Zara was gone.

Not dead. Not yet.

But scattered.

Ronan pulled himself up beside me, wincing. “You good?”

“No.”

He chuckled. “Same.”

We stumbled out together.

Not whole.

But no longer broken.

Then I heard it.

A groan.

A familiar voice.

Ronan.

I broke down the door with a wave of my hand. Wood shattered. Guards went flying.

He was chained, shirtless, blood dripping down his arms—but alive.

I dropped beside him. “You’re okay?”

He smiled faintly. “Took you long enough.”

I grabbed the chains. My sigils pulsed, heating the metal, melting it in seconds.

He collapsed into me. “She’s coming.”

“I know.”

And then the door slammed shut.

Zara.

She stepped through the smoke like a queen of nightmares.

“Lyra. You’re glowing again.”

“I get that a lot lately.”

Her eyes gleamed. “You shouldn’t have come.”

“You took something that belongs to me.”

“You belong to me, child. You just don’t know it yet.”

Her power exploded out—black tendrils of corrupted magic, snaking toward me.

I raised my arms, and the moon answered.

Silver met shadow.

Light met darkness.

The room shook.

Zara screamed.

And I let go.

Zara looked in shock as she soon turned it into a smirk

“I'm glad I never underestimated you…you are more powerful than I even thought”

My eyes still shone as I knew I wasn't in control of what was going on anymore, but I knew that whatever it was….. it was very angry.

Everything it's been holding back—every wound, every rejection, every ounce of fury and pain—I unleashed it.

Moonlight roared through the chamber, tearing her magic to shreds. The sigils on my skin flared with fire, and for a moment, I was the prophecy.

Power.

Judgment.

Rebirth.

I don’t remember how long the blast lasted.

When the light faded, the stronghold was in ruins.

Zara was gone.

Not dead. Not yet.

But scattered.

I felt like I was burning from inside out as I immediately fell on my feet while the world around me spinned

The room was dark and cold and I was too weak to think, but I knew I shouldn't be on the ground

Standing up I saw Ronan facing the closed window, not moving just tapping his hands on the pane, he looked like he was deep in thought.

Due to the curse that was placed on his bloodline, he has lived for ages trying to break it, which means he got stronger. He had fought for kingdoms and come out victorious, so victorious that no one believed he was real, talk less of alive

But Zara…..she was different too

It was like she was more than she let on, she was like something forbidden.

He always had this thought at the back of his mind, but he never has the chance to confirm it. That was why he allowed her dominate him and hold him captive, he wanted to see just how powerful her powers were….and he wasn't wrong.

But Lyra…she was in her own league

She didn't have any control of her powers, she was dangerous, not just to him and every wolf…but to herself. She needed more training, or there is no use for this war.

“Alpha Ronan…..”

Lyra whispered as her body still trembled by the reckless amount of force she let out. She was still very much dizzy and extremely confused…she had seen her master fight so why did he let himself get captured by Zara

“Get some rest, your training continues tomorrow”

“The war…”

My voice sounded behind him as he stopped for like a milli second

“I'll handle it…get some rest”

Just like that he walked off, aloof and cold as always, but this time his eyes were sharper, and something told me that it was about to get too serious

Standing there for God knows how long I was shaken awake by Caelin

“Lyra…”

She whispered before she ran up to me, not hugging me though, but using her eyes she accessed my body

“I've been looking for you everywhere, Alpha Ronan asked for you back in your chambers for rest”

Rest…..she have heard that word so much today that it was beginning to sound like house arrest

Holding my arms she led me through a quiet part back into my chambers….

Guiding me to my room, she unlocked it as we stood facing each other

“Are you okay….?”

She asked as she helped me take off my armor

But I still stood there, just silent. I wasn't sure what was the answer to that question

“Today has shocked you so much Lyra”

She said like she was pitying me….I didn't need pity

“That's why Alpha Ronan has insisted you get rest”

My eyes met hers for the first time as she gave a warm smile, trying to reduce the tension

“You'll be fine”

She said as she looked down humming, she was trying to distract herself

“All finished”

She said smiling, as she nodded

“You'll be fine”

She said as she started to walk out, then she stopped, but her back was still facing me

“Lyra…..Alpha Ronan doesn't like when anyone goes against his words….Good night”

She said…more like warned before she shut the door, leaving me in the dark cold room. Only leaving me with the words

…You'll be fine.

The air was cold as the night was silent. A figure was facing the moon with a cup of wine at hand as the person made no movements

“Is she in bed Caelin?”

He asked, no emotions in his voice….he never had them.

“She is resting Alpha”

She said as she stopped in her tracks, standing a few meters away from him.

Time passed and the air became colder by the second, then I heard a hum, indicating that I had passed my message rightfully.

“I'll leave now”

She said as she turned her back to leave

“What do you think she is?”

Surprisingly he continued the conversation, stopping her once again in her tracks.

“May I speak freely, Alpha?”

She asked as she held her heart in anticipation. This was the first time she had been in front of the alpha for this long, she didn't want to make any mistakes, or say a wrong word

Ronan turned his back facing her, his silver eyes piercing her skin, giving her a nod of approval she took a deep breath.

“She is destruction.”