Prologue

The cliff's edge crumbled beneath Tyler's boots as Rowan's iron grip tightened around his throat. Blood thundered in Damon's ears, his rifle trembling in white-knuckled hands as he stared into his childhood friend's desperate eyes.

"Don't do this, Rowan." Each word scraped Damon's throat raw. The weapon felt impossibly heavy, its barrel wavering between his best friend and the monster who held him captive. "Things don't have to end this way. Let him go, and maybe—just maybe—I won't put a bullet between your eyes."

Rowan's laughter cut through the howling wind like broken glass. "And why the hell would I do that?" His lips twisted into a predator's smile, canines gleaming in the moonlight. "I'm the rightful Alpha of this pack. You're nothing but a pretender playing with daddy's crown."

"My father earned that title with blood and honor," Damon snarled, his finger hovering over the trigger. "You forfeited any claim when you abandoned your pack like a coward."

"Yes, he won." Rowan's grip shifted, Tyler's face purpling as he gasped for air. "But when that bomb tore him apart in his own chambers, the position should have fallen to me. Not his pathetic excuse for a son."

The admission hit Damon like a physical blow. "You planted that bomb. You murdered my father, and now you want me to hand over his legacy to his killer?"

"Your father deserved to die screaming," Rowan spat, eyes wild with ancient rage. "And so do you."

Tyler's body convulsed in Rowan's grip, his lips moving soundlessly as he fought for breath. One more step and they'd both plummet into the churning rapids below.

"What do you want?" Damon's voice cracked like ice. "Name your price for his life."

"I want what was stolen from me." Rowan dragged Tyler closer to the edge, loose stones skittering into the abyss. "Abdicate. Right here, right now. Let your precious Beta witness you surrender the throne like the weak pup you are. Do that, and he lives."

"Don't—" Tyler's voice was barely a whisper, but his eyes blazed with familiar fire. "Don't listen to him."

Damon saw it then—the reckless determination that had gotten Tyler into trouble since they were cubs. His heart lurched.

"Pull the trigger!" Tyler's shout tore through the night air.

"No! If I shoot, you'll both—"

"I SAID PULL THE GODDAMN TRIGGER!"

Rowan's grin widened to something inhuman. "You heard him, Alpha. Pull it. Watch us both dance with death."

"There's always an easy choice, Damon." Rowan's voice dripped with mock sympathy. "Your crown for his life. Your friend for your pride. Time's running out, and gravity doesn't negotiate."

Tears carved burning tracks down Damon's face as memories crashed over him—Tyler laughing around last night's campfire, swearing they'd always have each other's backs, promising to dance at each other's mating ceremonies.

"Do it, Damon." Tyler's voice steadied, filled with the same courage that had made him the perfect Beta. "Do it now."

"I can't—"

"FOR THE PACK!"

The gunshot split the night like thunder.

Rowan staggered, crimson blooming across his shirt like a deadly flower. His eyes widened in shock, then twisted into a final, blood-soaked smile.

"Should have... taken the deal," he gurgled.

Then gravity claimed them both.

"TYLER!" Damon's scream shattered the mountain silence as he dove, his knees scraping raw against stone. His hand shot out, fingers locking around Tyler's wrist just as they disappeared over the edge.

Pain exploded through Damon's shoulder as Tyler's weight nearly dislocated his arm. His other hand clawed at the cliff face, nails splitting as he fought to maintain his grip. Blood from his wounded arm made everything slippery, treacherous.

"Let me go." Tyler's voice was eerily calm, his eyes reflecting the moon above. "You can't hold us both."

"Like hell!" Damon's muscles screamed as he tried to haul Tyler up. "The others will be here soon. Just hold on!"

Tyler's hand began to slip. "Please, Damon. It's better if one of us survives this nightmare."

"No. I won't lose you too." Damon's vision blurred with tears and strain. "I can't."

"As your Beta, I swore to protect you." Tyler's smile was heartbreakingly serene. "This is how I keep that oath. Take care of her, Damon. Take care of Elodie."

"Tyler, don't you dare—"

Their eyes met one final time. Brothers in all but blood, friends since childhood, Alpha and Beta bound by unbreakable loyalty.

Then Tyler released his grip.

Damon's anguished howl echoed across the mountains as he watched his best friend disappear into the darkness, swallowed by the merciless waters below.

The Alpha had kept his crown.

Tyler had paid the price.