Page 52 of Howl About That

His Beta materialized at his side within seconds, Dax's steel-grey eyes already assessing the situation with military precision.

"Take a group of our enforcers to that fire," Keiro commanded. "And call the fire department now."

"On it," Dax replied, already moving toward a cluster of pack enforcers. His voice carried across the clearing as he began mobilizing his team with the efficiency of someone who'd commanded troops in actual war zones.

Poppy turned to where Neve stood. "Get a group of our enforcers and help Dax's team," she ordered, her Alpha presence radiating outward like heat from a forge. "They'll need every available hand to stop that fire from spreading."

"Already moving," Neve confirmed, her usual unflappable demeanor intact.

Keiro felt a surge of pride watching both their people respond with seamless coordination. This was what they'd envisioned—wolves and lions working together as a unified force.

Then he caught a scent that made his blood turn to ice.

Fifty distinct lion signatures were approaching fast, their aggressive musk carrying undertones of violence and desperation. These weren't pride members coming to help or celebrate—these were rogues, and they were charging straight for the celebration with deadly intent.

The first wave crested the hill like a golden tsunami, their roars echoing across the clearing. At the front of the charge ran a massive male lion with a dark mane and familiar blue-green eyes that blazed with eleven years of festering resentment.

"Sander," Poppy breathed, her voice carrying a mixture of fury and something that might've been relief. Finally, the enemy had shown his true face.

Chaos erupted as guests realized what was happening.

Keiro started barking orders, his Alpha voice cutting through the panic. "Everyone get to your cars! Move now!"

But instead of fleeing, something extraordinary happened. Pack members and pride members alike turned toward the approaching threat, their faces set with grim determination.

"We're not letting you handle this alone," called out Dominic, one of his pack members. "We have your back!"

"This is our future too," added Sarah, a lioness from Poppy's pride, her claws extending. "We'll fight to protect what you're building here."

Keiro could hardly believe what he was witnessing. Wolves and lions standing shoulder to shoulder, ready to defend not just their leaders but the vision of unity. His chest swelled with an emotion too large for words.

He met Poppy's gaze, seeing his own amazement reflected in her brilliant blue eyes.

"Alright then," Keiro said, his voice carrying across the clearing. "Let's show them what we're made of."

Poppy's smile was fierce. "Let's deal with Sander once and for all."

The shift took him with violent efficiency, bones restructuring and muscles expanding as his massive black wolf emerged. Beside him, Poppy's lioness materialized in a blur of tawny gold and deadly grace, her blue eyes blazing with predatory focus.

Around them, the clearing filled with the sounds of transformation as fifty wolves and lions took their true forms, creating a unified force that would have been unthinkable just weeks ago. They stood as one unit behind their Alphas—a living testament to the future Keiro and Poppy were building together.

The rogue lions soon crashed into their line like a breaking wave, but Keiro's attention was immediately claimed by three massive rogues who broke away from the main group, clearly targeting him specifically. Sander's strategy was obvious—eliminate the Alpha and watch the resistance crumble.

Keiro's wolf smiled, baring teeth like ivory daggers. These rogues had no idea what they were dealing with. The first attacker lunged with claws extended, aiming for his throat.Keiro sidestepped with fluid grace, using the rogue's momentum against him as he clamped powerful jaws around the lion's neck. The satisfying crack of vertebrae told him everything he needed to know about that particular threat.

The second rogue tried to attack from his blind side, but Keiro's years of combat training served him well. He spun with devastating efficiency, his massive paws catching the lion across the face with enough force to send him sprawling. Before the rogue could recover, Keiro was on him, ending the fight with brutal finality.

The third lion proved more cautious, circling with the wariness of a predator who'd realized his prey was more dangerous than anticipated. But caution didn't save him—not when Keiro's wolf was running on the protective fury of a mated Alpha defending his territory and his mate. He felt Poppy's presence before he saw her, her lioness moving to fight beside him with the seamless coordination of a true partner.

Together, they were magnificent—a force of nature that moved with deadly precision, each covering the other's vulnerabilities while maximizing their combined strengths. They carved through the rogue forces like fire through dry grass, their bond allowing them to anticipate each other's movements with supernatural accuracy. This was what they were meant to be—not just lovers, but warriors fighting side by side for their shared future.

Around them, the battle raged as wolves and lions proved that unity made them stronger than the sum of their parts. Sander's rogues, for all their numbers and desperation, were being systematically destroyed by a force they'd never anticipated.

Keiro watched Sander's golden form prowling the edges of the battle, clearly realizing his plan was failing catastrophically.The coward had hung back while his followers died, but now desperation was making him reckless.

When Sander's lion finally charged, it wasn't toward Keiro—it was straight for Poppy.

Every protective instinct Keiro possessed screamed at him to intercept, to place himself between his mate and the threat. But something deeper held him back. This was Poppy's fight. Sander represented eleven years of doubt, undermining, and manipulation. She deserved to face him on her own terms. Keiro positioned himself close enough to intervene if needed, but far enough back to let Poppy lead. His role was support, not salvation.