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    I paced back and forth in the room while the pack doctor checked on my brother. Magnusy motionless on the bed, his body looking more like a husk than man. The only thing keeping us hopeful was the faint sound of his heartbeat.


    My parents sat beside him on the bed, their faces etched with grief. My mother''s tears flowed endlessly as my father cradled her in his arms, trying to offer somefort.


    An hour ago, when I''d shifted back to my human form and returned to the packhouse, the first thing I saw was the aftermath of the battle-wolves'' bodies scattered across the floor, blood staining the walls. I realized then that Alpha Hunter''s fighters had made it inside, likely attempting to attack my family.


    I nced toward my babies, who were curled up on the couch near the bed. They were fast asleep, but their small faces looked troubled, their bodies tense even in rest. They were so young, so innocent. I had raised them carefully, shielding them from the harshness of this world. Now, they''d witnessed the horrors of war, and I feared the damage it might leave on their fragile minds.


    "As you can see, I''ve removed the stakes and dressed Alpha-" The doctor''s voice faltered. He caught himself, realizing Magnus was no longer the head Alpha. Clearing his throat, he corrected himself. "I''ve cleaned Magnus''s wounds and bandaged them, but I still need to analyze the toxins before I can create an antidote.


    I turned my attention to Magnus''s still form, covered by a nket. Seeing him like this stoked a fire of rage within me. I should have killed Alpha Hunter myself.


    "When will he recover?" my father asked, his voice heavy with worry.


    The doctor let out a weary sigh. "I can''t give you a definite answer. He was already gravely ill before the war began, and his condition was deteriorating even then. If I can''t identify the specific toxins, it will be difficult, perhaps impossible, to save him."


    The room grew colder with the weight of his words. Fear for Magnus''s life settled in our chests like a storm cloud.


    My mother reached for Magnus''s hand, gently shaking it as tears streamed down her face. "My son, wake up. Please. You know we can''t live without you. Don''t let the poison take you. You''re stronger


    than this."


    The sight f her broke me. My vision blurred as tears welled up in my own eyes. I understood her pain all too well. I was a mother, too, and I couldn''t imagine the agony of seeing one of my children lying on the brink of death. My mother was unraveling before us.


    "Everything will be okay, Jade," my father said softly, trying tofort her. "Don''t lose hope."


    But she turned to him sharply, her grief morphing into anger. "What kind of father are you?" she snapped. "Our son is dying right in front of you, and you''re just sitting there. Do something, Malcolm. Save him!" My father''s face crumpled, his gaze fixed on Magnus. In all his years as the pack''s leader, I''d never seen him look so powerless.


    "Malcolm," my mother continued, her voice trembling with desperation, "our son is still alive. How can that man-Kane-just take our pack from us? Are we supposed to abandon everything we''ve built while Magnus is fighting for his life?"


    10:23


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    Her words struck a chord in me, and I turned to my father. "Dad, she''s right. Magnus is still alive. Kane only killed Alpha Hunter. If he wants, he can take Hunter''s pack, but he has no right to ours."


    For the first time, I saw fear in my father''s eyes.


    "You both need to stop," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "This pack is no longer ours. Everyone outs ide this room belongs to Alpha Kane now. He spared Magnus''s life, and that''s a mercy no other Alpha would have granted."


    I shook my head, refusing to ept his words. Anger surged through me as I marched to the door and flung it open.


    "Dad, I''m going to challenge Kane''s victory."


    I was about to step out when my father''s voice stopped me.


    "Selene," he said, his tone heavy with resignation. "Don''t forget-it was Magnus who dered war on the Nightfall Pack. Kane crossed our borders to help, but your brother turned it into a battle."


    His words stunned me. How had I forgotten that? Magnus had dered war before leaving the packhouse.


    I turned back to him, my voice faltering. "Dad, but still-"


    "Everything is over, Selene," a familiar voice interrupted.


    I spun around to see Axel standing in the doorway, his body wrapped in bandages. Our pack''s theta was at his side, helping him stay upright.


    Axel met my gaze, his expression solemn. "It doesn''t matter if Magnus is alive. Kane had already won the pack before Alpha Hunter''s attack."


    I frowned, confused and angry. "What are you saying? How is that even possible?"


    Axel''s next words sent a shockwave through the room.


    "Magnus," he said, his voice unsteady, "as the head Alpha of this pack, submitted to Kane during the war- before he even made it back to the packhouse."


    The weight of his revtion crushed me, leaving me speechless. It wasn''t just me-everyone in the room seemed frozen, unable to process the truth that had just beenid bare.