Chapter 17: The Man Inside the Darkness
Kael stood again.
But his eyes were black.
“Kael?”
He smiled.
It wasn’t his smile.
He is gone.
I stepped forward.
“Give him back.”
The Shadow Wolf laughed.
He belongs to me now.
Kael attacked.
I blocked him.
I couldn’t fight him.
Not like this.
“You promised me.”
His claws stopped.
For one second, silver appeared in his eyes.
“Elara…”
I grabbed his hand.
“I’m here.”
The Shadow Wolf screamed through him.
Leave!
“No.”
Kael’s body shook.
His wolf was fighting.
I could feel him.
Inside the darkness.
He was trapped.
But alive.
I closed my eyes.
I entered his mind.
I found myself in a dark forest.
Kael stood there.
Alone.
Chains surrounded him.
The Shadow Wolf towered behind him.
“Get out.”
Kael looked at me.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“I came for you.”
“You can’t win.”
“I don’t need to.”
The Shadow Wolf attacked.
I stood between them.
My silver flames appeared.
The creature recoiled.
“You cannot destroy me.”
I looked at Kael.
“Maybe not.”
Then I took his hand.
“But together…”
Our marks glowed.
“…we can.”
The darkness shattered.
Kael’s wolf roared.
The Shadow Wolf was ripped from his body.
Outside, Kael collapsed.
I caught him.
He opened his eyes.
Silver.
His eyes were silver again.
I cried.
He smiled weakly.
“You came.”
“Of course.”
He touched my cheek.
“I knew you would.”
Then he kissed me.
Not because of the bond.
Because he chose me.
And this time…
I chose him.
