Chapter 9 The First Shift

The rogue wolves burst through the trees with a fury born of desperation-snarling, foaming, half-mad from the darkness they'd chosen to serve.

Kael met the first one mid-leap.

He shifted midair, claws extending, body twisting like a shadow with teeth. The impact cracked bone. Blood spattered across the leaves.

Ember didn't flinch.

She couldn't.

Her pulse pounded in her ears, and the world blurred with light and heat. Her fingers curled into claws. Her breathing turned ragged. Her wolf scratched against her skin, hungry, howling.

Let me out.

A rogue lunged for her.

Kael was too far.

Ember didn't run.

She screamed-not from fear, but from fury-and her body snapped.

Bones broke. Reformed. Skin rippled into fur. Pain exploded like fire-but beneath it was freedom.

When the shift ended, Ember stood on four legs, larger than she'd ever imagined. Her fur shimmered deep auburn with streaks of ash-gray. Her eyes-bright molten gold-glowed with vengeance.

The rogue faltered. Too late.

Ember lunged, her jaws closing around the wolf's neck. She didn't stop. Didn't hesitate. The kill was swift, clean, instinctive.

Her wolf had finally risen.

Kael turned just in time to see it-blood on her fur, fire in her eyes. The bond between them roared to life, crackling like a storm inside his soul.

She padded to him slowly, circling, sniffing, brushing her body against his in recognition.

Mate, her wolf growled through the bond.

Kael, still in wolf form, lowered his head and nudged her muzzle. Not as Alpha. As equal. As hers. They stood together over the broken bodies of their enemies.

And far away, in the shadows of the mountain- Caleb watched from behind enchanted eyes, teeth bared in fury.

"She shifted," he snarled to the warlock beside him.

"Yes," the warlock murmured. "And now you'll never control her again."

Caleb's eyes blazed. "Then I'll burn her and the Alpha with her. I made her. I'll unmake her."

But deep in the forest, Kael and Ember stood shoulder to shoulder, their bond forged in blood and moonlight, their wolves united.

And no force in the wild could unmake that.