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    The child whimpered in a voice so small it was nearly lost in the heavy air.

    “Daddy…”

    Carmen’s eyes sharpened with murderous light. So this man had beaten Riley’s daughter often enough to earn her fear. That settled it–his death would be slow.

    She stepped toward him, de ready, but before she could strike, a crowd of vigers surged from the shadows and blocked the doorway.

    “Outsider!” one growled, teeth glinting in the torchlight. “You dare spill blood in our vige? You won’t leave alive!”

    “Hold her! Call the Enforcers!” another snarled.

    The man’s spine straightened with new–found courage, emboldened by the pack’s support. He stomped forward, hand outstretched to rip the child from Carmen’s

    arms.

    But Carmen was already moving. One hand cradled the trembling girl to her chest. The other drew the dagger up, poised to tear his throat open.

    Then–sharp, piercing howls split the night. The sound of Council Enforcers closing in. Iron authority threaded through their song, the kind of power that made even seasoned Alphas pause.

    Carmen’s wolf stiffened. Her stomach sank. Escape was no longer an option.

    The pounding of heavy paws and boots followed, and within moments, the Enforcers swept into the vige square. Their presence was overwhelming–ck- d warriors, their eyes gleaming with silver fire, des strapped across their backs. Their voices boomed like thunder.

    “Stand down! Lay down your weapon!”

    The vigers shrank back in awe, some muttering prayers to the Moon. Guns had no ce here–these were wolves who wielded w and steel, enforcers trained to break rogues and execute traitors.

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    Carmen’s grip tightened on the man she had seized. Her dagger pressed against his throat, just enough to draw a line of blood.

    “You move, he dies,” she warned, her voice low, steady, wolf–like.

    The man quivered, his bravado shattering. “I–I won’t move! Please don’t kill me!”

    The Enforcers advanced, their formation unbreakable. “Release him. Submit. You cannot fight us all.”

    Carmen knew they were right. From the moment she killed her first tormentor, she had epted this fate. Tonight, the circle closed. If death came, so be it. Every enemy of Rileyy in the dirt, their blood spilled. She could leave this world without regret.

    Except for one.

    Her gaze dropped to the little girl pressed against her leg. Riley’s daughter clung to her, trembling, sobbing into the folds of her tunic.

    The wolf in Carmen’s chest keened.

    She bent low, her voice softening. “Little one, don’t be afraid. No one will ever hurt you again.”

    The girl’s face was wet with tears, her eyes red from crying. Her tiny hands clutched desperately at Carmen’s thigh.

    “Auntie, are they bad wolves?” she asked, pointing at the advancing Enforcers.

    The words pierced Carmen’s heart. She swallowed hard, forcing strength into her tone. “No, child. They are not bad. They are the Moon’s hounds. They will not hurt you.”

    But the girl only shook her head violently, pressing herself deeper against Carmen’s leg. “No! They’re scary. I want Auntie. Auntie said she would take me to Mommy. I don’t want thern–I only want you.”

    Carmen’s throat closed with grief. She had expected screams, rejection, even terror. Not this unshakable trust. To be clung to so tightly, after a lifetime of blood and exile–it was almost unbearable.

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    Tears blurred her vision. She stroked the girl’s hair with her free hand, her smile trembling. “Listen to me, pup. Go to them. They will keep you safe. I cannot.”

    But the child wailed louder, small body racked with sobs. “No! I don’t care! You said you’d take me to Mommy! Don’t leave me! Please don’t leave me!”

    The words shattered Carmen’s iron will. A howl rose in her chest, broken and grieving. She wanted nothing more than to run, to take this girl far away, to raise her as her own. But she had no illusions. Her blood–stained hands had run their

    course.

    “Pup,” she whispered, kissing the child’s damp hair. “I will protect you until myst breath. But I cannot walk where you must. You must go on.”

    The girl’s cries filled the night, sharp as ws against Carmen’s soul…

    And then-“Carmen!”

    The name thundered across the square. Carmen’s head jerked up, stunned. Her gaze locked with Duke, who stood among the Enforcers. His eyes zed, not with condemnation, but with anguish.

    “Carmen,” he called again, his voice breaking. “Stop this. No more blood. Come with us. Surrender.”

    Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. “Duke… I don’t fear death. My only regret is this child.”

    She cupped Riley’s daughter’s cheek tenderly. “This is Riley’s pup. Her daughter. When they carved out her kidney, they forced her body to bear eggs. They nned to raise a child only to harvest her organs when needed.”

    Her voice cracked. “Riley never even knew. She died without knowing her pup lived.”

    Gasps rippled through the Enforcers. Duke’s eyes went wide, the weight of her words striking him like a blow.

    Carmen’s tears poured freely now. “Do you understand? Riley was poisoned from the day Alpha ric dragged her back to Ebonw. Chronic wolfbane–fed to her like medicine. That’s why her wolf never healed, even when her kidney was restored. That’s why she was always weak. Her own blood cursed her.”

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    The crowd murmured, horror spreading like wildfire. Even the Enforcers shifted uneasily.

    Carmen sobbed openly, clutching the girl onest time. “She is all Riley left. behind. Please, Duke. Protect her. Don’t let her fall into their hands again.”

    The girl lifted her tear–streaked face. “Auntie, don’t go. Don’t leave me. I’m scared.”

    Carmen pressed her forehead against the child’s, her wolf crying itsst. “I love you, little one. You are your mother’s light. Walk in it.”

    Then, with the strength of an Alpha, she pried the girl’s arms away, pushing her gently toward the Enforcers. The child screamed, fighting to cling to her, but an Enforcer lifted her carefully, shielding her from the scene.

    Carmen straightened, knife still pressed against her hostage’s throat, her body coiled like a wolf ready for its final stand.

    Her eyes locked on Duke’s. “Take care of her. Swear it.”

    “I swear it on the Moon,” Duke rasped, his own eyes wet.

    Carmen smiled, broken but fierce. Her wolf howled inside her, a requiem to the

    stars.