Kaelan’s breath hitched as he stood frozen in the doorway, his gaze locked on the sight before him. Mira was unrecognizable in her fury, the blade in her hands gleaming with blood as she relentlessly struck Gareth’s lifeless form. The room reeked of iron and death, the floor slick with the evidence of Mira’s rage.
He had expected her to be afraid, to shrink away from confrontation, but this… this was something else entirely. Her movements were precise, fueled by a determination he had never seen in her before. Yet, as the final strike landed and there was nothing left to destroy, her shoulders heaved, and the fire in her eyes dimmed.
Slowly, she turned to face him. The rage that had consumed her moments before was gone, replaced by a trembling uncertainty. The sword fell from her hands, clattering to the ground as she stumbled forward.
“Kaelan,” she choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. Tears streamed down her face, carving paths through the grime on her cheeks. “I don’t know how I did it. I don’t know what came over me.”
Kaelan caught her as she collapsed into his arms, her body shaking violently. He held her tightly, one hand stroking her hair as the other supported her weight.
“He led the rogues here,” she murmured against his chest. “He killed my father. He deserved it, didn’t he?”
Her wide, tear-filled eyes searched his face, desperate for validation, for some reassurance that she wasn’t a monster. Kaelan cupped her face, his thumb gently brushing away a stray tear.
“You did what you had to do,” he said firmly, his voice steady despite the tumult of emotions swirling within him.
For a moment, she stared at him, her expression a mixture of relief and disbelief. Then, as the weight of what she had done settled on her shoulders, she broke down completely, sobbing into his chest.
Kaelan’s wolf stirred within him, not with the usual feral protectiveness but with pride. This was his mate—strong, capable, and unyielding. She wasn’t the weak, wolfless girl the pack had labeled her as. She was fierce, powerful, and his.
“I’ve never doubted you, Mira,” Kaelan whispered, though deep down, he knew he had. But now, watching her stand in the aftermath of her triumph, he felt a surge of hope and pride he hadn’t known he was capable of.