Clara’s POV
It was Selene’s arm, mangled and bloody, but it gripped Kael’s leg with a death–like hold.
She was nearly unrecognizable from the explosion, her body crushed under the rubble, but her insane obsession drove her to use her last breath to stop Kael from saving me.
“She… can’t… live…” Selene gasped, her voice a death rattle. “We… die… together…”
“Let go!” Kael kicked at her, but Selene held on tight.
More beams began to fall as the fire raged, the entire structure groaning under the strain.
“Kael!” I struggled desperately. “Go! Leave me!”
But he ignored me, using his wolf claws to sever the arm gripping his leg.
“I will never leave you,” he said, still working on the silver chains. “This time, I will protect you.”
The last chain finally snapped, but at that exact moment, a tremendous roar echoed from above.
A large section of the ceiling gave way, huge chunks of concrete raining down.
At that speed, even with me, Kael could never escape in time.
He looked at the collapsed exit, then at me, a look of pure resolve in his eyes.
“Be happy, Clara,” he whispered, his voice full of a final, desperate love. “That’s all I ask.”
“What? No, Kael, we go together-”
“Remember, no matter what happens, you have to believe that you are worthy of love,” he gently stroked my cheek. “Real love.
The next moment, he used the last of his Alpha strength to shove me hard toward the only safe corner of the room.
“No-!”
The force sent me flying out of the collapse zone, and I slammed into the reinforced wall in the corner.
And Kael was still standing in the center of the rubble..
BOOM!
A massive explosion sounded, and the entire basement collapsed.
Flames shot into the air, and a wave of heat washed over me.
I stared at the inferno, tears blurring my vision.
“Kael…”
“Clara! Clara!”
A familiar voice called from a distance.
I weakly opened my eyes to see Asher running toward me through the flames, a rescue team behind him.
“I’m here…” I said weakly.
1/3
“Thank the Goddess,” Asher held me tight. “I found you.”
“Kael… he’s still in there…” I pointed to the inferno.
Asher looked at the completely collapsed ruins, a complex emotion in his eyes.
“The rescue team is already searching,” he said softly. “But…”
He didn’t finish, but I understood what he meant.
No one could have survived an explosion and collapse of that magnitude.
The next day, the search team found two bodies in the ruins.
Kael and Selene, their bodies found together, both consumed by the fire.
In their final moments, they had ended their tangled story in the most extreme way possible.
Kael’s funeral was simple, attended only by me, Asher, and a few members of the Silver Moon pack.
I placed a bouquet of white moonflowers on his gravestone.
“Thank you for saving me at the end,” I said softly. “This time, you really did protect me.”
A gentle breeze blew past, as if in reply.
Six Months Later
The sacred Moon Temple of the ancient European werewolf packs.
Tonight was the full moon, and the night of my mating ceremony with Asher.
The entire temple was decorated like a dream.
White petals drifted between the ancient stone pillars, and silver moonlight streamed down from the dome, illuminating every corner.
Werewolf nobles from all the great families were seated, their eyes filled with blessings.
“Nervous?” my grandfather asked gently..
“A little,” I said honestly. “But mostly, I’m excited.”
“Asher is a good Alpha! You two will be very happy,” Grandfather patted my hand “Come, it’s time.”
The ancient bells chimed, and the wedding march echoed through the temple.
I walked down the long red carpet on my grandfather’s arm.
The guests on both sides stood and applauded, flower petals raining down around us.
And at the altar, Asher was looking at me with pure love.
He wore a white suit, looking as handsome as a prince in the moonlight. His eyes were filled with affection for me and hope for our future.
This is what a true mate is, I thought.
Not possession, not control, but mutual support and mutual healing.
“Will you be my mate and spend the rest of your life with me?” Asher asked gently.
“I will,” I answered without hesitation.
“Clara,” his voice was thick with emotion, “I vow to cherish the new life you’ve given me, to protect the peace you have brought to my soul, and to love the woman who healed me as I healed her.”
The blessing of the Moon Goddess descended from above, enveloping us in a silver light.
In front of everyone, we exchanged rings and made our eternal vows.
From now on, I was no longer the hurt, betrayed girl.
I was Clara Moonwhisper, heir to a legacy of moonlight, a professor shaping the future, and a she–wolf who had finally, truly,
found her home.
The moonlight shone down on us, a witness to this beautiful new beginning.
