Blake thrashes violently as she's dragged into a secured room deep within the pack house.
The strongest alphas barely keep their grip on her, muscles straining as they force her forward.
The door slams shut behind her, locking her inside. She growls, pacing restlessly, her claws scraping against the wooden floor.
She wants out.
But above all, she still feels the lingering pull of that summon, thrumming in her veins like an unbreakable chain.
Outside, the weight of the moment still lingers.
Ace's gaze remains locked onto Kieran.
Even as the others move, even as the air slowly settles from the raw force of Kieran's presence, Ace doesn't look away.
Kieran catches it.
Standing atop the pack house, still in his full Alpha form, he watches Ace watching him.
And he wonders.
Does Ace fear him?
Looking like this, like something monstrous, like a beast made for war, does Ace see him differently now?
Kieran doesn't wait to dwell on the thought.
In one powerful leap, he descends.
