Colt’s POV

F**k!

Cass’s reaction is instantaneous. She lunges across the room, slamming Julia into a table, the wood splintering under the force.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Cass screeches, her claws extended, slashing with primal fury.

Dash and I scramble toward the chaos. I grab Cass around the waist, but her strength is unnerving—she’s channeling pure, feral instinct. Dash manages to drag a sobbing, bloodied Julia from beneath her, but Cass isn't done. She thrashes against my grip, her eyes wild. "I'LL KILL YOU! DIE!"

I’m forced to put her in a headlock, squeezing until she finally goes limp. I lay her gently on the floor and rush to assist Dash.

Julia is motionless on the floor. Her chest is still.

"No pulse," Dash says, his face pale. "I think Cass used her power on her. Someone call the doctor!"

The infirmary scene is a blur of panic. The doctor plunges a syringe of adrenaline directly into Julia’s chest. She gasps, her eyes snapping open, before collapsing again. "She’s alive," the doctor grunts, "but barely. Get her out of here."

I turn to find Cass unconscious on the floor. I carry her back to her room, and as I walk, I feel it—a sudden, hollow ache in my chest. The mate bond I shared with Cass has vanished.

When Julia bit me, she forced a temporary, artificial link. When she "died" moments ago, that link shattered, dragging our real bond down with it. It’s weak, but I know it can be repaired. My feelings for Cass aren't tied to the bond—they are etched into my soul.

Warrick storms into the room moments later. "Explain!"

I recount the scene. Warrick’s expression remains unreadable. "Julia is a liability. She cannot remain here while Cass wishes her dead."

"So, Cass won't be punished?" I ask.

"Punished? She is my daughter, the future Alpha. Instincts are not crimes." He stares down at Cass’s peaceful face. "Would you give your life for hers?"

"Without hesitation."

Warrick’s gaze softens—a flicker of something uncharacteristically human. "I loved her mother the same way. Tomorrow, we announce the war on your brother. When Ezra falls, I want your pack merged with mine. You will be her mate, and we will build an empire."

Warrick’s POV

I watch Oliver leave my office. He was a fool to think he could challenge me, but he’s a useful fool for now.

I head to the portrait of Dahlia. "Soon, my dear," I whisper. "I’ll join you soon."

Talking to her is the only time the mask slips. I speak of Cass—the willful, terrifying woman she’s become—and how much she inherited from Dahlia’s iron will. I am a monster to many, a tyrant to most, but to her, I am only the father who failed to keep his world from breaking.

I’m tired. The crown of the Dark Fang weighs heavier every day, and without Dahlia, the empire I’m building feels like a monument to a ghost. I turn off the lights, leaving the painting in the shadows, and head to my chambers. The war begins at dawn.