The silence after the memory hung like smoke in the Council Chamber—thick, charged, trembling with the weight of truth. The runes on the walls still pulsed faintly, blue and dying, the echo of Elara’s vial lingering in the air. The fae nobles stood frozen, their masks slipping, their eyes wide. Some looked ashamed. Some looked afraid. But none spoke. Because they had seen it. They had *felt* it. The moment Kaelen signed the Contract—not out of ambition, not out of cruelty—but out of love. For his pack. For his wolves. For the life he was willing to sacrifice his honor to save.
And I—
I was still trembling.
Not from the magic.
From the unbearable weight of being *seen*.
Because that memory—
It hadn’t just exposed Cassian’s lies.
It had shattered my last excuse.
I had come to destroy Kaelen.
And instead—
I had fallen in love with him.
Kaelen didn’t look at me. Didn’t speak. Just stood, solid, unyielding, his hand still gripping mine. The bond pulsed between us—hot, heavy, *alive*—a constant reminder. Mine. Claimed. Bound.
And then—
Cassian moved.
Not with fury.
Not with denial.
With a slow, deliberate smile.
“How… *touching*,” he said, his voice smooth, melodic. “A memory of sacrifice. A tale of noble suffering. And yet—” He turned to the nobles. “—does it change the truth? That the bond between them is unnatural? That it was forged by a cursed blood-oath? That the Alpha, weakened by bond-heat, has been *manipulated* by a half-breed witch with a vendetta?”
My breath caught.
Because he wasn’t attacking the memory.
He was attacking *me*.
“You think love is weakness?” Kaelen growled, stepping forward. “Then you’ve never known it. The bond between Blair and me isn’t cursed. It’s *chosen*. And if you can’t accept that, you’re welcome to leave. But know this—she is mine. And I am hers. And if you come for her, you come for me. And if you come for me—” His voice dropped to a growl. “—you’ll find the Northern Stronghold waiting.”
The nobles exchanged glances. Some looked afraid. Some looked furious. But none stepped forward.
Because they knew.
The game was over.
“We will take this to the full Council,” Cassian said, his voice tight. “This is not the end.”
“It’s not the beginning, either,” Kaelen said. “Now get out.”
They left without another word, their steps echoing in the vast stone hall. The wolves watched them go, silent, watchful, their loyalty a quiet promise in the air. And when the last of them had vanished into the corridor, the tension in the chamber broke like a dam.
The pack roared.
Not in anger.
Not in protest.
In *triumph*.
They surged forward, surrounding us, their voices rising in a chorus of approval, of loyalty, of home. Kaelen didn’t flinch. Didn’t smile. Just stood, solid, unyielding, his hand still gripping mine.
And I—
I stood beside him.
Not as a prisoner.
Not as a challenger.
As his equal.
As his mate.
—
The Fae High Court was alive with energy when we left the chamber, the wolves moving through the halls with a new purpose, their eyes bright, their steps sure. The air hummed with magic, with loyalty, with something deeper—hope.
Kaelen led me through the corridors, his hand warm on the small of my back, his presence a solid weight at my side. The bond pulsed between us, steady, deep, real. The mark on my neck throbbed faintly, a constant reminder. Mine. Claimed. Bound.
But the peace didn’t last.
We’d barely reached the grand staircase when a familiar voice cut through the silence.
“Kaelen.”
My breath caught.
Mira.
She stood at the top of the stairs, dressed in a gown of deep crimson, her hair cascading over one shoulder, her smile sweet. But her eyes—cold as winter—locked onto mine.
And on her neck—
A bite.
Fresh. Deep. Real.
Gasps tore through the courtyard.
Kaelen stopped, his body going rigid. His hand tightened on mine.
“You don’t belong here,” I said, stepping forward, my voice steady.
“Oh, but I do,” Mira said, stepping down the stairs. “Because I have something you need.” She held up a tablet. “This is fae venom. Stronger than wolfbane. Stronger than silver. One drop, and the bond between you shatters. One sip, and the claiming is undone.”
My spine went rigid.
“You think I’d let you poison him?” I said.
“Not him,” Mira said, smiling. “You.”
