With ba /bheavy bsigh/bb, /bbI /bbrise /bto my bfeet/bb, /bdisgusted with myself for even hesitating–especially when I owe Fury everything for what he’s done for me. But bI /bcan’t help it.

    I nce at the doctor, who’s still standing there patiently. “Let me consult my mate before b1- /b

    “My mate, Jack, will donate his blood. Immediately.”

    Kali’s voice slices through like a thunderpb, /bcutting me off mid–sentence. She storms in like a force of nature, her bgaze /bimmediately locking on Fury. Her face pales, horror filling her eyes. Her hand flies to her mouth, and for a moment, she bites her lip hardb, /bclearly trying to hold back tears.

    Then she turns to me, her eyes burning. “He’s dying, Jack.”

    Before I can say a word, she whirls on the doctor.

    “What are you waiting for? We don’t have time. Jack is the future Alpha King and he’s my mate. I’m sure you can feel his aura, can’t you?”

    The doctor bows his head respectfully. “Yes, Your Highness. That’s exactly what I was trying to say.”

    “Good,” Kali says firmly with a sharp nod. “Then do what needs to be done. We’ll give him whatever it takes. Fury mtist live.”

    “Yes, Your Highness,” the doctor replies quickly, bowing before hurrying away to prepare for the procedure.

    As soon as he leaves, Kali’s guard drops. She rushes to me, and I wrap my arms around her before she even asks. Her body melts into mine, trembling slightly as she exhales a shaky breath.

    “I’m scared he won’t ept this,” I whisper into her hair. “You know how stubborn he is. And now, with my blood in his veins, he won’t be just a warrior anymore—he’ll carry the blood of an Alpha King. That means he’ll be an Alpha, whether he wants it or not, even if it’s not for Bloodfang. His wolf won’t tolerate disrespect. He’ll have no choice but to rise above the rest.”

    “I know,” she breathes. “But this time, it’s not about what he wants. It’s about what he needs.”

    She leans back to look up at me, her eyes glistening with tears.

    “He wanted to protect me. Be my sword and shield. But now it’s my turn to protect him–and I will. I won’t let him die.”

    I nod, unable to speak past the lump forming in my throat. She slowly pulls away and walks over to Fury, who still hasn’t moved a muscle. His chest rises–barely and her lip quivers as she reaches out and touches his face.

    “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I know what you wanted, Fury. I know what you were born to be for me… but I need you to live.”

    Her hand hovers over his heart, and I feel the shift in the air–the bond between them beginning to unravel, a string about to

    snap.

    “I release you,” she says softly, her eyes wet. “You’re no longer my protector or personal guard. You’re free now. Free to choose your own path… Just live for me. But most importantly live for yourself.”

    Silence settles over the room as the invisible string binding them snaps, like a final goodbye. She sniffles and wipes her cheek, eyes never leaving his face.

    The doctor re–enters the room momentster, carrying a tray that holds a sterilized needle, a reinforced vial, apact blood infusion pump, and a set of enchanted tubes lined with silver fment–crafted specifically to transfer royal werewolf blood without diminishing its potency.

    “It’s ready,” he announces.

    I nce at Kali onest time. She nods.

    Taking a deep breath, I move to sit beside Fury and roll up my sleeve. The doctor swabs the inside of my arm before inserting the needle. There’s a sharp pinch, then a wave of warmth as my blood begins to flow through the enchanted tubing and into the

    1/3  bpump/bb. /bbThe /bbmachine /bbhums /bbquietly/bb, /bregting the flow before channeling it into a second tube connected to Fury’s arm.

    bThe /bbprocess /bbis /bbritualistic/bb–/bfamiliarb, /bbyet /bfar more intense than thest time I did this for Caspian, back when I was merely an bAlpha /bswearing the bsacred /boath.

    But bnow/bb, /bbI /bam the Alpha King.

    Power roars bbeneath /bmy skin like thunderb, /bancient and alive, pulsing with the weight of generations. The blood of kings. As it flows from my veins into Fury, I feel itsh out like a storm, wild and primalb, /bresisting the transfer at first before settling into a determined rhythm. The air around us thickens, charged with invisible energy that crackles like lightning waiting to strike.