The wind smells of ash.

We ride at dawn, Luan nestled between me and the saddle. He’s too quiet for a six-year-old. Too still. I keep my arms around him, whispering to him whenever I can.

“We’ll find them,” I tell him. “Your brother and sister. We’re close.”

He nods against my chest, but he doesn’t speak.

Jack leads. Lucien watches our trail from behind. The closer we get to Dead Valley, the colder the air feels—even though the sun is rising.

It’s not normal cold. It’s bone-deep, the kind that feels… wrong.

Jack points ahead. “That’s the ridge. Once we cross it, we enter the valley.”

Lucien rides up beside us. “You sure you want to bring the boy?”

“I’m not letting him out of my sight,” I say firmly.

“He’ll slow us down if we have to fight.”

Jack glances back. “We’ll protect him.”

Lucien doesn’t argue further, but I see the tension in his jaw.

We ride in silence for another hour, then reach the edge of the ridge.

I pull my horse to a stop.

Below us, the valley stretches wide and lifeless. Trees stripped bare, earth cracked and dry. The sky itself seems dimmer here.

Lucien mutters, “This place was cursed centuries ago. The land remembers blood.”

Jack adds, “Victor chose it for a reason.”

I look down at Luan. He’s awake now, staring at the valley with wide eyes.

“Is this where they took Lara and Leo?” he asks.

“I think so,” I whisper.

He nods slowly. “Lara told me in her dream. She said there’s a river of bones. And black stars in the sky.”

I shiver.

Jack’s voice is low. “We’ll go on foot from here. Too dangerous to ride.”

We hide the horses in a hollow under the rocks, cover them with branches. Luan holds my hand tightly as we begin our descent.

Every step into the valley feels heavier.

Like something doesn’t want us here.

Hours pass.

We move slow, careful not to make noise. Luan walks close to me, and I keep my knife in one hand, ready.

Lucien stops suddenly and holds up his hand.

“Smoke,” he says.

I sniff the air. He’s right.

We move up a small ridge and crouch behind a fallen tree.

Below us, hidden in a dead grove, is a camp.

Guards. Tents. A large stone structure with old markings.

Jack growls, “A ruin. An old temple. He’s using it.”

Lucien adds, “There. The cages.”

I see them. Four cages. One is empty.

One holds Lara.

Another holds Leo.

The last holds… something else. A figure, covered in a dark cloak. Chained.

Luan gasps. “My brother! My sister!”

I hold him tight. “Quiet, baby. We’ll get them.”

Jack studies the camp. “Too many guards for a direct attack.”

Lucien nods. “We need a distraction.”

“I’ll do it,” I say.

Jack turns fast. “No.”

“They know me. I’m the one Victor wants. I’ll draw their eyes.”

Lucien frowns. “It’s risky.”

“It’s necessary,” I say. “You two get the kids while I pull them away.”

Jack grabs my arm. “I just got you back. I’m not losing you again.”

I look him in the eyes. “Then trust me.”

Lucien speaks quietly. “She’s right. We don’t have time to argue.”

Jack lets go, reluctantly.

I kneel in front of Luan. “I need you to stay here with Lucien, okay?”

He shakes his head. “No. I want to help.”

“You already helped. You led us here. Now I need you to stay safe.”

He hugs me tight. “Come back, Mama.”

I kiss his forehead. “Always.”

I circle around the camp, using the dying trees for cover.

When I’m close enough, I let my presence be known. I snap a branch, loud enough for them to hear.

“Who’s there?” one guard calls.

I step out, hands raised.

“Looking for me?” I shout.

Several guards draw weapons. One runs toward the ruin.

Victor’s voice rises from within.

“Bring her to me.”

Two guards grab me roughly. I don’t fight. Not yet.

They drag me through the camp. I lock eyes with Lara and Leo. They both gasp.

“Mama!” Leo cries.

I nod once. “It’s okay.”

Victor stands at the temple entrance. His face is older than I remember—thinner, harsher. But his eyes burn with the same madness.

“Well, well,” he says. “The runaway mother returns.”

I glare at him. “Let them go.”

He smiles. “Not yet. The moon’s not ready.”

“What do you want?”

He steps closer. “Power. Balance. The old world fell because wolves forgot their place. Your children… will fix that.”

“They’re children!”

“They are keys,” he hisses. “The bloodline of the moon. The prophecy speaks of three.”

I spit at his feet. “You twist the Goddess’s words.”

He raises his hand—and slaps me hard across the face.

Pain explodes through my cheek, but I stay standing.

He growls, “You will not stop what’s coming.”

Suddenly, screams rise from the edge of camp.

Jack. Lucien.

Victor turns, shouting orders. “Find them!”

The guards rush toward the trees.

It worked.

The camp is in chaos.

I elbow one of the guards holding me and slash the other with my hidden knife.

They both fall.

I run straight to the cages.

Lara is shaking. “Mama!”

“I’m here, baby.”

I pick the lock fast. It clicks open. I wrap her in my arms.

Then I move to Leo.

He’s crying. “I knew you’d come.”

I free him too.

The cloaked figure in the last cage speaks, voice hoarse. “Help me…”

I hesitate.

He lifts his head.

It’s… a man. Young. Pale skin. Faded blue eyes.

“Who are you?” I ask.

“I’m your brother,” he says weakly. “Twins… separated at birth… Victor kept me.”

My head spins. “What?!”

“I’ll explain later,” he groans. “Please.”

I unlock his cage.

Lucien appears beside me, blood on his blade. “We have to go. Now.”

I grab Lara and Leo’s hands. “Come on!”

We run toward the woods.

Jack joins us, bruised but alive. “More coming. We need to split.”

“I’ll take the kids,” I say.

Jack nods. “We’ll cover you.”

Lucien helps the pale man up. “You’re sure about him?”

“No,” I say. “But I can’t leave him.”

We run.

Hours later, we hide in a small cave under a ridge.

The kids are safe. Sleeping.

The man—my supposed brother—lies near the fire, weak but alive.

Jack stands at the entrance. Lucien cleans his blade.

I stare at the flames.

My thoughts won’t stop.

My children are safe—for now. But Victor isn’t done. He’ll chase us. He’ll never stop until he has what he wants.

Jack sits beside me.

“I meant what I said before,” he says. “I’m not letting you face this alone.”

“You don’t have to,” I whisper.

Lucien walks over. “The next full moon is in three nights. That’s when Victor will try again.”

I nod. “Then we finish this.”

Jack nods. “Together.”

Lucien looks me in the eyes. “When the moment comes, and you have to choose between the two of us… make sure you choose with your heart.”

I look between them.

Two alphas.

Two bonds.

One past.

One future.

I don’t know what I’ll choose.

But I know one thing for sure—

Victor must fall.