Chapter 15

The Midnight Crown fortress was quiet, the usual hum of activity winding down as the pack retreated for the night. Kaelen stood on the upper balcony of the main hall, the cool night breeze brushing against his face as he gazed out over the sprawling Highlands. The moon hung low on the horizon, its light casting long shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly across the land.

It was a night like this that always brought her back.

Kaelen's hand instinctively went to the silver ring he wore on a chain around his neck, his fingers brushing against the cool metal. The memories came unbidden, vivid and unrelenting, like ghosts refusing to be forgotten.

It had been a lifetime ago, or so it felt. The war had raged for months, consuming everything in its path as rogue packs united under a ruthless leader intent on carving out their own kingdom. Kaelen, then a younger Alpha, had been thrust into the role of a warrior-king, leading his wolves into battles that felt endless. But through it all, there had been a light—a reason to keep fighting, to keep pushing forward.

Elena.

She had been his mate, his equal in every way. Where Kaelen was stoic and calculating, Elena was fiery and unyielding, a force of nature who challenged him in ways no one else dared. They had been bonded not just by the sacred connection of mates but by a shared vision of a better future for their kind.

Kaelen could still see her as clearly as if she were standing before him—her auburn hair catching the sunlight as she laughed, her amber eyes alight with mischief and determination. She had been fearless, throwing herself into the fight with a fervor that left even the fiercest warriors in awe. And Kaelen had loved her for it, had drawn strength from her unwavering belief in him and in their shared cause.

But war cared little for love.

The memory of that fateful night burned behind his closed eyes, a scar that would never fully heal. The rogue packs had launched a surprise attack, their forces descending on the Midnight Crown's southern border with a ferocity that left the defenders scrambling. Kaelen had led the charge, his blade cutting through the chaos as he fought to hold the line.

Elena had been at his side, her silver blade a blur of motion as she moved with the grace of a predator. They had fought as one, their bond strengthening their every strike. But in the chaos, Kaelen had lost sight of her—just for a moment. A single, heart-stopping moment.

When he found her again, she was surrounded, her back pressed against a jagged rock as the rogues closed in. Kaelen had called out to her, his voice cutting through the din of battle, but it was too late. He saw the flash of claws, the spray of blood, and the way her body crumpled to the ground.

Kaelen's roar of anguish had echoed across the battlefield as he tore through the rogues with a fury born of grief. By the time he reached her, the battle was over, but the cost had been unimaginable. He had cradled her in his arms, his bloodied hands trembling as he whispered her name, willing her to open her eyes.

But she didn't.

The bond between them, once so strong and unbreakable, had shattered in that moment. The pain of its loss had been unlike anything Kaelen had ever known—an emptiness that threatened to consume him. He had buried her beneath the sacred oaks in the heart of their territory, a place she had loved for its quiet beauty and connection to the moon.

Kaelen had visited her grave often in the years that followed, seeking solace that never came. Her loss had left a void that no amount of time or success could fill. He had built walls around his heart, determined to focus on his duties as Alpha and King, to protect his pack and ensure their survival. But the wounds she had left behind never truly healed.

Kaelen's fingers tightened around the ring as the memories faded, leaving him alone with the night. He let out a slow breath, his gaze shifting back to the moonlit landscape. He hadn't spoken of Elena in years, hadn't allowed himself to dwell on what might have been. But since meeting Lyra, the memories had begun to stir, unearthing feelings he thought he had buried.

Lyra was nothing like Elena. Where Elena had been fiery and bold, Lyra was cautious and guarded. But there was a strength in her that Kaelen couldn't ignore—a resilience born of pain and survival. And though he didn't want to admit it, a part of him felt drawn to her in ways that both intrigued and terrified him.

He didn't know what the bond between them meant, or if it even had a place in the life he had built. But as he stood there beneath the moonlight, Kaelen couldn't shake the feeling that Lyra was more than just a healer. She was a chance—one he wasn't sure he deserved, but one he couldn't walk away from.

For now, he would focus on protecting her, on helping her find her place within the pack. But deep down, Kaelen knew that the walls he had spent years building were beginning to crack. And the thought of letting someone in again—of risking his heart—was as terrifying as it was inevitable.