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Dremon’s POV

“…We had to learn about their movements from the inside,” Leti was saying. “It wasn’t enough to be on the outside looking in and waiting for the right time. We had to know how they played. Their strengths and weaknesses.”

I waited in silence at the end of the room, with my arms crossed over my chest as I watched her bend down next to the girl. By Crystal.

Leti said softly but confidently, “Their Alpha has made too many friends. Their borders are tight, and their warriors ruthless in battle. We were not going to declare war without knowing who we’re at war with.”

Crystal gave her an unfazed look, said nothing. Her eyebrow was furrowed, but it looked like her energy had seeped out with the blood.

“So we slipped our people into them—in disguises as servants, guards, and traders,” Leti said. “Leo… Leo took the biggest risk.”

Leo. My beta and brother in all but blood.

Crystal had seen him that day. While Leti narrated everything, my eyes continually reverted to her white face. The dried, streaked blood on her temple. And the injury around her shoulder. The quiver in her fingers as she sat there, pretending that she wasn’t hurting.

I clenched my jaw as my fingers began itching again with the same fury I felt when I found her body—when they did to her what they did to her. I hadn’t planned to save her. I hadn’t planned to care. But I did. And it started with Leo’s voice.

“Your Majesty,” he had gasped, with his eyes open wide and blood on the sleeves of his tunic. “I—I barely made it out.”

We were waiting for him at the ledge of Moon Crest Valley—the spot we’d all agreed upon weeks ago.

“What happened?” I demanded, stepping forward immediately.

Leo went down on one knee and held his chest. “The wolves found something… someone must have told them. I barely escaped. I had to kill a guard to get out.”

Leti gasped and I saw her hand fly to her mouth. “Leo… are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” he rasped. “But the girl—Crystal. She saw me.” Leti and I locked eyes immediately.

“She didn’t sound the alarm,” he added. “I believe she was under the impression I’m a normal guard.”

Leti breathed out. “Then maybe she—”

“She’s not safe,” Leo interrupted. “Her sister came moments later and the whole place went mad. There were whispers and then a lockdown. Then I learned they’d accused her of something. Treason. And that she was about to be executed. Tonight.”

Leti had sprang to her feet so fast. “Dremon—please! You have to save her. You can’t let them kill her!”

“She’s their own, Leti,” I said coldly, seeing her eyes gleam.

“But she protected him,” she shot back. “You saw it. Without her drawing the guards’ attention, Leo would never have escaped. Please, brother…”

I glanced at Leo, who gave me a ponderous nod. “She didn’t say anything. Didn’t scream. She just… let me go.”

We sat in silence for a long time. While Leti moved near me and rested her hand upon my chest, her voice quaking.

“I saw it,” she whispered. “She’s the one. The one I dreamed about. The one that will change everything for you. Please, Dremon…” I said nothing. But my wolf was stirring uneasily inside me. We did not waste time that night. We hurried under the cover of shadows in woods just beyond Silver Stone's borders. But we were already too late. We watched the guards from behind their trees where we saw everything. The torches, and the cliff.

I smelt the wolfsbane and knew it was coming.

I didn’t wait.

But before Leti or Leo could react, I released the shift. The bones in my joints snapped and my muscles were ripped, and I saw through them into those eyes.

I ran faster than I ever had. The trees smeared around me, the smell of blood reaching me before I reached their end.

And then—

My wolf let out a guttural, savage roar. I suddenly felt pain and anger all together, and then, the next thing I knew, I blacked out the second it happened. My mind shut off and my wolf took over completely. I could sense his rage coursing through my own veins. When we reached the cliff, the guards were gone and she wasn’t there.

But somewhere off in the distance, I picked up her scent of blood.

And then—there she was lying barely conscious and drenched. Her breathing was shallow, her pulse weak and her body broken.

But she was alive.

My wolf acted first, before I was able to think. He’d swept her into his arms—my arms—and held her hard while growling possessively.

And that was all I could recall before blacking out again.

When I finally came to my senses… We were already in the confines of Emerald's Claw. And Crystal was in the healer’s chamber, bleeding on my floor.

I didn’t say a word. I just stood there. Watching her.

Leti remained at her side, not moving an inch. While Leo hovered next to the door, standing in wait for orders I hadn’t yet issued.

My wolf.

Why did he react that way?

Why did he let out a roar as though something had been torn from him?

Why did he completely control my body?

I tried calling him out. Inside me. I attempted to seek answers. But he was silent.

Dormant.

Like he had fallen asleep and I was locked out. And that terrified me more than anything.

Because if he had really gone quiet … that meant something had changed. Something I hadn’t prepared for. And I hated surprises. I hated not being in control. If my other half had sensed her then she was… My mate.

No.

I needed answers and I would get answers. But at this moment, I did nothing but wait. This time I cleared my throat very distinctly, without even making an effort to be subtle about it. Leti turned first, and then Crystal turned as well. I looked into the eyes for a moment. She looked… small. Not weak—just worn out. In a way that made it sound like someone who’d kept far too much inside for far too long.

Leti raised a brow. “You okay?” I brushed her aside and stepped forward.

“Crystal,” I said, my tone calmer than before. “What’s your plan?” She blinked. “My… plan?” I nodded once, waiting.

She had a puzzled look on her face for the first few seconds of my silence, then glanced quickly at her lap as she clutched the blanket draped across her legs.

“I…” Her voice faltered. “I didn’t think I needed a plan,” I said nothing, just stared.

Her cheeks flushed. “I didn’t mean to overstay. I’m gonna leave when I’m all better.”

That wasn’t what I meant. But the tone with which she said it silenced me. Leti glared at me as if I’d just kicked a kitten. “That’s not what he meant, Crystal.”

Crystal looked up at her, and Leti changed the tone of her voice to something softer.

“He’s wondering what you’d like to do next. Not because he wants you to leave, but just … well, we need to know where your head is at. What do you want for yourself?”

Crystal’s lips parted slightly but she didn’t say anything immediately. Instead, she studied me for a moment longer, trying to decide whether I even cared. But I didn’t say a word.

After a beat, she whispered, “I don’t know.”

Leti leaned forward and brushed her arm. “That’s okay.”

I took a breath and moved in. “You’ve been through hell. Your own sister betrayed you. Left you for dead by your Alpha. They tried to erase you.” She swallowed hard and her throat worked.

“But you’re here now,” I said. “So now you have a choice.” She glanced up at me again, wide-eyed and uncertain.

“You can just pretend none of it happened. Go back into the shadows and stay away from all this,” I suggested, staring at her closely.

“Or,” I said, in a lower voice still, “you can take revenge on all of those who used and broke your heart.” I paused as my gaze locked with hers.

“Choose, Crystal,” I said quietly.