Chapter 145 Kaden's POV
"Elara saw it all the cave, the prisoners the branding. My warriors who I sent to find Kira were being held there being prepared for conversion."
"Then Xavier bringing Elara to the Dark Moon Pack wasn't about protecting her. It was about capturing her getting access to Adrian."
Damian looked at the sleeping baby. "He was after the blessed child all along."
"The lunar pulse is the power Adrian carries. Erebus wants it for something."
"For everything a child blessed by the heavens, carrying the bloodlines of both Silvercrest and Xandros? Adrian is potentially the most powerful wolf to be born in generations. If Erebus could corrupt that power, turn it to darkness-"
"That's not going to happen. I won't let it happen."
"You need to warn the other Alphas and tell them about Xavier. About the Dark Moon Pack's true allegiance."
"I will after Elara wakes up. After I know she's truly stable."
I stood. "I need to check on Kira to make sure she's recovering."
"Go. I will watch Elara and Adrian."
I found Kira in intensive care, hooked up to machines and IVs. She looked so small in the hospital bed. So fragile.
But her eyes were open and she was awake.
"Kaden," She said weakly when I entered.
"Kira." I pulled a chair close to her bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I spent fifteen years being tortured so, about as expected."
She attempted a smile. "The baby. Did Elara...?"
"She gave birth to a healthy boy. Adrian. He's perfect."
"Good, that's good."
We sat in silence for a moment then I had to ask.
"What happened? Fifteen years ago. When you disappeared. I always thought you ran away. That you left because you couldn't handle our life anymore."
Kira's expression grew pained. "I did leave. You were right about that. I snuck out of the house one night, planning to just... escape. I was so tired of being the Alpha's daughter. Tired of the expectations and the pressure. I wanted to be normal to be free."
"I searched for you for months and years."
"I know I heard about the searches but I was far away by then living under a false name in a human city trying to build a new life."
She paused. "I spent two years that way, two years of freedom. Of being just Kira, not Kira the Alpha's daughter. It was the happiest I had ever been."
"What changed?"
"Erebus found me. I don't know how maybe they had been tracking Alpha bloodlines. Maybe someone recognized me but they came for me one night and dragged me away and took me to the Dark Moon Pack."
Her voice broke. "They threw me in that cave started the torture the breaking they wanted to turn me into one of them. To use my Xandros bloodline for their purposes."
"But you resisted for fifteen years, you resisted."
"Barely. There were times I wanted to give in. I wanted to let them break me just so the pain would stop. But I held on to one thought that maybe someday you'd find me and that my brother would come save me."
I took her hand. "I'm sorry it took so long. I'm sorry you suffered for so many years."
"You found me eventually. That's what matters."
She squeezed my hand weakly. "And you saved Elara too. Saved your son. That's more important than what happened to me."
"You are both important, you are my sister. You always mattered."
Before I could say more, my phone rang.
Ethan's name flashed on the screen.
"What is it?" I answered.
"We have a problem. A big one."
Ethan's voice was tense. "The eastern border is under heavy assault with at least fifty fighters, maybe more."
"Erebus?"
"Yes. And Kaden? Xavier is leading them. He's personally commanding the attack force."
My blood turned to ice. "How long until they breach our defenses?"
"Maybe an hour, maybe less. They are well-organized and heavily armed. This isn't a probing attack, this is a full invasion."
"I'm on my way."
I hung up and looked at Kira. "I have to go. Xavier is attacking our pack."
"He is coming for Adrian, isn't he? Coming to finish what he started."
"Yes. But he won't get past me."
I stood. "Rest recover when this is over, we will figure out how to help you heal from everything you've been through."
"Kaden? Be careful. Xavier is more dangerous than you know. He has been studying dark magic for decades. He has powers you can't imagine."
"I don't care what powers he has, he has threatened my family, he tortured my sister. He tried to kidnap my mate and son. He's going to pay for all of it."
I left the intensive care unit and headed for the command center.
This was the final confrontation with Xavier and the Dark Moon Pack.
And I would make sure only one of us walked away alive.