Kira stepped out of the Wolf Council building into the bright early afternoon sun, flanked by her mother, Braxton, Connor, and Gavin. The weight of the morning’s drama still hung in the air like a thick fog, but a quiet sense of triumph warmed her chest.
Claire walked beside her with quiet dignity, though her hand trembled slightly in Kira’s grip. They had done it. They had rattled Rolf to his core.
The car park buzzed with the hum of engines and murmured conversations from departing Alphas and their Lunas. Kira had barely taken three steps toward their waiting vehicles when a familiar figure blocked their path.
Scott stood there, face twisted with fury and disbelief. His eyes locked onto Kira, dark with something that looked like a mix of rage and desperation.
"Why are you doing this, Kira?" he demanded, his voice loud enough to draw stares from nearby drivers. "What exactly do you want? Are you so bitter about what happened between us that you have to destroy my life now?"
Connor and Gavin both moved to block him, stepping forward in agreement for the first time all day.
"Step back," Connor growled.
"It’s fine," Kira said, lifting a hand. "Let him talk. I’ve got this."
Scott’s jaw worked. And Kira watched, almost amused, as the threat in his eyes began to falter, because he could see, plainly, that she wasn’t fazed at all by his threatening aura.
She wasn’t that girl he’d once known, whom everyone despised and who had depended solely on him. Now, she had people who loved her, and a very strong support system.
"Look," he said, his tone softening. "Let’s not do this. You and me, we have history, Kira. Good history. We were something once, remember? I couldn’t reject Chloe."
He tried a smile. "There’s no reason we have to be on opposite sides here. If you drop this whole thing quietly, I could speak to Alpha Rolf about paying you huge compensation. We could come to an arrangement. A generous one. You’d want for nothing."
He spread his hands. "Why fight so hard for a pack when you could just... you’re literally a queen now?"
Kira looked at him for a long moment. She wondered if the boy had ever even loved her. She could see how desperate he was to become Alpha. Now, she understood that it had always been about ruling Moonfang.
"Scott," she said pleasantly. "You really are something else. First you stab me in the back, then you stand here acting like we’re old pals who can just hash things out over tea."
She stepped a little closer. "Newsflash: you and Chloe are not my fucking problem. You’re not my enemy, Scott. I’ve told you that I’m not fighting you, but it seems you enjoy being caught in the cross-fire. But this would be the last time I will allow you to harass me like this."
Scott opened his mouth to speak, but Kira walked straight past him, leaving Scott standing there, dumbfounded, mouth open, with absolutely nothing to say.
He regained himself quickly, though, and called after her. "I won’t let you take that pack from me, Kira. Never!"
Kira didn’t stop or turn.
Kai let out a low whistle as he and Jessica caught up. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
Kira chuckled. "Don’t worry, you have a special place in my heart."
Kai grinned, then glanced at his watch. "Right. I have to swing by Dravengard first, drop something with Derek before Jessica and I head to my pack. We’ll have to leave you lot behind."
Jessica pulled Kira into a quick, fierce hug. "You were brilliant in there," she whispered. "Absolutely brilliant."
"Thank you, Jess."
Kai turned to Connor and Gavin, who were, mercifully, standing several feet apart. "Now, you two. Try not to duel over the steering wheel on the way home, hmm? Carry the Queen with care. Precious cargo."
Connor muttered something under his breath while Gavin rolled his eyes, but both straightened up a fraction. Kai laughed as he and Jessica climbed into their car and drove off.
Kira turned to Braxton once they were alone with Claire. "I think it’s best if we take Mum to Dravengard for now," she said quietly. "I have a bad feeling. Rolf is cornered, humiliated, and desperate. A man like that will make a move, and Mother is the one witness who can bury him. I won’t risk her out here."
Braxton considered it, then nodded. "It sounds great. But is the King aware? Would he agree to it?"
Kira offered a small smile. "I already discussed it with him. He’s on board."
Braxton pulled both women into a tight hug, kissing their foreheads in turn. "Be careful," he murmured to Kira, his voice dropping. "And remember—don’t reveal yourself to him. It’s risky, especially at this time."
