"Get away from her!" Kael roared, bursting back into the healing room before Elara could answer Riven.
In a flash, Kael rushed forward, grabbing Riven by the throat and slamming him against the wall. Bottles and jars crashed to the floor, spilling herbs and drugs everywhere.
"Stop it!" Elara screamed, trying to pull Kael away. "You're going to kill him!"
"That's the idea," Kael growled, his eyes glowing with rage.
Despite his injury, Riven fought back furiously. He twisted free of Kael's grip and landed a powerful punch to Kael's chin.
The two Alphas circled each other, both partly shifting—claws extending, teeth sharpening, eyes glowing with supernatural light.
"She doesn't belong to you," Riven growled. "She never did."
"She's been under my protection for seventeen years," Kael replied. "Where were you all that time?"
"Searching for her! After you stole her away!"
They crashed together again, their strength shaking the whole room. Tables overturned. Glass broke. Blood spattered across the floor—both of theirs now.
Elara backed into a corner, scared by their violence. She had never seen Kael lose control like this. Over her. Because of her.
"ENOUGH!" she finally yelled, something powerful rising inside her.
To her surprise, both men froze mid-fight. Her voice seemed to hold them in place, as if she'd cast a spell.
"This is not helping Luna Lyra," she said, her voice shaky but strong. "And it's not helping me."
Slowly, the two Alphas separated, breathing hard, eyes still locked in hate.
"Your fiancée has been kidnapped," Elara reminded Kael. "Shouldn't you be leading the rescue instead of fighting here?"
Kael wiped blood from his mouth. "I came back for you. The North Pack struck because of you. They know what you are."
"And what am I?" Elara asked, tired of half-truths.
"You're mine," Kael said simply. "My job. My—"
"She is her own person," Riven cut in. "With her own fate. One you've tried to hide from her."
Elara stepped between them before another fight could break out. "I'm not picking either of you right now. Luna Lyra needs help, and the pack needs its Alpha." She looked sharply at Kael. "Go do your job."
Kael seemed surprised by her boldness, but nodded. "Fine. But you're coming with me where I can protect you."
"No," Elara said strongly. "I'm staying here to help the wounded when they return." She looked at Riven. "Both of you should go."
Riven shook his head. "I'm not leaving you alone."
"She won't be alone," came a new voice from the doorway. Zane stood there, a fresh cut on his face from the border fight. "I'll stay with her."
Kael looked between Zane and Elara, clearly unhappy but out of choices. "Fine. But if anything happens to her—"
"Nothing will," Zane promised.
With a final warning glare at Riven, Kael turned to leave. "This isn't over," he said. "When I return, we'll settle this once and for all."
Riven straightened, wiping blood from his own cuts. "I look forward to it."
When Kael was gone, Riven moved closer to Elara. "You should rethink my offer. This might be our only chance."
"I'm not going anywhere," Elara said. "Not until I know everyone is safe."
Riven's face softened. "You have your mother's heart. Always thinking of others before yourself." He reached out, touching her cheek gently. "But sometimes you need to save yourself first."
That warm feeling flooded through her again at his touch. It felt so different from the electric spark she felt with Kael, but just as strong.
"We will meet again," Riven promised softly. "When the time is right." His eyes flickered to Zane, who was watching them closely. "Keep her safe, brother. Her life is worth more than you know."
With that, Riven slipped out of the room, leaving Elara confused and torn.
"You okay?" Zane asked, coming to her side.
"No," Elara admitted. "Nothing makes sense anymore. I don't know who to trust."
Zane helped her clean up the mess from the fight. "Trust yourself," he said simply. "Your instincts."
"My instincts are all mixed up," she admitted. "When Kael touches me, I feel this... electricity. But with Riven, it's different—warm, like coming home."
Zane gave her a strange look. "Two bonds? That's not possible."
"What do you mean?"
"Wolves only bond with one mate," Zane stated. "It's how our kind works."
"Then why do I feel connected to both of them?"
Before Zane could answer, shouts erupted from outside. The rescue group was returning.
Elara ran to the window. Warriors were carrying injured pack members. In the middle of the group was Kael, and in his arms—Luna Lyra, unconscious and bloody.
