Owain's arms were still around her.
Kanah felt his heartbeat against her cheek — fast, uneven, struggling, but warm.
Alive.
Real.
Owain held her as if his body remembered a truth his mind couldn't yet reach. His grip was firm but trembling, protective but unsure. Instinctual.
"Your scent…" he whispered into her hair.
"It calms something inside me. I don't know why."
Kanah swallowed.
Because you used to bury your nose in my neck when you thought no one was watching.
But she didn't say that aloud.
Instead, she whispered, "It's okay if you don't know yet. I'll wait."
Owain pulled back slightly, eyes narrowing with a soft frustration.
"I don't want you to wait. I want to… to know. To understand."
His hand slid inadvertently down her back before he caught himself.
He jerked away, embarrassed.
"I didn't mean— I'm not trying to—"
Kanah gently touched his wrist.
"It's just instinct."
Owain froze.
A soft growl vibrated from his throat.
"…my instincts know you."
Kanah's breath hitched.
That was the first real step.
Yllas Notices the Change
Yllas approached carefully, wings twitching from exhaustion. He kept a few feet of respectful distance, but his eyes were sharp, curious, and a bit jealous.
"How much did you remember, wolf?"
Owain turned stiffly, still blocking Kanah with his body.
"I don't know. Only pieces."
Yllas examined Kanah's shaken form.
"You confronted him," he said softly.
"Not just the monster — the memory of your death."
Kanah hugged her arms around herself.
"It wasn't bravery. It was survival."
Owain turned sharply.
"No," he said.
"It was bravery."
Kanah's breath stilled.
Owain didn't notice the effect his words had on her.
But Yllas did.
He smiled faintly.
"Looks like instinct is ahead of memory."
Helion Reacts in His Own Way
Helion limped forward, curse-marks flickering like restless shadows.
"Well," he drawled, smirking because smirking was safer than feeling,
"at least the wolf isn't trying to tear the world in half anymore."
Owain shot him a glare.
"You keep talking like that, cat, and I'll give you a reason to shift."
Helion clicked his tongue.
"There he is. The brooding mutt with too many emotions."
Owain took a step toward him.
Helion snorted.
"Relax, wolf. I'm glad you're remembering. Really."
His smirk softened.
"She deserves to be remembered."
Kanah looked down.
Her throat tightened.
She hadn't cried since collapsing after the unbonding — but the pressure behind her eyes burned again.
Gerrin Explains What Returned
Gerrin tapped his staff gently into the snow.
"Owain," he said carefully, "I need to ask you… what exactly did you see?"
Owain exhaled shakily and rubbed his temples.
"A moment. Just one. She was crying into me. I felt… protective. And something else."
His brow furrowed.
"Warmth. Safety."
He looked to Kanah.
"And a promise."
Kanah blinked rapidly, trying not to break down again.
"That was real," she whispered.
"You promised you wouldn't let go."
Owain's breath hitched.
"That's the same thing I said today."
Gerrin smiled.
"Memory follows familiarity. The more you relive moments you once had, the faster they return."
Owain nodded slowly.
"But I can't force it, right?"
"No," Gerrin said.
"But instinct can guide you back."
Owain's gaze drifted to Kanah again.
Instinct pulled his feet closer to hers.
He didn't resist it.
Owain Wants to Know Who He Was to Her
Owain crossed his arms awkwardly — both defensive and exposed.
"Kanah… what was I? To you."
Kanah inhaled carefully.
If she said everything, it would overwhelm him.
If she said too little, it might drive him away.
So she said the truest, simplest thing:
"You were the one who stayed."
Owain froze.
His throat bobbed.
"And now?"
Kanah lifted her eyes to his.
"I want you to stay again."
Owain's breath caught.
A tiny, almost invisible tremor went through him.
"I… want that too," he admitted.
"But I need to understand who I'm staying for."
He looked at her — really looked.
Her eyes.
Her trembling hands.
The way she stood, fragile but fiercely stubborn.
Owain whispered:
"Tell me something else about us."
Kanah's voice shook.
"You slept beside me once. You didn't let me face the dark alone."
Owain's fingers twitched.
He whispered back:
"…did I hold you?"
"Yes."
He blinked rapidly.
Then whispered even quieter:
"Did I want to?"
Her answer was soft, steady.
