Troy stepped forward, eyes burning. “So what now? You want the throne?”

Kalen sheathed his blade slowly. “No. I want the pack to heal.”

He looked toward the bodies in the courtyard.

“This war took everything from both of us. But maybe now… something better can rise.”

Troy nodded slowly, the fire in his chest finally easing.

But far above them, the moon watched with unblinking eyes.

And deeper still, something old stirred beneath the bloodied soil.

The scent of blood still ...