(Isara’s POV)
When I woke inside the pack infirmary, my head felt like it had been split by a claw. My cheek burned and I tasted iron on my tongue.
I tried to rise, but my limbs felt heavy and weak. Pain covered every part of me.
“You are awake at last.” Xavian’s voice was flat and cold.
I forced my eyes open. He sat near the tall window of the Moonfang Healing Den, watching me like I was nothing.
Memories rushed back. In eight winters of being his Luna, Xavian had never struck me before that night.
“Xavian,” I breathed. “How could you?”
“Beg forgiveness from Brienne.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Kneel and apologize to your sister for harming her.”
“I did not harm her.” I tried to sit up again despite the pain. “She mocked me. She said cruel things.”
“I do not care what words she used.” He stood. “You touched a she wolf who carries an Alpha heir. You could have killed my pup.”
“She threw herself down the steps of the pack house.” Tears slid down my face. “She lies. She always lies.”
“Apologize.”
“No,” I said, my voice firm.
His eyes darkened. “No?”
“I will not beg for a sin I did not commit.”
He watched me for a long moment. Then he smiled and it was colder than winter frost.
“Very well.”
He seized my arm and pulled me up. My legs shook beneath me.
“What are you doing?” I gasped.
He gave no answer. He dragged me from the room and down the stone hall of the Healing Den.
“Xavian, stop. Where are you taking me?”
He kept walking until we reached the sacred ward where the most wounded wolves lay.
My stomach twisted.
“No,” I whispered. “Please, Xavian.”
He ignored me and stopped before Room 27. Sariah’s chamber.
“Xavian, please,” I cried. “Don’t do this.”
He pushed the door open.
Sariah lay pale and still upon the bed of furs, silver threads of moon magic glowing around her. Crystal runes blinked softly beside her, tracking her fading life. Raiden’s warriors had not arrived yet.
A healer turned, shocked. “Alpha, you cannot enter without…”
“Remove the life binding spell,” Xavian ordered, his voice like ice.
The healer stared. “My Alpha?”
“I said remove it.”
“My Alpha, if we break the spell, her spirit will leave within moments.”
“I am aware,” he replied coldly. “Do it now.”
The healer looked at me, then back at him. “I need the High Council’s seal before—”
“I am Xavian Silverhowl, Alpha of this territory,” he said quietly. “My word is law. I fund this Healing Den with my gold and my power. If you refuse me, I will strip you of your rank and banish you from every pack land. Do you understand?”
The healer’s face lost all color. With shaking hands and tears in her eyes, she began to undo the glowing threads of moon magic.
“No!” I lunged forward, but Xavian caught me and held me back.
“Please,” I sobbed. “She is all I have. She raised me. Please.”
The soft hum of magic faded.
The glowing runes dimmed.
“Xavian, please!” I fell to my knees. “Do not do this. I beg you.”
He looked down at me. “Apologize to Brienne.”
“I will apologize,” I screamed. “I will beg for anything. Just spare her.”
“Say it.”
“I am sorry,” I cried, shaking. “I am sorry for pushing Brienne. I am sorry for everything. Please, Xavian. Do not take her from me.”
He studied me in silence.
“Restore the spell,” I shouted. “Please restore it.”
Then a voice echoed from the hall. “Alpha Silverhowl!”
Another healer rushed in. “It is Lady Brienne. She cannot breathe. Her wolf is in distress.”
Xavian released me at once. “Summon every healer and shaman in this den. No harm must touch Brienne or my heir.”
He left without another glance. He even dragged the healer from Sariah’s side with him.
I ran into the hallway.
“Help!” I cried. “Please, someone help us!”
But every healer hurried toward Brienne.
I turned back to the bed, staring at the fading crystals and runes.
“I am sorry,” I whispered to Sariah. “I do not know how to mend the spell.”
I touched the stones and whispered every prayer to the Moon Goddess I knew. Nothing answered me.
The glow around her weakened.
“No, no,” I sobbed. “Please, Mother. Do not leave me.”
The final rune flickered and went dark.
“No!” I threw myself over her body. “Mother. Please.”
But her spirit had already crossed into the Moon Goddess’s embrace.
I do not know how long I lay there, crying over her.
When the healers returned, they tried to pull me away. I would not release her.
Pack guards had to be called.
They dragged me from the room as I screamed and fought like a wild wolf.
In the waiting chamber, Xavian sat beside Brienne. She wept softly while my mother stroked her hair.
When he saw me being carried past, he did not look troubled. He simply turned back to Brienne and held her close.
Sariah was gone. Xavian had ended her life. Just as he had ended the lives of my unborn pups.
With shaking fingers, I took out my communicator and sent a message to Raiden.
[He killed my mother. It is too late.]
His reply came at once.
[What happened?]
I told him everything. There was a long silence before his next words appeared.
[I will make him answer for this, Isara. I swear it on my wolf and my crown.]
If Xavian believed he had broken me, he would soon learn how wrong he was.
