Chapter 17: Blood and Bliss

The howls sliced through the night, a jagged chorus that shattered the fragile calm of the rogue camp, echoing off the cliff and reverberating through the cedars. Elara's pulse spiked, her hand tightening on Kael's as they sprinted from the riverbank, the damp chill of the water still clinging to her jeans, the heat of his kiss lingering on her lips. The camp was a flurry of motion—firelight flickering over the twenty-six rogues scrambling for weapons, their faces taut with grim resolve, the barricades of logs and rocks casting jagged shadows as the enemy closed in.Kael's claws sprouted, his golden eyes blazing as he pulled her toward the center, his voice a growl over the rising chaos. "Stay with me," he said, his arm banding around her waist, his body a shield as the first wolves burst through the eastern ridge—gray and silver, their fur glinting in the moonlight, their snarls a wall of sound that shook the earth."Darius," Elara breathed, spotting the silver alpha at the forefront, his ice-blue eyes locked on her, his massive form dwarfing the pack—twenty strong, maybe more, their claws tearing through the underbrush. Sylva flanked him, her silver fur shimmering, her blue eyes glinting with cold intent, the Silver Claws weaving through the ranks like specters."Hold the line!" Lira shouted, her spear raised, her auburn braid whipping as she charged the front, Gav and Ryn at her sides—hatchet flashing, arrows flying. The rogues met the onslaught, steel clashing against claws, blood spraying as a wolf fell to Ryn's bow, another to Gav's blade, but the enemy pressed harder, relentless, their numbers overwhelming.Kael roared, shifting mid-step, his black-furred form a whirlwind as he leapt into the fray, claws slashing a gray wolf's flank, sending it sprawling. Elara clutched the Lunar Covenant, her blood pulsing silver under her sleeve, and sliced her arm with her knife, the glow flaring bright—a beacon in the dark. She smeared it on the ground, willing it to push, and a wave rippled out, knocking three wolves back, their yelps piercing the night."Good," Kael growled, shifting back, blood streaming from a fresh cut on his chest as he grabbed her hand, the bond surging—a conduit of heat and power. "Together—now."She nodded, slicing again, her blood glowing hotter, and focused on him—his strength, his rage, the bond—and the silver flame leapt, wreathing his claws in light. He slashed, the fire cutting a swath through the pack, two wolves falling, their fur singed, their howls silenced. The rogues rallied, Lira's spear impaling a silver wolf, Gav's hatchet cleaving another, but Darius charged, his silver form a battering ram, slamming Kael into a barricade, wood splintering under the impact."Kael!" Elara screamed, her voice breaking, the bond flaring with his pain. She ran to him, knife raised, but Sylva intercepted, her claws raking Elara's thigh, tearing through denim and flesh. Pain seared, blood welled—silver, radiant—and Elara swung, the glow erupting, throwing Sylva back, her yelp echoing as she hit a tree.Kael surged up, tackling Darius, their snarls a thunderstorm, claws and teeth tearing at each other. Elara staggered, her leg throbbing, and smeared her blood again, the flame leaping to Kael's claws, amplifying his strikes—Darius roared, blood streaming from his side, but he twisted, hurling Kael into the fire pit, embers exploding around him."No!" Elara shouted, rage and fear igniting her, the bond a wildfire in her chest. She sliced deeper, blood pooling, glowing blindingly, and thrust her hand out, the silver flame surging—not just to Kael, but outward, a wave of light and heat that swept the camp, knocking wolves flat, singeing fur, shattering their formation. Darius stumbled, Sylva retreated, and the rogues pressed forward—Ryn's arrows finding throats, Gav's hatchet sinking into skulls, Lira's spear piercing hearts.Kael rose from the ashes, black fur smoldering, and charged Darius, claws wreathed in silver fire, slashing his chest, his throat—a lethal dance that ended with the silver alpha collapsing, blood pooling beneath him, his ice-blue eyes dimming. Sylva howled, a sound of fury and loss, and fled, the remaining wolves—eight, maybe ten—scattering into the trees, their retreat a ragged echo of defeat.The camp fell