"You're not going after him alone, Kaelen!" Ariana's voice cracked like a whip through the cabin, her hands balled into fists at her sides. She stood in front of the door, blocking his path, her eyes blazing with a mix of fear and defiance.
Kaelen turned sharply, his newly regained strength radiating off him in waves. His chest rose and fell heavily, the fresh scar across it a stark reminder of how close he'd come to death. "I'm not asking for permission, Ari. Lucian's out there, and I'm ending this—tonight."
She stepped closer, her jaw tight. "You just got back on your feet, and now you're running off to play hero again? What if he kills you this time?"
He glared at her, his voice low and rough. "He won't. I'm not the same broken mess I was. Thanks to you, I've got my strength back—my wolf back. I can feel it."
Ariana's breath hitched, but she didn't back down. "Yeah, and I nearly died to make that happen! You think I'm just gonna let you throw it away?"
