found their reason to fight.