silent, the fire crackling, the ground littered with bodies—rogues and wolves alike, the cost of victory steep. Elara limped to Kael, her leg screaming, her blood dripping silver, and he shifted back, catching her as she stumbled, his arms wrapping around her, his chest heaving, blood and ash streaking his skin. "You're hurt," he rasped, hands roaming her face, her thigh, checking her wounds, his golden eyes wild with fear and relief."So are you," she whispered, clinging to him, her hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat—strong, alive. "We did it.""Yeah," he murmured, pulling her close, his lips crashing into hers—a fierce, desperate kiss that tasted of blood and smoke, a claim forged in battle. She melted into him, the bond pulsing, a lifeline in the wreckage, and he held her tighter, his breath ragged against her mouth.Lira approached, her spear dripping red, her face smeared with dirt and blood. "He's down—not dead, but damn close. Lost ten of ours—sixteen left. They're gone, for now.""For now," Kael echoed, his arm around Elara, steadying her as she retrieved the Lunar Covenant, its pages stained but intact. "We rest, then plan. He'll come back."The rogues dispersed—tending wounds, dragging bodies, rebuilding what they could—and Kael led Elara to the river, away from the chaos, the water a silver mirror under the moon. He sank onto a flat stone, pulling her onto his lap, her legs straddling his hips, the intimacy bold but necessary, a balm against the night's brutality."You're shaking," he murmured, his hands sliding under her torn shirt, warm against her skin, tracing her spine with a tenderness that belied the blood crusting his knuckles."Adrenaline," she said, but her voice broke, the heat of him stirring her, the bond flaring—a wildfire rekindled. "And you.""Good," he growled, kissing her neck, his lips soft, then sharp, nipping her pulse, drawing a moan from her, raw and unbidden. "Need you, Elara. Now.""Here?" she panted, her hands roaming his chest, fingers brushing the fresh cuts, the bandages torn away, her thigh throbbing but forgotten in the heat of him."Here," he confirmed, his voice thick, his hands deft as he unzipped her jeans, tugging them down with her underwear, the cold air hitting her bare skin, chased by his warmth as he freed himself—hard, urgent, a testament to the need burning between them.She nodded, breathless, lifting herself, guiding him, and sank down, a slow, searing stretch that filled her, drew a groan from them both. "Kael," she gasped, her hands gripping his shoulders, nails digging into his scars as she rocked, the bond surging—a supernova of heat and light, binding them tighter."Mine," he growled, his hands on her hips, guiding her, his thrusts deep, steady, a rhythm born of relief and desperation. The river lapped beside them, the camp's murmurs distant, the world narrowing to his body, his breath, the slap of skin on skin as they moved—raw, primal, a reclaiming after the battle's toll.Her climax built fast, a coil tightening, and he shifted, angling deeper, his hand slipping between them, fingers circling her clit—rough, perfect. "Come for me," he rasped, teeth grazing her neck, and she shattered—pleasure exploding, silver-edged, her cry echoing over the water as she clenched around him, pulling him with her. He roared, his release hot and fierce, pulsing inside her, their bodies locked, trembling, one.They stilled, panting, her forehead to his, his hands roaming her back, holding her close. "Love you," he murmured, the words slipping out, raw and unguarded, a confession that stopped her breath."Love you too," she whispered, tears pricking her eyes, the bond glowing—real, unbreakable, a vow sealed in blood and bliss. She kissed him, soft now, reverent, tasting the salt of their mingled sweat, their shared victory.A howl rose, distant but sharp, and Kael tensed, lifting her off, dressing fast, his claws sprouting as he scanned the trees. "They're regrouping," he said, pulling her up, her jeans zipped, her body still humming. "We need to move."She nodded, grabbing the Lunar Covenant, the bond a steady pulse—stronger, fiercer, a weapon forged in love and war. The camp loomed ahead, battered but standing, and they ran back, hand in hand, the fight far from over, but their hearts irrevocably entwined.