Menu I tried to convince him through our mind link that he could still back out of the war. There was time. Alpha Hunter was already as good as deadâmy bites had been enough to seal his fate. The threat to the throne would soon be gone.
If Kane walked away now, I wouldnât have to kill him. I didnât want to. The thought of making my children orphans twisted my heart. But I vowed that as long as I lived, I would never let them go with him.
To my surprise, Kane shut down all the links abruptly, like he was done listening to anyone.
His eyes burned a furious red, a clear declaration of his displeasure at learning the truth.
I stopped my attack, locking eyes with him.
âSelene! Save your brother!â
My motherâs desperate scream pierced through the mind link, followed by the sound of my fatherâs growl as his body hit the ground.
I turned toward Magnus and froze in horror. Alpha Hunter was already sinking another stake into Magnusâs other legâthis time using his jaws. Magnus lay motionless on the ground, his body lifeless, his strength spent.
Even with one of his own legs barely functioning, Alpha Hunter was limping toward Magnus, preparing to sink his teeth into his neck for the kill.
No one was helping Magnus. Only Axel was crawling toward him with what little strength he had left.
I stood frozen, paralyzed by the shock of it all.
Suddenly, I was shoved to the ground. Kane had risen to his feet, shaking off the attack.
I didnât hesitate. I bolted toward Magnus, desperate to reach him before Kane or Hunter. I couldnât let Alpha Hunter kill my brotherânot when so much depended on him. If Magnus died, I would have no choice but to kill Leo to keep control of our pack.
Magnus wasnât far, and I pushed myself harder, faster.
But Kane was faster. Before I could reach them, he leapt onto Alpha Hunter.
The sound of my feet skidding to a stop echoed harshly in the chaos. I stood frozen as I watched Kane clamp his jaws around Alpha Hunter.
Kane was relentless. He tore into Hunter with a fury Iâd never seen before, breaking his remaining legs one by one.
He wasnât just an Alpha. At that moment, Kane looked like an untamed beast, completely consumed by rage. Every ounce of his anger was unleashed on Hunter, who was now begging for mercy.
But Kane didnât stop. He didnât even pause.
With one final, savage bite, Kane ripped Hunterâs throat out.
The severed head of Alpha Hunter rolled to a stop at my feet.
I stared down at it, horrified. His gray wolfâs lifeless eyes were wet with tears, and his tongue hung limply from his mouth as the light left him.
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Menu My heart trembled as I turned to Kane, only to see his gaze now fixed on Magnus.
âIs he... is he thinking of killing him?â I muttered to myself, forgetting that the mind link was still wide open.
âHâHe didnât come here to attack our pack,â Axelâs voice echoed in my head, weak but clear. âHe came here to help usâjust like he promised in the deal. We chose the wrong Alpha.â
Axelâs words hit me like a blow. My eyes widened in disbelief.
I turned my gaze back to Kane, tears welling up as I stared at him.
How many wounds had I inflicted on him? How much had he endured because of me?
Had I misunderstood him all along? Had he truly come to save us?
But this wasnât over. It was far from it.
Everything changed in that moment.
Magnus had been defeatedânot by Kane, but by his own failing health. He hadnât been able to protect his pack or his fighters.
And by killing Alpha Hunter, Kane hadnât just won the war. He had claimed more than the Iron Crown Pack. He now ruled Alpha Hunterâs pack as well.
Kane threw his head back and let out a thunderous howl that pierced the night sky.
One by one, howls erupted across the forest, echoing in unison. It was the sound of a shift in power, a new era beginning.
I stumbled back, collapsing to my knees as the weight of it all crushed me. I had lost.
In the pack link, the chant began.
âALL HAIL THE NEW ALPHA OF THE IRON CROWN PACK, ALPHA KANE.â
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