Wolf howls echoed between the canyon cliffs like a storm calling forth the night.
The air trembled with two clashing forces golden light flowing from the earth, and a crimson aura raging like hellfire.
At the heart of this energy vortex stood two figures.
Aurelia.
And Kael Draven.
No more great distance lay between them.
No more words.
Only a decision that would determine the fate of the wolf world.
Kael moved first.
His steps were heavy, yet each footfall cracked the ground beneath him.
The crimson aura around his body grew denser, almost like armor forged from pure energy.
Lucien felt the pressure at once.
He stood at Aurelia's side, his sword raised.
"He's gathering everything for a single strike."
Cassian smirked faintly from the shadows behind them.
"If he fails, his body will tear itself apart."
Darius rolled his stiff shoulders.
"If he succeeds…"
Alaric finished the sentence calmly.
"…we die."
Aurelia stared at Kael without blinking.
She did not move.
Yet the ground beneath her feet pulsed gently.
Golden energy responded to her heartbeat.
Kael stopped a few steps before them.
Wind whipped through his long silver hair.
His eyes glowed red like embers.
"You know," he said softly, "I once saw a Luna who tried to unite the packs."
Lucien did not lower his sword.
"And?"
Kael smiled faintly.
"I killed her."
Several wolves behind them growled in anger.
But Aurelia remained calm.
"I am not her."
Kael nodded slowly.
"True."
He gestured to the battlefield.
"She tried to rule the Alphas."
Then he pointed to Aurelia.
"You make them choose."
He let out a small laugh.
"A smarter method."
Darius scoffed.
"If you're done talking."
Kael vanished in an instant.
His attack came like lightning.
Lucien parried the first blow.
The clash of sword and claws created a small explosion that forced the ground around them to crack.
Darius struck immediately from the side.
His claws sliced through the air.
Kael ducked, then slammed a hard punch into Darius's chest.
Darius was thrown back several meters.
Cassian emerged from the shadows directly behind Kael.
His dagger plunged into Kael's back.
Blood spattered.
But Kael did not even flinch.
He spun around and kicked Cassian away.
Alaric attacked next.
His sword struck Kael's shoulder.
Metal screeched as the crimson aura absorbed part of the blow.
Kael finally stepped back two paces.
He touched the wound on his shoulder.
Dark red blood seeped between his fingers.
Then he smiled.
"Good."
He looked at the four Alphas.
"You truly deserve to be called pack leaders."
Lucien raised his sword again.
"Too bad for you, we are not each other's enemies."
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
He looked at Aurelia once more.
"And that is the problem."
He raised his hand.
The crimson aura blazed again.
But this time, the energy did not strike directly.
Instead.
It spread like thin mist across the entire battlefield.
Cassian frowned.
"What is he doing?"
Lucien felt it first.
Kael's aura touched the blood flowing across the ground.
Every single drop.
Every wound.
The red energy began to absorb it all.
Darius cursed softly.
"He's using the battle's casualties as fuel."
Kael laughed.
"Wolves always fight to the death."
His crimson aura swelled larger.
"And I am merely making use of that."
The energy around him surged dramatically.
The pressure was so strong it forced some wolves behind them to step back.
But at the very same moment.
The golden light from the earth reacted too.
Aurelia closed her eyes.
She could feel everything.
Fear.
Exhaustion.
But also the courage of the wolves who still stood their ground.
She slowly raised both hands.
Golden energy flowed through the earth like a river that had finally found its path.
The wolves felt it.
A power that soothed.
That strengthened.
That united.
Torvald of Frostfang stood several meters behind the front lines.
His eyes widened as he felt the energy.
"She is not just leading…"
He whispered softly.
"She is connecting us."
Kael felt it too.
He looked at Aurelia with a new expression.
This time, not mockery.
Not anger.
But realization.
"You have truly unlocked the Sovereign power."
Aurelia opened her eyes.
The golden light within them was now far brighter.
"I did not unlock anything."
She pointed to the wolves behind her.
"They did this."
Kael let out a long breath.
"Fascinating."
He raised his claws again.
Crimson and golden energy now filled the entire canyon.
Even the sky above them began to swirl from the clashing forces.
Lucien stood beside Aurelia.
"We must end this now."
Darius grinned.
"I've been waiting for this."
Cassian spun his dagger once.
"Simple plan."
Alaric nodded.
"We attack together."
Aurelia looked at them one by one.
Four Alphas.
Four strong leaders who had chosen to stand with her.
She nodded slowly.
"Now."
Kael attacked at the exact same moment.
His crimson aura exploded like a falling sun.
But this time.
The four Alphas moved as one.
Lucien struck from the front.
Darius hammered from the right.
Alaric cut off the escape route.
Cassian emerged from the shadows directly behind Kael.
Their attacks merged into a single movement.
Kael parried two.
Blocked one.
But Cassian managed to stab his shoulder again.
Blood gushed out.
Kael growled in fury.
He unleashed a burst of aura that threw everyone back.
But as the dust began to settle.
He saw something that froze him in place.
Aurelia stood before him.
Unscathed.
The golden light around her formed a great circle on the ground.
Wolves across the canyon howled in unison.
Energy flowed through Aurelia like a river of light.
Kael stared at her for a long moment.
Then he laughed softly.
"So this is the end."
He raised his claws one last time.
His crimson aura gathered for a final strike.
Aurelia raised her hands too.
Golden light shone forth like a newly born dawn.
Between them.
Two forces that would determine the fate of the wolf world.
And when both moved at once.
The entire canyon was filled with light so brilliant that even the moon seemed to fade in the night sky.