Kaelen growled, stepping in front of me. “You’re lying. That mark isn’t mine. I’ve never touched you.”
“And yet,” she said, stepping closer, “my scent is on your skin. Your fangs left this mark. You were in my bed just last night.”
“Lies,” Kaelen said. “Glamour. You’ve been trying to steal him since the moment we arrived. You can’t have him, so you forge a bond that doesn’t exist?”
“Prove it’s fake,” Mira said, smiling. “Go ahead. Use your truth magic. But be careful—what if the pack sees something else? What if they see you in his bed? What if they see the bond isn’t just political, but personal?”
My blood turned to ice.
She wasn’t just attacking Kaelen.
She was attacking us.
And she was winning.
“You don’t get to do this,” I said, stepping forward. “You don’t get to poison the truth. You don’t get to twist love into something ugly.”
“And yet,” Mira said, “here we are.”
And then—
She raised the vial.
“One drop,” she said. “And the bond is broken. One sip, and you’re free.”
I didn’t hesitate.
I lunged.
Not for the vial.
For her.
My hand closed around Mira’s wrist, twisting hard. The vial shattered, dark liquid splashing onto the stone, sizzling like acid.
And then—
I slammed her into the ground.
“You don’t get to touch him,” I hissed, my voice low, dangerous. “You don’t get to lie about him. You don’t get to use him.”
Mira gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
And then—
She smiled.
“You’re weak,” she said. “You let love make you weak. And that’s why you’ll lose.”
I didn’t answer.
Just stood, pulling Kaelen with me.
And as we walked away, the pack roaring behind us, the bond humming between us—
I knew.
The real battle wasn’t against Cassian.
It wasn’t against the Council.
It wasn’t even against Mira.
It was against this.
Against the truth.
Against the desire.
Against the love I was trying so hard to deny.
And I wasn’t sure I could win.
Because the worst part?
I didn’t want to.
—
The Northern Stronghold was quiet when we returned, the wolves moving through the halls with a new purpose, their eyes sharp, their steps sure. The air hummed with loyalty, with magic, with something deeper: hope. The bond between Kaelen and me pulsed beneath my skin, steady, deep, real. The mark on my neck throbbed faintly, a constant reminder. Mine. Claimed. Bound.
But the peace didn’t last.
By nightfall, the dreams returned.
Not just mine.
Not just his.
Ours.
—
I stood in the Fae High Court, but it wasn’t the cold, gilded chamber I knew. The marble was cracked, veined with silver like frozen lightning. The chandeliers hung crooked, their crystals shattered. The air smelled of blood and ozone, of something ancient and broken. And in the center—
The Contract.
But it wasn’t parchment anymore.
It was alive.
Not just pulsing. Not just shifting.
Watching.
Its silver veins throbbed, the black ink writhing like serpents beneath the surface. And then—
It spoke.
Not with sound.
With thought.
“You have returned,” it whispered, the voice layered, ancient, hungry. “The challenger and the signatory. The destroyer and the bound.”
I didn’t flinch. “We’re not here to destroy. We’re here to see. To know.”
“To claim,” it corrected. “To fulfill. To break.”
“Then show us,” I said, voice steady. “Show us the truth.”
The Contract pulsed.
And then—
Transfer.
The world blurred.
Reformed.
I stood in a hidden chamber beneath the Court—same stone, same silver veins—but older, colder. And in the center—
My mother.
She was on her knees, blood on her hands, her silver hair matted with sweat. But her eyes—sharp, defiant—locked onto mine.
“You’ve found it,” she said, voice weak but steady.
“Found what?” I asked, stepping forward.
“The truth,” she said. “That the Contract was never meant to enslave. It was meant to protect. To keep your bloodline safe from those who would exploit your magic.”
“Then why did it bind Kaelen?” I asked, my voice breaking. “Why did it force us together?”
She looked at me—really looked at me. “Because love,” she said, “is the only magic strong enough to break a curse.”
And then—
The vision shifted.
Not past.
Not future.
Now.
We stood in the Council Chamber, but it was in ruins. The chandeliers shattered. The marble cracked. And in the center—
Kaelen.
