~"This is exactly as it should be," ~ my wolf responds, her voice filled with quiet certainty. ~"Look at her, truly look. She is both forest and moon, both bloodlines combined in perfect harmony. The prophecy never specified a son — it spoke only of an heir." ~
Before I can respond, the door bursts open. Kael strides in, his presence filling the room with Alpha energy. His face lights up at the sight of the bundle in my arms.
"My heir," he breathes, reaching for her. "Let me hold my child."
My heart pounds as he lifts her from my arms, cradling her with surprising gentleness. For one beautiful moment, he gazes down at her with pure joy and pride.
The change is instant. His body goes rigid, a low growl building in his chest as he stares into those unmistakably green eyes. "What is this?" he snarls. "These eyes…they're not mine."
"Kael," I say softly, forcing strength into my voice despite my exhaustion. "Listen to me. She is your daughter. Your heir. But she's also-"
"No!" His growl cuts through the room like thunder. "This child cannot be mine. Those eyes…"
"She carries both bloodlines," I press on, my voice steadier now. "Yours and Lucian's. Just as the prophecy foretold." I recite the words that have haunted me for months: "Where Alpha bloodlines shall unite. This is what it meant, Kael. She's the true heir — born of both forest and moon."
His face contorts with fury as the meaning of my words sinks in. "You dare tell me this child is his?" He lifts our daughter higher, examining her with growing disgust. "And a girl? A female heir?" His laugh is harsh, bitter. "The Greatest Alpha of All Time cannot have a daughter as heir. The Celestial Flame demands a worthy son!"
"The Prophecy never specified a son," I argue, my heart racing as he holds our daughter too roughly. "It spoke only of the Celestial Heir. She is that heir, Kael. Your daughter — our daughter — will unite the packs."
"A girl cannot be worthy!" he roars, making the baby cry harder. "And I will not share my legacy with Lucian Blackwood's spawn!"
"She's yours too," I plead, reaching for her. "Can't you see? This is destiny, Kael. The prophecy never meant for one Alpha to rule alone. It spoke of unity — of bloodlines combining to create something greater."
The baby's wails echo off the stone walls as Kael's grip tightens. "The Greatest Alpha of All Time cannot share power," he growls. "And I will not share my heir — especially not a worthless female heir."
Kael's fury radiates through the room like a physical force, his Alpha energy making the air thick and suffocating. The baby's cries grow more frantic as he holds her, his fingers white-knuckled around her tiny form.
"You want to know about worthless heirs?" he snarls, his eyes wild with a darkness I've never seen before. "Ask Sabrina about her son — that weak, mewling thing that wouldn't stop crying."
Sabrina gasps beside me, her face draining of color. "What are you saying?"
His laugh is hollow, unhinged. "Did you think it was Ronan who killed your precious boy? No. I couldn't let such weakness taint Shadow Ridge's bloodline. Not when the Celestial Flame demands perfection."
"You?" Sabrina's voice breaks. "You killed our son?"
"I did what was necessary," Kael growls, his grip tightening on our daughter until her cries turn to desperate screams. "Just like I'll do what's necessary now."
Terror floods through me as I realize what he means. I try to push myself up from the bed, but my body is too weak from labor. "Kael, please," I beg, reaching for our daughter. "She's innocent. She's your blood."
"She's an abomination," he spits. "Lucian's blood mixed with mine? A female heir?" His eyes flash with murderous intent. "I won't let her destroy everything I've worked for."
As he lifts our screaming daughter higher, my heart threatens to burst from my chest. This is the moment I've feared since I first felt her kick — my child's life hanging in the balance, threatened by the very Alpha whose blood runs through her veins.
But before Kael can act, the door slams against the wall, and Cade storms in, his face tight with urgency.
“We’re under attack,” he growls.
“Lucian is back. He’s with Ronan, and a pack of rogues. They’re tearing through the eastern grounds.”
Kael stiffens, his steel-grey eyes narrowing with lethal focus. He turns sharply, and before I can process what’s happening, he tosses the baby onto the bed at my feet. My heart stops as the tiny bundle lands awkwardly against the blankets. A strangled cry escapes my throat as I lunge forward, scooping her up in trembling hands.
My breath comes fast and shallow as I inspect her, my fingers shaking as they trace over her soft skin. Relief floods through me when I see she’s unharmed, her tiny chest rising and falling steadily. I clutch her against me, cradling her close as my pulse pounds in my ears. “What are you doing?” I whisper, my voice breaking, though Kael doesn’t even glance back at me.
“Where are they?” Kael barks, his tone as sharp as steel.
“Eastern grounds,” Cade replies, his words clipped. “They’re pushing toward the main hall. The guards are struggling to contain them.”
Kael strides toward the door, his presence vibrating with raw power. “With me,” he orders Cade. “Double the western patrols. Move the women and pups to the safe rooms. No one gets near them.”
Cade nods sharply, falling into step behind him, and they vanish through the doorway without another word. The tension they leave behind is suffocating. The distant howls and snarls outside are growing louder, echoing through the walls like a nightmare creeping closer.
I clutch the baby tighter, my heart racing with a mix of dread and wild, flickering excitement. Lucian is here. He’s really here — and Ronan’s with him. My emotions swirl in a storm of fear and hope, my thoughts tumbling over themselves. I pray silently to the Goddess, my lips forming the words without sound. Please let Lucian win.