Kira pulled back and sighed. "Braxton, why does it even matter anymore? He isn’t going to hurt me. He’s been nothing but supportive. Why keep hiding it?"
"Because we can’t be certain," Braxton said. "And because you were the one who said you wanted a divorce after the child is born. You can’t have it both ways, Kira. If you’re leaving him, then there’s no reason to hand him your greatest secret on the way out."
Kira opened her mouth to argue and found she wasn’t quite so sure of anything anymore.
***
Back at the main mansion in Dravengard, Derek had returned ahead of them. The hearing had gone better than expected, but his mind was already spinning with the next threats.
He headed straight for the gym, stripping off his jacket as he went. Declan hurried after him, concern etched on his face.
"How did the hearing go?" Declan asked, falling into step beside him.
"It went well," Derek replied curtly, not slowing down. "Kira handled it perfectly."
Declan nodded but pressed on. "King Kael of the Eastern Lycan territories called to remind us of the meeting in two days," Declan said, keeping pace. "About the Umbra attacks on the Lycan packs. Derek, it’s spreading. A war is coming, and the Shadow King is sending a message with every strike. We need to be ready."
Derek nodded. "Noted. Handle the preparations and let me be for a while, Declan."
Declan hesitated, but obeyed and left him to it.
Once alone, Derek yanked off his shirt, standing bare-chested in the centre of the room. His muscles rippled as he approached the punching bag.
He began to hammer his fists into the punching bag, his mind churning through different thoughts. The werewolf alliance he had to win. The war bearing down on them. And Kira, whom he needed more than air, to become his again.
Each punch landed harder, his breath growing ragged. The bond rejection was eating away at him, but he refused to let it show.
A violent cough suddenly tore through him. He doubled over, pressing his palm to his mouth. When he pulled it away, blood stained his skin. Derek stared at it, a cold dread settling in his chest.
"Shit," he cursed.
Then Kai’s scent hit the air, and Derek moved fast, digging a handkerchief from his trouser pocket, wiping the blood from his palm and his lips, drawing a steadying breath just as Kai walked in.
Kai’s eyes narrowed at once and he sniffed. "Why do I smell blood?"
"It’s nothing." Derek shoved the handkerchief into his pocket. "What have you got for me?"
Kai held his gaze a beat too long, suspicious, then produced his tablet and handed it over.
"Your romantic rival, Viktor. I dug into him thoroughly as you instructed. There’s nothing there, Derek. The man’s a regular human nerd with a mundane life. Reads a lot. Owns a cat. No red flags."
Derek frowned at the screen, then handed it back. "I still don’t feel comfortable with him around her. There’s something odd about him."
Kai chuckled. "Your instincts might be right, but I’ll need to see the guy myself to judge properly."
***
Later that evening, after Kira finished settling her mother into a comfortable suite, sitting with Nana, and catching up with Jessica’s excited news about her engagement to Kai, she was practically exhausted.
The day had been a whirlwind, but one person’s absence weighed on her. She hadn’t seen Derek at all. Is he avoiding me? she wondered, her heart growing heavy. Did I say or do something wrong?
She wandered the halls until she found Declan. "Have you seen Derek?" she asked.
"In his bedroom, Your Highness," Declan replied with a respectful nod.
Kira thanked him, but frowned as that was the last place she had thought he would be. Derek was hardly in his bedroom by this time. He was always in his study.
Her pulse quickened as she approached his door. She hadn’t been inside since her return. She knocked softly, but there was no answer. Hesitating only a moment, she pushed the door open and peered in.
Her eyes widened at the sight of a beautiful white crib standing in the corner. It looked handcrafted, sturdy and elegant. Did he build this himself? The thought sent a flutter through her. She stepped further inside, drawn by the quiet scene.
She found Derek lying on the couch, bare-chested and fast asleep. His face, usually so stern and guarded, looked relaxed in sleep—almost vulnerable. Kira stood there, entranced, her heart racing. He was breathtaking like this, all hard lines softened by rest.
Then she noticed the shiver run through him.
He’s cold, she thought, and went to the closet, pulling out a blanket. She returned to the couch and bent to cover him.
But the instant her fingers brushed his skin, she froze. He was burning up so badly.