He was on his knees, blood dripping from his mouth, his golden eyes dim. Cassian stood over him, a dagger in hand, the Contract glowing in the air above them. And beside me—
Me.
Another version of me—cold, furious, her eyes black with magic. She raised her hand, a sigil flaring to life, and spoke.
“You signed it,” she said, voice hollow. “You enslaved my mother. You destroyed my bloodline. And now—”
She stepped forward, the dagger in her hand—Kaelen’s dagger, the one with the wolf sigil.
“Now you die.”
And then—
She drove it into his heart.
He gasped. Fell. Blood pooled beneath him.
And the Contract—
It laughed.
A sound like tearing parchment, like breaking chains, like a century of lies finally winning.
I screamed—
And then—
I was back.
The dream shattered.
—
I gasped, my chest heaving, my vision blurred with tears. The furs were tangled around my legs, the fire in the hearth burned low. The room was dark, but I wasn’t alone.
Kaelen was beside me.
Not watching.
Shaking.
His golden eyes were wide, his chest rising and falling fast. His hand gripped mine, tight, desperate. The bond pulsed between us—hot, heavy, alive. The mark on my neck throbbed faintly, a constant reminder. Mine. Claimed. Bound.
“You saw it,” I said, voice trembling.
He didn’t answer.
Just pulled me into his arms, holding me like I was the only thing keeping him alive.
And then—
He whispered, “I’m afraid.”
My breath caught.
Kaelen. The Alpha. The predator. The man who had faced down Cassian, who had shattered chains, who had claimed me in front of his pack.
Afraid.
“Of what?” I asked, my fingers brushing his jaw.
“Of losing you,” he said, voice raw. “Of not being enough. Of failing you. Of becoming what they made me—what the Contract wants me to be. A monster. A tyrant. A killer.”
My chest tightened.
Because I knew that fear.
It lived in me too.
“You’re not a monster,” I said, my voice breaking. “You’re not a tyrant. You’re a man who made an impossible choice. And I—” I cupped his face, my thumbs brushing his cheeks. “—I love you for it.”
He didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away. Just pulled me closer, his forehead pressing to mine. “And I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anything. More than my pack. More than my life. More than my soul.”
My breath caught.
And then—
I kissed him.
Not soft. Not gentle.
Violent.
My hands fisted in his hair, yanking his head down. My mouth crashed onto his, hot, demanding, possessive. A growl rumbled in his chest, vibrating through my bones. The bond between us burned, a pulse of heat, of magic, of something deeper.
And the room—
It went silent.
When I pulled back, my lips were wet with his blood. His eyes glowed gold. His chest rose and falls fast.
“You don’t get to say that,” I said, my voice raw. “You don’t get to love me like I’m worth saving.”
“Why not?” he whispered.
“Because I’m not,” I said. “I signed the Contract. I let them enslave your mother. I let them erase your bloodline. And I—” My voice broke. “—I don’t deserve you.”
She didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away. Just reached up, her fingers brushing the mark on my neck. “You kept this. You kept my bite. You kept the one thing that proves I chose you. Not because of duty. Not because of magic. Because I *wanted* to.”
My breath caught.
“So don’t tell me you don’t deserve me,” she said, her voice fierce. “You *do*. Not because you’re perfect. Not because you’re the Alpha. Because you’re *mine*. And I’m yours. And that’s all that matters.”
I didn’t speak.
Just pulled her into my arms, holding her like I’d never let go.
And as the runes on the walls pulsed, the bond humming between us—
I knew.
The Contract was broken.
But our story?
That was just beginning.
—
The next morning, the stronghold was quiet—too quiet. No wolves in the corridors. No voices in the halls. Just silence, thick and suffocating.
“Where is everyone?” I asked, my hand on the dagger at my belt.
“The Moon Festival,” Kaelen said, his voice low. “They’re still gathered in the courtyard. But something’s wrong.”
And then—
We heard it.
A scream.
High-pitched. Terrified.
From the courtyard.
We ran.
Down the winding stone stairs, through the torch-lit corridors, the bond between us tugging with every step. The scream came again—cut off abruptly. And then—
Laughter.
Smooth. Cold. Familiar.
Cassian.
We burst into the courtyard—and froze.