"They found her," Elara whispered, shocked by the jealousy that stabbed through her at the sight of Kael carrying another woman so carefully.
Zane grabbed her arm. "Elara, listen to me. There's something you need to know about Luna Lyra. Something important."
"What?"
"She's— "
The door burst open as the first wounded troops were brought in. The room quickly filled with hurt wolves needing help.
Elara pushed her questions away and got to work. This was what she was good at—healing, helping. For the next few hours, she moved from one hurt wolf to another, cleaning cuts, setting broken bones, applying medicines.
When she finally reached Luna Lyra, the woman's eyes were open but unfocused. She had a deep gash across her stomach, and her breathing was weak.
"Help her," Kael ordered, his voice tight with fear. He hadn't left Luna's side since bringing her in.
Elara swallowed her jealousy and started examining the wound. It was bad—worse than anything she'd treated before.
"I don't know if I can," she revealed.
"Use your gift," Kael said softly, so only she could hear. "Like you did with Riven."
Elara's head snapped up. "You saw that?"
"I've always known what you could do," Kael said. "I was waiting for you to discover it yourself."
Hesitantly, Elara put her hands over Luna's wound. She closed her eyes, trying to find that warm energy she'd felt earlier. It was there, but faint—she was tired from healing so many others.
"I can't," she whispered. "I'm not strong enough."
Kael took her hand in his, and that familiar electric feeling rushed between them. "Take my strength," he offered. "Use it."
Elara didn't know if it would work, but she tried. She pictured pulling energy from Kael, through their joined hands, into her body and then into Luna.
To her surprise, it worked. The wound began to close beneath her fingers. Luna's breathing stopped. Color returned to her pale face.
When it was done, Elara sagged with tiredness. Kael caught her before she could fall.
"Thank you," he said, genuine thanks in his eyes.
Luna Lyra's eyes flickered open, focused on Elara. "You," she whispered. "It really is you."
Elara frowned. "You know me?"
A strange smile curved Luna's lips. "Oh yes. I've been looking for you for a very long time." She reached up, touching Elara's face with cold fingers. "The lost princess."
The room seemed to spin around Elara. "What are you talking about?"
Luna's eyes gleamed. "Ask Kael about the prophecy. Ask him what happens when the three families unite."
"Enough," Kael said sharply. "You need rest."
Luna ignored him, her eyes locked on Elara. "He won't tell you everything. None of them will. But I can."
"Tell me what?" Elara asked.
"Why they really want you," Luna whispered. "It's not just your power they need. It's your child."
Elara stepped back, shocked. "My child? I don't have a child."
"Not yet," Luna said, her voice fading as tiredness overtook her. "But you will. And when you do, everything will change."
Kael quickly pulled Elara away. "Don't listen to her. The North Pack did something to her mind."
But Elara could see the truth in his eyes. He was hiding something—something big.
"What prophecy, Kael?" she asked. "What happens when the three bloodlines unite?"
He looked away. "It's just an old tale. It doesn't mean anything."
"Then why does everyone want me? Why did you take me as a baby? Why is Riven looking for me now?"
Kael sighed heavily. "Because some people believe the tale. They think you're the key to ultimate power."
"And what do you believe?"
His golden eyes met hers, full of feelings she couldn't read. "I believe you're in danger. And I would do anything to protect you."
"Even lie to me?" Elara pushed.
"Yes," he admitted. "Even that."
Before she could answer, a howl sounded from outside—a howl that made everyone in the room freeze.
"North Pack," Zane whispered. "A lot of them."
Kael straightened, instantly awake. "They're not fighting. That's a formal challenge." He looked at Elara, his face grim. "Their Alpha is calling me out."
"Don't go," Elara said, suddenly afraid. "It's a trap."
"I have to," Kael answered. "If I refuse, they'll have the right to attack the whole pack."
He leaned down, pressing his face against hers. "Stay here. Stay safe."
As he walked out, Luna Lyra caught Elara's wrist with surprising strength.
"When he falls," she whispered, "and he will fall, remember—only you can save us all."