LERRIN

It was strange, Lerrin realized in that moment of facing death, the little details that stood out.

The Hallowed Grounds were so silent, he heard a gust of wind flutter in his ear as it ruffled his hair, and whipped Reth's black hair across his cheek.

Reth stood over him, his warm-brown skin glistening with sweat, the rounds of individual muscles reflecting the sun as he moved a step closer, his rugged face drawn down in sadness.

And his eyes…

Lerrin saw in the male that stood over him the eyes he used to see in his father. The eyes that regretted pain. That sought strength, but not at the cost of someone else's weakness.

Lerrin saw in those eyes the heart he wished he had.

Lerrin's knees hurt from hitting the hard-packed soil that was growing hotter by the second under the afternoon sun. But he didn't care. He was about to die.

That thought brought his body alive. His heart thudded in his ears. His skin suddenly felt too tight as if it sought to pull him away from danger. And his heart… his heart soared for the victory he knew would come from this, and sank deep, into the earth below him, with the pain of leaving his mate here to face her life alone.

She'd suffered enough pain in this life. He had wanted to ease her struggles not add to them.

Reth gripped his hair.

"I'm sorry,

" he said, his voice as low and humble as he could make it.

"I cannot let you live.

"

Lerrin didn't break eye contact, just nodded slowly and swallowed back the sudden surge of fear that screamed at him to run.

"I'm truly sorry, Lerrin. I want you to know, I will remember this. I will… I will honor this. You have shown yourself a true Alpha today, whether they realize it or not.

"

Lerrin could barely take in the words except to know that he didn't deserve them.

"Thank you.

" They stared at each other a moment longer, then Lerrin sighed.

"Just do it.

"

With a heavy sigh, Reth cupped his forehead in one hand, and his chin in the other giving himself the traction to snap Lerrin's neck.

He was grateful. It was a far more honorable death than having his throat torn out, or his guts spilled.

Lerrin closed his eyes and his heart thrummed in his ears. He didn't want to make things worse for Suhle, but he found himself weak in those moments, reaching for her across the distance—to find her waiting, open, screaming his name in her head, pleading with him.

For as long as he could, he murmured comfort to her, sent images of himself—memories, the feeling in his gut when she smiled, the light in her eyes that fascinated him, the way he'd found a single hair of hers on his bed once and wrapped it around his finger like a ring.

He began to tremble with the tension of waiting for the pain and knew he couldn't let her feel his death the way he'd felt his sisters, so, with his hands fisted on his thighs and his arms shaking from the effort to restrain himself from fighting, he sent,

"I love you, Suhle. More than my own life. Never doubt it.

"

Reth grunted and the dirt under his feet crunched as he braced. Lerrin cut off contact over Suhle's begging and forced himself to relax his neck and shoulders, not to fight as Reth's grip tightened on him and the male hunched over him, pulling Lerrin's head to his chest to get the right angle to make the break.

There was a single, shining moment, where Reth seemed to have him in the grip of a lover and Lerrin ached for Suhle, he held his breath and welcomed death… then the male's hands trembled.

Lerrin heard Reth's voice shoved through his teeth—and also echoing in his cavernous chest currently directly under Lerrin's ear.

"Shift,

" he growled.

Lerrin sucked in.

"What?

" he rasped.

"Shift. Breach the terms. You're going to be dishonored in their eyes anyway. You've already lost Alpha. But I honor you, Lerrin.

"

"But—

"

"Shift for **'s sake. Get loose. Breach the terms! Then I can imprison you instead of kill you. Do it. Now!

"

Lerrin didn't even think—Reth had given that order all the power of the Alpha he'd just submitted to. It was within him now to obey.

Heart hammering, he exploded into beast form and Reth leaped back, cursing as he darted out from under Reth's arm and whirled to face him on the sun-baked ground, his back to Reth's people.

The Hallowed Grounds thundered—the wolves and their allies screaming in hope, the Tree City Anima roaring their disgust.

"He breaches the terms!

" Reth bellowed and the crowd on both sides surged.

Lerrin's beast shook his head so hard his paws scrabbled on the dirt, fighting for control. It did not want to return to submission, but Lerrin roared from within and required it, appearing again, still kneeling as Reth called for his capture.

Guards from the tree city that had been positioned across the front rows of the bowl darted forward, pulling their spears and short swords from their backs.

"NO!

" Reth roared.

"NO BLOODSHED!

"

The guard hesitated, their ranks slowing, but then they pushed on to surround Lerrin. Tobe and Tarkyn reached him first, pulling their weapons, but only using them to keep Lerrin from moving, Tobe screaming to his fighters for control, for restraint, even as the wolves began to rush in from their side, towards Reth.

"CEASE! NOW!

" Lerrin snarled at his own guard, unleashing all the dominance he'd fought to contain against Reth.

His males yelped and scrabbled, their bodies offering submission while their minds still fought.

The crowds across the bowl screamed, called, and cried until the ground vibrated, and Reth and Lerrin found themselves surrounded by warriors—half in submission, half in disciplined restraint, only a hairsbreadth of control between the two armies.

Lerrin, his chest heaving scanned his people, punishing them with his eyes, demanding their submission, then looked at Reth.

"The Lupine Alpha broke the terms!

" Reth bellowed, turning to ensure all of Lerrin's warriors would hear him clearly.

"His discipline belongs to me. The Clan Leader. The King. The Alpha of ALL!

"

The Tree City fighters cheered along with their people, stamping their feet and crowing their victory.

The wolves turned to look at Lerrin, their eyes full of disgust.

He shook his head.

"Stand down,

" he commanded.

"The war is lost.

"

There was a single, silent breath. Then a male voice within the Lupines screamed,

"The King dishonors himself and his people! The Lupines do NOT recognize the Lion!

" His scream was swallowed in a roar from the Lupine side of the bowl and Lerrin cursed as all hell broke loose.