Chapter 6 Return of the Flamebound

The Veil groaned as it parted.

Selena stepped through it like a blade through silk, the air tearing open before her in a swirl of glowing embers. She landed softly on dew-wet grass, the cool air of the human realm clashing with the heat that still radiated from her skin.

Thorne emerged beside her in a whirl of dark smoke and red fire, wings folding into his back as he transformed into his humanoid form.

They stood at the edge of the old forest-on the outskirts of Silverfang Pack territory.

Selena hadn't been here since her banishment.

The memories clawed up like thorns.

Her eighteenth birthday.

Kael's cold eyes.

The ripping of her rank. The laughter. The shame.

And Saria's screams when they were dragged apart.

Selena clenched her fists, the crystal dagger at her hip pulsing in response.

"You don't have to do this alone," Thorne said softly beside her.

She turned to him. "I know. But some things... I want to do myself."

He didn't argue. He simply stepped aside, giving her space.

She inhaled deeply, letting the fire settle in her blood, then started walking.

---

The pack hadn't changed.

Same towering gates. Same cold stone walls. Same scent of wet soil, pine, and wolves.

Selena moved like a shadow between trees, her hood pulled up. But she didn't need to hide-no one recognized her.

Not anymore.

Her hair had grown longer, darker. Her once-battered body now moved with quiet strength. Her eyes glowed faintly with fire in the low light.

She passed two guards at the perimeter. They didn't look twice.

Not until she dropped her hood.

"You-" one stammered, stepping back. "You're-"

"Dead?" she offered, voice cool. "Surprise."

The other lunged for the warning horn, but her hand snapped forward.

A wave of flame licked around him-not burning, but stopping him cold.

"Go ahead," she said. "Sound it. Let the Alpha know the omega he threw away just walked through his front gate."

The guards didn't move.

Selena walked past them.

And toward the central hall.

---

The packhouse doors slammed open as she entered.

Dozens of wolves froze mid-conversation. Warriors. Elders. Apprentices.

The whispers started instantly.

"Is that...?"

"She's supposed to be-"

"No. Can't be. She looks like-"

Selena walked straight down the middle, unbothered.

At the end of the hall, seated high on the Alpha's throne, was Kael.

He stood as she approached, disbelief etched into his face.

"Selena," he breathed. "You're alive."

She stopped a few feet away, head tilting. "And you're still a coward."

Murmurs spread like wildfire.

Kael recovered quickly. "You've returned. I-You've changed."

"You mean I'm no longer weak? Broken? Disposable?"

He tried to smile. "You've come back. That means something."

"It means I want my sister," she said. "Now."

Kael's expression tightened. "She's under discipline. She disobeyed-"

"You shackled a child," Selena growled. "For defending her blood."

"She challenged an Alpha's order-"

"She challenged you, and you couldn't handle it."

The fire surged up her arms, her skin glowing with golden light. Gasps echoed across the room.

Selena's voice cut through the silence. "Let me make this very simple: I didn't come here for forgiveness, or a second chance. I came for Saria. And if I don't walk out of here with her in the next five minutes, I'll bring this entire hall down around you."

Kael took a step forward. "Selena-there's something different about you."

"You mean the power? The fire?" she whispered, flames flickering in her eyes. "It's called evolution. Try it sometime."

Suddenly, a hand clapped from the shadows behind the throne.

Another figure stepped forward.

Dressed in black robes. A hood over their face.

Selena's skin chilled.

"You've grown, Flamebound," the figure rasped. "But you've come too early. You haven't unlocked the final seal."

Kael turned toward the robed figure. "You said she wouldn't come. That we had time-"

"She accelerated."

Selena narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"

The figure laughed softly. "I am the one your kind fears. The Binder of Veils. The one who fed Kael the poison of ambition. And soon, the one who will tear your dragon king apart."

The air shimmered-and then exploded.

Selena was thrown back, flames surging around her as the figure unleashed a pulse of dark magic. Kael stumbled as well, caught in the blast.

Through the smoke, Selena saw her.

Saria.

Chained to the back wall.

Eyes wide. Bleeding. Weak.

Selena roared-and the fire answered.

She exploded forward, blade drawn, flames spiraling down her arm.

But the dark figure caught her midair with a flick of their hand. A wave of pressure slammed her into the stone wall.

"You're not ready," they hissed.

Selena's vision blurred.

But then-

The ceiling shattered.

And Thorne descended like a storm.

Flames tore across the room, his wings unfurled, eyes glowing like twin suns.

He landed between Selena and the enemy.

His voice was low. Deadly.

"You touched what's mine."

The robed figure faltered. "You came alone, Dragon King?"

Thorne smiled coldly. "No."

From the Veil above, a dozen dragon warriors emerged-flames trailing from their weapons, eyes burning with fury.

Chaos erupted.

Selena staggered to her feet, blood running down her temple.

Saria cried out.

Selena lunged, slicing through chains with her dagger. As the last shackle fell, Saria collapsed into her arms.

"I've got you," Selena whispered. "I've got you."

Behind her, Thorne and the dark figure clashed in a torrent of magic and fire, shaking the very walls of the packhouse.

Kael tried to flee-but a dragon guard caught him by the throat.

Selena turned, lifting her sister in her arms.

And walked through the flames-past the pack that had scorned her, past the ruins of a throne built on cruelty.

As she reached the forest again, the first crack of lightning split the sky.

The world had changed.

The omega was gone.

The Queen of Flame had returned.