The word spread fast.
Too fast.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, every wolf in both territories could feel it—
Tension.
Heavy. Suffocating. Inevitable.
War was coming.
Nyra stood near the edge of the training ground, her arms folded tightly as she stared into the distance.
She could feel it.
Not just the tension between Kael and Ronan…
But something bigger.
Something approaching.
"You're thinking too hard again."
Ronan's voice came from behind her.
Nyra didn't turn.
"You're not taking this seriously enough."
A low chuckle followed.
"I'm taking it very seriously," he said. "I'm just not afraid of it."
Nyra finally glanced over her shoulder.
"You should be."
Ronan's smirk faded slightly.
That caught her attention.
"You felt it too, didn't you?" she asked.
Silence.
Then—
"Yes."
That one word made her chest tighten.
"This isn't just about you anymore," Ronan continued. "Kael didn't come alone. And he won't stop."
Nyra exhaled slowly.
"I know."
Because deep inside—
She could feel Kael.
Not the mate bond.
But something else.
A pull.
Faint.
Unwanted.
But real.
Miles away—
Kael stood at the front of his warriors, his gaze fixed ahead.
The rogue territory lay just beyond the forest.
Waiting.
"Alpha," his Beta stepped closer. "We're ready."
Kael didn't respond immediately.
His mind wasn't on the warriors.
It was on her.
Nyra.
Alive.
Changed.
And standing beside another Alpha.
His jaw tightened.
"Move," he ordered coldly.
The pack surged forward as one.
Back in rogue territory—
Nyra's body tensed suddenly.
"They're here."
Ronan didn't ask how she knew.
He trusted it.
"Good," he said.
Nyra frowned.
"Good?"
Ronan stepped forward, his expression darkening.
"I was getting bored."
Nyra rolled her eyes slightly.
"This isn't a game."
"No," he said quietly. "It's not."
For once—
There was no humor in his voice.
Only something sharp.
Serious.
Dangerous.
The clash came quickly.
Too quickly.
The moment Kael's warriors crossed the boundary—
Ronan's wolves attacked.
The forest erupted into chaos.
Growls. Crashes. The sound of claws tearing through air.
Nyra stood frozen for a second—
Then moved.
Not away.
Forward.
Her instincts pulled her into the center of it all.
Power surged beneath her skin again.
Stronger than before.
Controlled—
But barely.
Kael broke through the chaos like a storm.
His eyes locked onto her instantly.
Relief flickered—
Then anger.
"Nyra!"
Her name cut through the noise.
She turned.
Their gazes met.
Everything else faded for a second.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, stepping closer.
Nyra didn't move.
"I could say the same to you."
Kael stopped a few feet away.
His eyes scanned her quickly—
Checking.
Making sure.
"You're not hurt," he said.
It wasn't a question.
Nyra crossed her arms.
"I'm not the same girl you rejected."
The words landed hard.
Kael's expression tightened.
"I know."
Silence.
Then—
"Come with me," he said.
Nyra let out a small, disbelieving laugh