The first howl split through the kingdom just past midnight.

Aire tensed instantly beneath the blanket.

Nate’s eyes opened at once.

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

The dungeon remained dim around them. Torchlight flickered weakly against the wet stone walls while cold pressed through every corner beneath the castle.

Aire had fallen asleep against him at some point.

The howl echoed again through the distance.

Nate straightened slowly against the wall. His wolf surged awake immediately beneath his skin.

Aire lifted her head from his shoulder carefully. Her hair was slightly disheveled now from resting against him. The silver marks around her wrists remained angry and red beneath the torchlight.

Her expression changed the moment she saw Nate’s face.

"You heard it," she whispered.

Nate nodded once.

Outside somewhere above them, another howl answered the first. The kingdom wolves were gathering.

Aire’s stomach tightened immediately.

Nate pushed himself to his feet.

The blanket he had wrapped around her shoulders earlier slipped slightly as he stood. He reached down immediately, adjusting it around her again before crouching slightly in front of her.

"It’s time."

Aire stared at him.

Nate’s voice stayed calm, but there was steel beneath it now. "Get up."

Aire frowned faintly. "What?"

Nate held her gaze. "I told you already. The moment the first wolf howled and my father had not made a decision..."

His jaw flexed. "...I would take you out myself."

Aire’s breath caught softly.

Nate reached toward her carefully, waiting. "Come with me."

Aire stared at him like she didn’t know whether to believe him.

The dungeon torch beside them crackled quietly.

"I’m staying here." she whispered, searching his eyes.

Nate’s expression darkened slightly. "Aire, don’t do that." he said firmly, yet it sounded more like a plea.

Aire stood slowly from the bench.

The blanket slipped lower around her shoulders as she rose.

Nate instinctively reached to steady her when she swayed faintly from stiffness and exhaustion.

Aire immediately pulled back.

His hand lowered slowly.

Aire noticed the flicker of pain that crossed his face before he hid it again.

Silence stretched briefly between them.

Aire shook her head once. "No." She murmured. "I can’t leave."

Nate blinked.

Aire stepped backward slowly, shaking her head. "No."

Nate stared at her like he hadn’t heard properly. "Aire—"

"If you take me out now," she interrupted softly, "they will turn against you."

"I do not care."

"I care." Aire swallowed immediately after the words left her. She never expected them to leave her lips so easily.

Nate went still.

Aire wrapped the blanket tighter around herself. "They already think I’m dangerous."

"You are not."

"They don’t know that." Aire told him. "I can’t have you risking yourself and your title over me."

Nate stepped toward her immediately. "I am choosing you."

Aire looked shaken by how easily he said them. She doesn’t know why he suddenly stands by her, but she couldn’t help but want to share his sentiment.

Nate moved closer slowly. "I meant what I told you earlier." His eyes stayed locked on hers. "No hand will touch you."

Aire swallowed hard. "You cannot fight the entire kingdom for me."

Nate’s expression sharpened instantly. "Watch me."

Aire let out the faintest breath at that. Her chest aches painfully. If only he hadn’t been so cruel from the start, she might have been less confused.

Nate reached for her again carefully this time.

His fingers brushed hers. The light contact felt so warm and steady.

"You are leaving this dungeon tonight."

Aire looked down briefly at his hand holding hers, then back at him.

"You would really turn against your father?"

Nate stayed silent for one long second. "If he condemns you unjustly?" he said, and his gaze darkened. "Yes."

Aire’s breath hitched softly. Before she could answer, heavy footsteps echoed suddenly above them.

Both of them froze instantly.

Nate’s head snapped sharply toward the staircase.

More footsteps followed.

Aire’s face paled immediately.

Nate moved without thinking.

He pulled her behind him instantly.

One arm came around her protectively while the other shifted slightly outward toward the dungeon entrance.

His wolf surged violently beneath his skin.

