The Lost Queen

Chapter Fourteen

Kaden's P.O.V.

Once I shifted, I was already seeing red. Ryan had crossed a line—he dared come into my territory after everything he'd done to my mate? And then he had the nerve to declare war? What the hell was he thinking? Was he really that stupid to challenge the second strongest pack in existence, with the Royals standing at the top? He was practically handing us a free victory.

I wasted no time, going straight for his throat. I wasn't going to waste any breath on pleasantries. But just as I lunged, the bastard managed to shift in time, and instead of sinking my teeth into his neck, I bit into his shoulder. He shook me off with a violent twist, sending me sliding across the grass, my claws digging into the dirt to stop myself.

I hunched low, shoulders tensed, growling and snarling. I was ready to kill. No hesitation. Ryan was going to die today. I attacked, but he got an advantage and began snapping at my neck, trying to sink his jaws into me.

But then, everything stopped for a split second.

I heard the unmistakable sound of paws thundering across the ground. I turned just in time to see a blur of white and blood.

Daya.

I almost didn't recognize her at first, but the force of her presence hit me like a freight train. Her wolf—huge, powerful, and glowing with an intensity I had never seen before—pushed past me, knocking Ryan off as if he weighed nothing. My gut clenched with a mix of relief and frustration.

What the hell is she doing here? My wolf growled.

My heart was hammering as I looked at her, so damn strong and fierce, but also so damn reckless. I wanted to scream at her to get back to safety, but her wolf's eyes met mine, and by the look in her eyes I knew she wasn't going anywhere. I saw it in the fire in her gaze—she wasn't going to back down. This wasn't about safety for her. This was about something deeper.

God, I hated how stubborn she was. But then again, I loved that about her.

With a low growl, I turned back to Ryan, the beast inside me screaming for blood. I had to kill Ryan. Cut off the head of the snake, and the rest of the body would fall. No mercy. I wasn't leaving anyone alive if I could help it.

Ryan came at me again, his teeth snapping inches from my neck, but I was ready. I dodged and struck at him, aiming for his chest, trying to drive him into the ground. The taste of his blood was close, but he was fast—damn fast—and it only made my blood boil hotter.

I didn't care about anything but ending this. There was too much at stake.

The sound of her growl echoed in the background, a reminder that Daya was still out there. I could feel her power even as I tried to focus on Ryan. She was a force to be reckoned with, that much was clear. And just like me, she wasn't going to stop until the fight was over.

Ryan lunged at me again, but I sidestepped, and in a single, powerful move, I tore into his side, raking my claws down his ribs. Blood sprayed in all directions as he howled in pain. But he wasn't going down yet.

I needed to finish this. I needed to make sure he stayed down.

I kept fighting, ignoring the way my muscles burned and my mind screamed for the adrenaline to take over. Nothing else mattered but ending him. His pack, his war, everything they had done to us—it all ended with him.

And just as I was about to go for the kill, I heard it. A piercing scream that shook the very earth beneath us.

Daya.