Page 70 of When Two Worlds Collide

But Ember’s arms around me feel like certainty. Her presence in my mind, fractured but real, whispers of possibilities beyond tradition.

“Take me home,” I murmur against her hair. “Let me heal in your arms tonight.”

She helps me from the circle, past my wounded pack, toward a future neither of us fully understands.

Behind us, the blood moon sets on the old ways.

Ahead, something new struggles to be born.

18

EMBER

Dawn light peeks through the tent walls, painting Zane’s sleeping form in shades of gold and shadow. I’ve been awake for an hour, drafting and redrafting the letter that will sever my ties to Haven’s Heart. My formal resignation. The words that will make official what my heart decided days ago.

Zane shifts, a soft groan escaping as wounds pull tight. The challenge left him battered—face swollen, ribs wrapped, claw marks painting abstract patterns across his chest. Through our incomplete bond, I feel the echo of his pain, dulled but persistent.

“Stop thinking so loud,” he murmurs without opening his eyes.

“Stop being so injured,” I counter, but move closer, careful not to jostle him.

His arm snakes around my waist, pulling me against his less damaged side. “The letter?”

“Finished.” I trace a finger along an unbandaged section of his chest. “Once I send it, there’s no going back.”

“There never was.” He finally opens his eyes—the silvermuted with exhaustion but still piercing. “Not from the moment you stood between cubs and bears.”

“That was instinct.”

“No.” His hand finds my face, thumb brushing my cheekbone. “That was a choice. Every time, you’ve chosen to bridge worlds rather than defend just one.”

Outside, the camp stirs to life. Quieter than before—the absence of Marcus and the exiled wolves leaves gaps in the morning sounds. But there’s something else too. A tentative unity among those who remained.

“I should deliver this myself,” I say, holding up the sealed letter. “Face whatever consequences?—”

“We deliver it.” Zane pushes himself upright, ignoring my protests. “You’re Shadow Wolf now. You don’t face Haven’s Heart alone.”

“You can barely walk.”

“Then I’ll lean on my mate.” He stands, swaying slightly. “Unless you’re ashamed to be seen with?—”

I kiss him to shut him up. When we part, he’s smiling despite split lips.

“Get dressed,” I order. “If we’re doing this, we’re doing it properly.”

An hour later, we approach Haven’s Heart’s boundary with six Shadow Wolf escorts. Zane moves stiffly but with determined dignity. I wear pack leathers marked with my new status—no longer ambassador but not quite traditional pack either. Something new.

Kade waits at the border.

My brother stands alone, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as we approach. I haven’t seen him since before the claiming, before everything changed. His gold-flecked eyes—mirror to mine—take in my appearance, Zane’s proximity, the wolf escorts maintaining respectful distance.

“Sister,” he says simply.

“Kade.” I step forward, letter extended. “My formal resignation from Haven’s Heart diplomatic corps.”

He doesn’t take it immediately. “You’re certain?”

“Yes.”

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