Silver energy filled the chamber like a storm.
Lyra hovered slightly above the ground, her body surrounded by glowing moonlight. The power of the Heart flowed through her veins like liquid fire.
Her wolf was no longer restless.
It was calm.
Strong.
Whole.
Kael slowly pushed himself up from the broken stones where he had crashed. Blood ran from a cut across his brow, but the fury in his crimson eyes burned brighter than ever.
"You think this changes anything?" he snarled.
Lyra landed softly on the ground.
The silver aura around her pulsed with every heartbeat.
"It already has."
Kael laughed harshly.
"You barely understand the power you just took!"
He stepped forward, his crimson energy flaring again.
"You're still just a girl pretending to be a queen."
Lyra tilted her head slightly.
Then she raised her hand.
The moment she did, the glowing runes across the chamber walls ignited.
A wave of silver energy burst outward.
Kael was thrown backward again, slamming into the stone pillar behind him.
His eyes widened in shock.
"You—"
Lyra lowered her hand slowly.
"I don't need to pretend."
The temple trembled above them.
Far up the staircase, the sounds of battle still echoed faintly. Darius was still fighting the remaining rogues.
Kael wiped blood from his mouth.
"So the Heart obeys you," he said darkly.
"Good."
Lyra frowned.
Kael's smile returned.
"Because that makes things much easier."
Before she could react, Kael's crimson aura exploded outward like a wildfire.
Dark energy flooded the chamber.
His wolf burst out again, larger and more monstrous than before.
But something was wrong.
The crimson power around him wasn't natural.
It twisted through his fur like smoke.
Lyra's wolf growled inside her mind.
He's been feeding on dark magic.
Kael's voice echoed from the massive wolf's mind.
"You're not the only one who found ancient power."
He lunged.
Lyra moved instinctively.
The silver energy around her flared as she dodged the attack with impossible speed.
Kael crashed through the pedestal, shattering the ancient stone.
Lyra raised both hands.
The chamber responded immediately.
Silver chains of light burst from the glowing runes on the walls, shooting toward Kael.
They wrapped around his legs and torso, trying to hold him down.
Kael roared with rage.
The crimson aura burned against the chains.
Cracks began forming in the glowing restraints.
Lyra's eyes narrowed.
"He's stronger than I thought…"
Kael ripped one chain apart with brute force.
"You think a few glowing ropes will stop me?!"
The chamber trembled harder.
Then suddenly—
A powerful roar echoed down the staircase.
Darius.
A second later the massive black wolf burst into the chamber, his fur bristling as he skidded to a stop beside Lyra.
His eyes widened slightly when he saw the silver energy surrounding her.
But there was no time to ask questions.
Kael tore free from the last chain with a violent snap.
"Well," he growled.
"Looks like the Alpha finally arrived."
Darius bared his teeth.
"You picked the wrong pack to mess with."
Kael chuckled darkly.
"Oh please."
His crimson eyes shifted between them.
"This is perfect."
Lyra's silver aura flared brighter.
"You're outnumbered."
Kael's smile widened slowly.
"You still don't understand."
The ground suddenly trembled again.
But this time it wasn't the temple reacting.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the staircase above.
Darius's ears flattened slightly.
"That's… not rogues."
A massive shadow appeared at the top of the stairs.
Then another.
And another.
Dozens of wolves descended into the chamber.
But they weren't ordinary rogues.
Their eyes glowed faintly red.
Their bodies were larger.
Stronger.
Controlled.
Kael's army.
Kael spread his claws proudly.
"Did you really think I came alone?"
Lyra's silver eyes hardened.
Darius stepped closer beside her.
The chamber filled with hostile wolves.
Kael's voice echoed coldly.
"Now… let's see if the new Moonborn queen can survive her first war."
Silver and crimson power clashed in the air as the wolves began to circle.
The true battle had only just begun.