Kael carried Elara out through the clinic's burning west wing while royal guards fought the wolves Director Voss had bought. He wanted her inside an armored car. She refused to leave until they stole the clinic server containing the original surrogate contract.
The file proved there had never been an implantation scheduled. For three months, the clinic had been dosing Elara with dormant royal blood during the treatment visits she believed were medical screenings for her sister. The silver pulse was not a stranger's embryo. It was a moon-forged heir created from the mate bond Kael and Elara had carried since childhood—then had magically erased from both their memories.
One signature authorized every dose: Queen Mara Draven, Kael's dead mother.
At Ashwood, Nolan dragged Lily onto the old rejection platform and demanded Elara trade places with her. Kael stepped into the circle first. Pack law allowed a High Alpha to break any hostage oath by publicly rejecting his mate.
“Do it,” Elara whispered, though the new wolf inside her clawed at the word.
Kael lifted her chin. His thumb rested over the pulse beating beneath her jaw. “I reject the clause,” he said, his voice shaking the stones. “I reject every crown that requires me to abandon her. I do not reject Elara.”
The platform split open. Silver power erupted from Elara, snapping Lily's collar and driving Nolan to his knees. Elara crossed the circle and freed her sister herself.
Then slow applause sounded from the ruined watchtower.
The veiled woman removed her hood. She had Kael's eyes, his mother's face, and a living royal mark over her heart.
“Beautiful,” Queen Mara said. “The heir has awakened exactly as I planned. Now give me the child, or I will command Kael to reject you with his own mouth.”