Chapter 9
May 15, 2025
The battlefield was chaos.
Howls pierced the night, bodies clashed, and the metallic scent of blood filled the air. Claws slashed through flesh, fangs tore through enemies, and the war cries of wolves echoed through the dense forest.
Ace spun, narrowly dodging the razor-sharp claws of a rogue before driving her dagger into its throat. The beast let out a strangled yelp before collapsing at her feet.
“Behind you!” Kane’s voice boomed through the chaos.
Ace twisted just in time, ducking under a massive rogue’s swing. She plunged another blade into its ribcage and yanked it out just as fast.
Watching Ace take down three rogues with ease made Rowan glad he had spared her. His instincts had been right—she was a weapon. A deadly one.
As they pushed deeper into the battlefield, Rowan’s sharp eyes scanned the fighting wolves, searching. He knew Dante was here. He could feel it.
“Where is he?” Rowan muttered under his breath.
Kane was fending off two rogues at once but still managed to grunt, “He’ll show himself soon enough.”
Ace was slicing through another enemy.
Just then, the wind shifted. The scent of more wolves approaching hit Rowan’s nose like a warning bell.
“More incoming,” he growled.
Kane’s head snapped up. “We need to shift.”
Rowan nodded. Without another word, he let his wolf take over, his bones cracking, muscles stretching, fur sprouting over his body as he transformed. Kane followed, his own shift happening in mere seconds.
But when Rowan’s wolf turned to look at Ace, she was still standing there—unchanged.
What the hell?
“Ace, shift!” Kane barked between growls.
Ace didn’t move. She simply gripped her sword tighter, eyes locked ahead.
Rowan didn’t have time to question her. The next second, something massive slammed into him, sending him skidding across the forest floor.
A large, dark wolf stood over him, its deep golden eyes boring into him.
Rowan’s breath hitched. He knew those eyes.
Dante.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Dante’s lips curled back into a vicious snarl before lunging again, claws sinking into Rowan’s shoulder.
Rowan retaliated, twisting his body and shoving Dante off. The two wolves circled each other, muscles coiled, eyes locked.
“Miss me, little brother?” Dante’s voice growled through the mind-link.
Rowan’s ears flattened, his rage bubbling. “You’re a traitor.”
Dante let out a low chuckle. “Oh, come now. You of all people should have seen this coming.”
Rowan launched forward, swiping at Dante’s throat. But Dante was quicker, dodging with ease.
They clashed again, their bodies rolling through the dirt. Claws scraped against fur, jaws snapped, blood splattered.
Rowan was good. But Dante was better.
He had always been better.
Dante had taught him everything he knew about fighting, about war. But Rowan had never thought he’d have to use those lessons against him.
Dante was relentless, his movements precise, controlled. He dodged every attack Rowan threw at him, countering with brutal efficiency.
Rowan gritted his teeth. He was losing.
Dante slammed him to the ground, pinning him beneath his weight.
“Face it, Rowan. You were never meant to be Alpha,” Dante sneered. “That seat belongs to me.”
Rowan struggled, pushing against Dante’s hold, but his brother pressed harder.
Dante lifted a clawed hand, ready to slash Rowan’s throat and then steel flashed.
Dante stilled.
His golden eyes widened in shock before his body slumped to the side, collapsing next to Rowan.
Rowan gasped, rolling onto his stomach, his lungs burning. He turned his head, his breath catching at the sight before him.
Ace stood over Dante’s fallen body, her sword still buried deep in his back.
Rowan’s chest heaved. His mind spun.
Dante was dead.
Ace had killed him.
His greatest nightmare—his strongest opponent—defeated in mere seconds.
Rowan swallowed hard. He didn’t know whether to feel relieved or horrified.
Ace slowly withdrew her sword, her expression unreadable. Then, she extended her hand toward him.
Rowan hesitated for a split second before gripping her forearm.
The moment their hands touched, a strange, electric jolt shot through him.
That feeling again.
The one he kept ignoring.
The one he didn’t want to acknowledge.
Ace pulled him to his feet. “You alright?”
Rowan stared at her, his chest tightening. “You… killed him.”
Ace didn’t flinch. “He was going to kill you.”
Rowan’s mind raced. How could he be this strong? This fast? No normal wolf—no normal warrior—could move like that. And she hadn’t even changed into her wolf form.
Before he could voice his thoughts, Ace’s expression changed. Her eyes widened, pupils dilating.
“Rowan—”
She shoved him.
Hard.
Rowan stumbled backward just as Ace took his place.
And then a sharp groan escaped Ace’s lips.
Rowan’s breath caught in his throat.
A dagger protruded from Ace’s side, blood spilling down her waist.
Rowan’s heart lurched.
His wolf roared in his head as he shifted back into his human form, his hands reaching for her. Ace swayed as her body finally gave in, and Rowan caught her before she hit the ground. His wolf howled in rage, in frustration, in fear.