The footsteps grew louder, and he could tell who was coming from their scent. Torchlight appeared beyond the stairwell seconds later.

Aire’s fingers curled into the back of Nate’s shirt.

Nate noticed the urgency of her hold.

King Elijah appeared first. Alaric followed directly behind him. Several guards came after them carrying torches.

Nate’s expression darkened instantly.

He pulled Aire closer against himself immediately.

Aire felt the low growl that rumbled through his chest before he fully suppressed it.

King Elijah blinked at the sight of Nate, and so did Alaric.

Alaric’s eyes landed on the sight before him. He stared at the way Aire stood half-hidden behind him.

When he smelled Nate while coming down here, he rushed down to protect Aire from him. He didn’t expect this sight.

Sharp jealousy flickered briefly across Alaric’s expression.

His jaw tightened faintly in visible jealousy. "Why...." he said slowly, "What are you doing here?"

Nate’s eyes never left the guards behind them. "It’s obvious." He replied sarcastically, irritated by the question.

Alaric looked toward Aire then.

She looked exhausted and pale, but calmer than she had been earlier. That realization irritated him more than he wanted to admit.

Nate had visibly been the one to calm her.

Why Nate? The same Nate who caused this? The same man who had nearly killed her days ago.

The irony nearly made Alaric chuckle bitterly.

King Elijah stepped forward slightly. "Nate."

Nate’s body remained tense. His temperature grew hotter, and his breathing came out uneven. "If you came down here to condemn her, then say it directly."

The guards shifted uneasily behind the king.

Aire’s breathing slowed nervously behind Nate.

King Elijah looked toward her carefully then. His gaze lingered on the blanket around her shoulders.

Then on Nate’s arm still holding her protectively behind him. Finally, his gaze landed back to her face.

For a moment, unreadable memory crossed the king’s expression. It diisappeared quickly.

"We confirmed something tonight," Elijah said finally.

Nate frowned faintly.

Alaric stepped forward slowly now. In his hand was an old rolled parchment bound tightly with dark cord.

Aire noticed it, and her brows furrowed slightly.

King Elijah’s eyes returned to hers. "The prophecy," he said quietly, "was altered."

Aire blinked once.

Nate’s expression hardened instantly.

Alaric loosened the cord around the parchment carefully.

"It took days for me to locate the original records," he said. "The last seer’s writings were hidden beneath the western archives."

The parchment crackled softly as he unrolled it. When he did, ancient markings stretched across faded material worn by centuries.

Aire stared at it silently.

Nate’s arm tightened around her slightly.

"Half the kingdom has been operating under an incomplete interpretation."

Nate stepped forward sharply. "Meaning what exactly?"

Alaric’s eyes lifted slowly from the parchment.

Then he read aloud quietly. The dungeon remained silent when he began.

Aire’s throat tightened faintly and Nate’s gaze sharpened as they listened.

Alaric’s eyes darkened slightly as he reached the final lines.

Silence slammed into the dungeon when he was done. Aire frowned faintly. Nate looked toward Alaric immediately.

Meanwhile, King Elijah’s expression had turned grim.

Alaric lowered the parchment slowly.

"The prophecy never said she would destroy the wolves."

Aire stared at him.

Alaric met her gaze briefly, and continued quietly. "The wolves shall stand at the beginning of their ending. That does not mean she causes it."

Nate went completely still.

Aire’s breathing shallowed faintly.

Nate looked down at her. Realization hit him visibly. The kingdom had been distracted, by Aire.

Alaric rolled the parchment shut again. "The prophecy was manipulated generations ago."

One of the guards spoke before he could stop himself. "By who?"

Alaric’s eyes darkened coldly. "That," he said quietly, "is what we are going to find out."

King Elijah stepped closer toward Aire. For the first time since all of this began, his gaze held no fear, only regret.

Aire flinched visibly at the sight of him.

The king lowered his head slightly toward her. "Aire," he said quietly.

Her breath caught.

"We were wrong."