Elara’s POVThe light broke through the clouds like a slow exhale from the sky. Warm, golden, and impossibly gentle. For the first time in what felt like forever, the world around us didn’t hum with danger—it pulsed with hope.Andrew’s fingers were laced tightly with mine, and neither of us moved for a long while. We just stood there, in the middle of the battlefield littered with ash, ruin, and broken curses… breathing.Alive.Together.And yet, beneath the peace, my heart still raced. Not from fear—this time, it was something else. Something like disbelief.It was over.The war. The prophecy. The impossible burden of fate.And we were still standing.Andrew’s thumb brushed the back of my hand. “You good?”I nodded. “Yeah. I think… I think I actually am.”He gave me a look. “You sure? ‘Cause you almost blew up half the forest back there.”A small smile tugged at my lips. “That was barely a spark.”He chuckled, eyes full of affection. “Remind me never to piss you off.”“You already d
Elara’s POVMy arms trembled as I blocked another strike from Dorian.He was very strong. Too strong.His magic roared like a storm, crashing against me over and over. Every blast, every pulse of darkness, felt like it was pulling at the edges of my soul—tearing into something deeper than just skin and bone.I could feel the Owlshard pulsing through him. That cursed artifact had twisted him into something barely wolf, and now it wanted me too.I guess it was with the help of this artifact that he was able to grant his crew powers. And I'm sure it was at the expense of their wolves."You’re losing it, Elara," Dorian said, his voice smooth, sickening. “Just like the prophecy said you would.”I clenched my jaw. “You don’t know me.”“Oh, but I do.” He circled me like a vulture, magic slithering in the air around us. “The girl who carries too much power… too much heart. It was always going to destroy you.”A pulse of light built in my palm—I threw it.He caught it midair, crushed it into n
Andrew’s POVDeveruid smirked like he had something to teach me and it pissed me off.“You look angry,” he said, circling. “Still mad I stole your little mate months ago? Thought you’d be over it by now.”I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. My blade spoke first. I was determined to end him for speaking about Elara the way he did.Metal screamed as I swung for his throat. He ducked, spun, and sliced across my shoulder. Pain burst white-hot, but I didn’t stop.“You’re going to die,” I told him.“Oh?” he chuckled. “You’ve gotten dramatic since she warmed your bed.”I snapped.My fist cracked against his jaw, sent him stumbling. He spat blood, grinned like he liked the taste.“You always were the weak one,” he sneered. “Always playing the hero. But deep down, you know you’re nothing without her. I can't believe you refer to yourself as alpha.”I charged.He met me head-on, our swords clashing again and again. Each strike sent shockwaves through my arms. He moved fast, slippery like a snak
Andrew’s POVThe battlefield went quiet the moment Tobias stepped into the light.The way he moved—unbothered, calm—wasn’t something I’d seen in a long time. Not since the fiasco with Elara and trying to prove her innocence. The same man who once denounced Elara’s bond to me now walked through this battlefield like he belonged here.My blade was still raised. My heart still pounding. But my mind—my mind couldn’t make sense of it.Tobias looked right at me. Then to Elara. Then to the others. “I asked a question,” he said. “Is there room for one more?”Michael barked a laugh. “You’re late, old man.”Tobias gave a dry smile. “Takes time to walk when you’re this old.”I stepped forward, wary. “Why are you here?”Elara moved beside me, close enough to touch, but I kept my focus on him.Tobias turned to me, and something in his expression shifted. Not softness—he’d never been soft—but something like… clarity.“I came to fight Dorian,” he said simply.My brows pulled together. “You made it
Elara’s POVDorian’s laugh scraped down my spine like nails on bone. It wasn’t just unsettling—it was wrong. Twisted. Like the sound didn’t belong in this world.I couldn't figure out what the cause of his laughter was. One moment he wanted to have our hides for sabotaging his plans, the next he is laughing like he didn't have a care in the world.He stepped forward, slow and theatrical, his boots crunching against broken branches and blood-soaked soil. The smile on his face was pure poison.A poison I wanted to get away from.“Bravo,” he said, giving us another condescending clap. “Truly touching. The lovers reuniting. A bond reborn. How… quaint.”Andrew’s jaw ticked beside me. He shifted closer, his fingers brushing mine—a small touch, grounding me. Dorian had always been a bitter man. When I was still part this pack, he didn't care about me.I was just another useless addition to his pack until Andrew came along and saved me.I couldn't believe I didn't see this a long time ago un
Elara’s POVDespite lost in darkness, I was semi conscious of my environment.“I swear,” I heard someone mutter through clenched teeth, “if you don’t wake up, I’ll find a way to drag you back myself.”Andrew.I felt the shard flare.My heart stopped—literally stopped—for a beat.I gasped, choking on air, the world spinning.“Elara…” he murmured, leaning closer.Then I felt a pull, a strong one. My back arched, my chest felt like it was cracking open.I screamed.Everything went white.And then—I called his name, my voice small and broken.“Andrew?”My eyes snapped open just as I caught staring him staring down at me.I woke up gasping, like I’d been dragged from the bottom of a deep, dark lake.The first thing I saw was Andrew. His face hovered over mine, smeared with dirt and blood, eyes wide and glistening like he’d just seen a ghost. His hand was clenched around mine, warm, steady. And trembling.“Elara,” he breathed.His voice cracked on my name. I was so glad to hear his voice.