My heart hardened like a stone. I remembered Silas eyeing me like a specimen, calling me and my kind an abomination.

I flashed fangs at Anika’s back. “You’re talking about us.”

“Partly,” she said without turning around. “Guardians are one of many alterations the Keepers created in the centuries they’ve walked the earth. Their own lengthened lives are another.”

“Anika,” Shay said. “What will sealing the Rift do to the Guardians?”

She turned slowly. “When the Elemental Cross locks the Rift, it will restore the balance of nature, returning all creatures to their true essence.”

Shay frowned. “What does that mean?”

I stared at Anika, stunned as the truth settled into my bones. “It means we’ll be wolves.”

She nodded, folding her arms over her chest.

Shay’s brow furrowed. “But you’re wolves now.”

“No,” I said slowly. “We will only be wolves. Not human.”

I glanced at Anika. “Am I right?”

“Yes,” Anika said. “Guardians were made from the beasts that rule their souls, forced to share a human body so they would be servants to the Keepers.”

“We won’t be able to shift anymore?” Mason asked.

“You will be returned to your true selves,” Anika said.

Sabine glared at Ethan. “Did you know about this?”

The muscles in his jaw worked as he forced himself to meet her furious eyes. “Yes.”

She shoved him backward. “You didn’t say anything!”

He grabbed her arms, holding her tight. “I’m sorry.”

“Why?” She was shaking, still glaring at him in fury.

“I didn’t think we’d live to see this happen.” He smiled sadly as he pulled her into his chest. “I hate this too, Sabine. I don’t want to let go of you.”

A deep ache was building inside me, but Sabine and Ethan weren’t the only lovers I was worried about. I searched for Ansel, finding him shaking and pale. Bryn stood beside him, eyes wide with disbelief.

Shay followed my gaze. He pivoted around, shaking his fist at Anika.

“No,” he said. “There is no way in hell.”

“You must.”

“You can’t do this to them!”

Shay’s shouts drew the attention of the Searchers in the library. They moved slowly. Some of the warriors encircled us, while others gathered to flank Anika, their hands casually resting near their weapons.

“Shit.” Connor rubbed his temples. “Anika, we can’t fight these Guardians. They’re our friends. They risked their lives for us.”

“We don’t have a choice.” Anika’s eyes were flinty. “The Rift must be sealed.”

“No!” Ansel pushed past Bryn. Only Tess grabbed him, stopping him from reaching Anika. “This is my family! I’ll be alone.”

Tess leaned down. “You’ll stay with us, Ansel. We’ll take care of you.”

Ansel began to weep. My father pulled him out of Tess’s arms.

“Ansel,” he murmured. “Find your strength. You can endure this.”

I stared at my father, not believing what I was hearing. “You want this to happen?”

“It’s not a matter of wanting, Calla,” he said slowly. “Only necessity. The evil the Keepers brought to this world cannot be allowed to return.”

Mason’s voice startled me. “He’s right, Calla.”

Beside him Nev was nodding. “We are wolves. That’s what we’ve always been.”

Ansel wiped his face, looking at Mason, who came to his side and pulled him into a fierce hug. “I’m sorry, man.”

“Don’t be,” Ansel said, smiling weakly. “My father is right. I’ll survive and this has to happen.”

“Ansel.” My voice broke.

“It’s okay, sis.” Ansel’s smile remained brittle. His eyes slid over to Bryn, full of regret. I felt cold, remembering his words in the Academy courtyard.

“All I am is less than what I was. And I can’t ever be more. Eventually Bryn will realize that. And she’ll leave. It will be for the best.”

My limbs trembled as I grasped for any other options. My father’s steady gaze weighed on me. A part of me knew he was right, as was Anika. The Keepers twisted everything in their world. The earth should be rid of any traces of their influence. It wasn’t the thought of forever living as a wolf that I feared. That possibility felt strange, but somehow exhilarating. The wildness of that life called to the deepest parts of my soul. And I knew my father, Mason, and Nev were already yielding to that call.

But another part of me was breaking, defeated. Had we come this far only to lose so much? I couldn’t imagine a life without Ansel running at my side. He was my packmate, my brother. He belonged with us. And with Bryn.

She was crying, reaching for Ansel even as he moved away from her, shaking his head.

“Wait.” Sabine broke out of Ethan’s embrace, striding toward Anika. The Searchers behind her drew their swords and blocked her path. Ethan swore and aimed his crossbow at them.

“Oh, please.” Sabine rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to attack you. I just want to ask a question.”

Anika raised her eyebrows.

“When Ansel told us how Guardians were made, he said you wouldn’t do that for him.”

“That’s right,” Anika said. “It violates our code. We won’t destroy a wolf to make a Guardian.”

Sabine took a deep breath. “What if you weren’t destroying a wolf?”

Ethan slowly lowered his crossbow. “Sabine, no.”

She ignored him, her gaze moving to Ansel. “What if it was given freely?”

I stared at her. She couldn’t be offering what I thought she was. Could she?

“I don’t understand,” Anika said.

Ansel’s eyes widened. “You would do that?”

She nodded, but looked back at Anika. “If it’s possible.”

Ethan shoved his way to Sabine’s side. “Stop this. It’s too much.”

“This isn’t your decision.” Sabine put her hand on his chest.

He folded his hands over hers but didn’t stop her when she turned to Anika.