The battlefield burned.
Smoke curled into the morning sky, mixing with ash and the scent of blood. Screams echoed through the valley as steel clashed with fang, magic against magic, brother against traitor. And in the heart of it all, Raine stood face to face with General Corvyn.
His crimson cloak was tattered, his eyes still glowing with cruel amusement.
"You fight well," he said, circling her. "But even with your mother's blood and your ancient spark, you are still young. Untrained."
"Funny," Raine said coldly, raising her blade, "You sound nervous."
Corvyn lunged, faster than most could see. Their swords met with a violent spark, dark energy against silver fire. Raine met every blow with one of her own, her movements instinctive now—as if the power inside her was guiding her hand.
Behind her, Xavier was pinned by two warlocks. He fought hard, but blood trailed down his arm. Ezra and Leena were overwhelmed near the eastern edge. The line was breaking.
Corvyn noticed.
"You're losing," he sneered. "And when your little rebellion dies, your legacy dies with it."
Raine stepped back, her chest heaving.
"No," she said. Her eyes glowed brighter than ever. "It awakens."
The earth trembled.
A pulse of silver exploded from her body, knocking Corvyn off his feet. Around the field, every wolf felt it—an ancient call, wild and powerful. Wounded warriors rose again, as if revived by Raine's magic. Vines, roots, and stone erupted from the ground, shielding the weak and crushing the enemy.
The battlefield turned.
General Corvyn staggered to his feet, fear flickering in his eyes.
"What… what are you?"
Raine raised her sword, and her voice was both hers and something older:
"I am the blood of the first wolf. I am the spark of the lost Queen. I am the reckoning."
Corvyn screamed and charged one last time—but this time, he never reached her.
A spear of silver light, summoned from the sky, struck him through the chest. He collapsed, his staff shattering in his hand, eyes wide with disbelief.
And silence fell.
The Council's forces, seeing their general fallen, wavered—then fled.
The wolves stood victorious.
Raine collapsed to her knees, exhausted, but the power still hummed under her skin. Xavier rushed to her side, cradling her gently.
"You did it," he whispered.
"No," she murmured. "We did."
But deep in the shadows, someone watched.
And far to the east, in the depths of the Council chambers, a darker power stirred—one that would not be so easily defeated