The bonfires were out. The drums were silent. The pack stood in a tight circle, their heads bowed, their claws retracted, their fangs hidden. And in the center—
Cassian.
He stood beside a stone pedestal, his hand resting on a silver cage. Inside—
Elara.
Her silver hair was matted with blood. Her wrists were bound in silver cuffs that hissed against her skin. But her eyes—sharp, defiant—locked onto mine the moment I stepped forward.
“You came,” she said, voice weak but steady.
“Of course I came,” I said, stepping forward, my fingers tightening on my dagger. “I thought you were safe.”
“I was,” she said. “Until he ambushed me in the infirmary. Knocked out Riven. Took me before anyone could react.”
My blood ran cold.
Riven.
Was he alive?
Cassian smiled. “You should thank me, Blair. I’ve given you a gift.”
“A gift?” I spat. “You kidnapped my mentor. You violated the Stronghold. You—”
“I’ve given you a *choice*,” he said, stepping forward. “One final chance to do the right thing.”
“And what’s that?” Kaelen growled, stepping in front of me, his presence a wall of muscle and fury.
“Break the bond,” Cassian said. “Sever it. Let the Contract rewrite itself. Return to the way things were.”
“Never,” I said.
“Then she dies,” he said, pressing a finger to the cage. The silver flared, and Elara screamed, her body convulsing as the venom burned through her.
“Stop it!” I shouted, lunging forward.
Kaelen grabbed my arm, holding me back. “It’s a trap,” he said, voice low. “He wants you to break the bond. He wants you to destroy us.”
“I don’t care,” I said, my voice breaking. “I won’t let him hurt her.”
Cassian snarled, pressing his hand to the cage again.
Elara screamed.
And I—
I stepped forward.
Not to attack.
Not to beg.
To claim.
I turned to Kaelen, my dark eyes locking onto his golden ones. “I choose you,” I said, voice steady. “Not because of the bond. Not because of magic. Because of love.”
And then—
I kissed him.
Not soft. Not gentle.
Violent.
My hands fisted in his hair, yanking his head down. My mouth crashed onto his, hot, demanding, possessive. A growl rumbled in his chest, vibrating through my bones. The bond between us burned, a pulse of heat, of magic, of something deeper—something primal.
And the courtyard—
It erupted.
The wolves roared—approval, loyalty, truth. The silver cage cracked. The sigils on Cassian’s robes flared—and then splintered.
He screamed.
Not from pain.
From fear.
Because he saw it.
The bond wasn’t just unbroken.
It was stronger.
And then—
Kaelen pulled back, his lips wet with my blood. His eyes glowed gold. His chest rose and falls fast.
“You want a choice?” he said, stepping toward Cassian. “Here’s mine.”
He lunged.
Not for the cage.
For him.
His hand closed around Cassian’s throat, slamming him against the stone pedestal. The cage shattered. Elara collapsed to the ground, the cuffs dissolving into ash.
“You’re done,” Kaelen growled. “No more games. No more lies. The Contract is broken. And if you come near her again—”
“You’ll what?” Cassian choked. “Kill me? You can’t. I’m Council.”
“Then I’ll exile you,” Kaelen said. “And if you ever return, I’ll rip your heart out myself.”
He dropped him.
Cassian stumbled back, his eyes filled with hate.
But he didn’t fight.
Because he knew.
The game was over.
I rushed to Elara, dropping to my knees beside her. “I’ve got you,” I whispered, working at the cuffs. “I’ve got you.”
She winced as the silver burned her wrists. “You didn’t give in,” she said, voice weak. “You chose love.”
“I chose truth,” I said. “And truth is stronger than fear.”
She smiled. “Then it’s working. The Contract—it’s not just broken. It’s *transformed*.”
Kaelen stepped beside me, his hand warm on the small of my back. “We should go,” he said. “Before he brings reinforcements.”
I nodded, helping Elara to her feet. “Where?”
“Home,” he said. “My pack. My den. My life.” He cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. “If you want it.”
I smiled. “I want it.”
And as we walked out of the courtyard, the bond between us stronger than ever—
I knew.
The Contract was broken.
But our bond?
That was just beginning.