"You couldn't sleep unless you did."
Owain's jaw clenched.
Emotion tore through him —
not memory
but instinct
and something deeper
something older
something trying to break free.
He stepped closer.
Kanah's breath faltered.
Owain's voice went low.
"If I remember more…
don't run from me."
She swallowed.
"I never will."
The First King Interferes
The ground trembled.
Not violently — rhythmically.
As if something enormous was walking in circles beneath them.
"No…" Gerrin whispered.
"He couldn't be starting the next part already —"
He was.
The First King's voice materialized like frost in the air.
"Restoration begins with reclaiming the anchor."
Owain stiffened.
Kanah tensed.
Helion snarled.
Yllas spread his wings defensively.
Gerrin's grip tightened on his staff.
The First King spoke again:
"The wolf must face what severed him.
His mind fell first.
His instinct follows next."
Kanah's heart stopped.
"What does that mean?"
The air behind Owain shimmered.
A shadow formed.
Then another.
Then another.
Owain turned slowly—
And stiffened.
His pupils thinned.
His breath shook.
Not from fear.
From recognition.
Kanah whispered:
"Owain… what do you see…?"
Owain swallowed hard.
"I see… the place I lost you."
Kanah's blood went cold.
The First King formed a ghostlike illusion of the moment before her death:
A rainy alley.
A helpless silhouette.
A wolf too far to reach her.
His claws scraping the ground.
His scream echoing—
"KANAAAAH—!!"
The memory Owain never had.
The memory forced into him now.
Owain staggered back.
He clutched his head.
Kanah ran forward—
"Owain!? OWAIN—!!"
He collapsed to one knee, teeth bared in agony.
Not from pain.
From grief he didn't remember living.
His voice shredded into the air.
"No—no—NO— I didn't get to you— I didn't reach you—WHY DIDN'T I—"
Kanah grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her.
"Owain — I'm alive. I'm here. LOOK at me!"
His breaths came in broken gasps.
"Kanah… gods… I feel like I lost you again—"
She held him.
Both hands on his cheeks.
"You didn't lose me.
I'm right here.
You have me.
Right now.
You have me."
Owain stared at her.
And something broke inside him.
He grabbed her wrist—
gently, but desperately—
as if anchoring himself to her presence.
His voice cracked.
"I don't remember everything yet…
but I know this."
Kanah blinked through tears.
Owain leaned closer.
"I know I loved you."
Her lips parted.
A small, shaken sound escaped her.
Owain's forehead touched hers.
Just barely.
"I know I still do."
Kanah's knees nearly gave out.
"Owain…"
He pulled her into his chest.
Held her tight.
"Don't let me lose it again."
Kanah whispered against him:
"I won't."
And the sigil beneath them flashed.
A piece of the bond reattached.
Owain gasped.
Kanah gasped.
Gerrin's eyes widened.
"It's happening," he whispered.
"His instinct is bringing the memories back."
But the First King wasn't done.
The ground shook again.
Then split.
A deep rumble echoed beneath their feet.
Helion snarled.
Yllas drew his weapon.
Gerrin's staff flared.
Kanah stepped closer to Owain.
"Owain — something's coming."
Owain turned toward the fissure—
His eyes widened.
Kanah whispered:
"What… what is that—?"
From the crack in the earth—
A wolf stepped out.
Massive.
Shadowy.
Eyes burning amber.
Not a beast.
Not a monster.
A perfect copy.
Gerrin whispered, horrified:
"That's not just any wolf."
Owain stiffened.
His voice dropped.
"That's me."
Kanah blinked.
"What…?"
Owain's jaw tightened.
"That's my wild half.
My feral heart.
The part of me that bonded to you first."
Kanah's breath caught.
The First King spoke:
"He must defeat himself…
to reclaim what he lost."
Owain stepped forward.
His shadow-wolf mirrored him.
Kanah's voice shook:
"Owain… don't face it alone—"
He glanced back at her.
His eyes softened.
"Kanah."
She blinked.
His voice steadied.
"You helped me remember who I was."
Kanah swallowed.
"Owain…"
He gave her the faintest smile.
"Now I'll remember for both of us."
He turned back toward the wolf.
Amber eyes met amber.
Human met feral.
Past met present.
Owain exhaled.
"Let's finish this."