Snow swirled in a slow circle around them as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Owain stepped toward the creature that wore his shape —
same massive build, same amber eyes, same sharp claws —
but wild.
Unbound.
Untamed.
His wolf.
His instinct.
His deepest, oldest self.
The wolf paced in a half-circle, tail flicking low, hackles vibrating with tension. Its eyes locked onto Kanah behind Owain — and its lips pulled back over gleaming teeth.
Kanah flinched.
Owain's voice cracked like thunder.
"Don't look at her."
The wolf's gaze snapped back to him.
Helion's curse-marks flared.
"That thing is pure instinct. If it gets to her—"
Owain cut him off without looking back.
"It won't."
Gerrin stepped forward, gripping his staff tightly.
"Owain, listen carefully. The feral self isn't a monster — it's your first response to danger. Your wild half bonded to Kanah before your mind or heart did."
Kanah blinked.
"Before…?"
Gerrin nodded.
"Your wolf fell for her first."
Kanah covered her mouth in shock.
Owain swallowed, throat bobbing.
His wolf snarled, pacing faster.
Yllas whispered, "It doesn't recognize her anymore."
Gerrin nodded grimly.
"That's why this fight matters. If Owain can't reclaim his wild half, he can't reclaim the bond."
Kanah's heart stuttered painfully.
"Owain—are you sure—are you sure you can fight that?"
Owain didn't answer immediately.
He rolled his shoulders back.
He exhaled slow.
Then he said:
"I'm not fighting it."
Everyone froze.
Helion blinked.
Yllas tensed.
Gerrin nearly dropped his staff.
Kanah whispered,
"Owain… then what are you doing?"
Owain stared at his wolf.
His voice softened.
"I'm taking back what I gave you."
Kanah held her breath.
Owain continued:
"My wolf didn't bond to you because you were weak.
It bonded because I wanted to protect you.
Because you mattered."
Kanah trembled.
Owain's wolf growled louder, baring its fangs.
Owain stepped closer.
"You're not my enemy," he murmured.
"You're the part of me that remembers her best."
Gerrin whispered:
"…good. Keep going."
Owain's wolf snapped its jaws.
Owain didn't flinch.
"You guarded her when I couldn't. Even when I didn't know why."
Kanah covered her trembling lips.
Owain raised his voice.
"You dragged me across the snow to reach her.
You made me fight the First Beast.
You tore yourself apart when the bond broke."
Kanah's knees weakened.
Owain took another step.
"You're the reason I stayed alive long enough to meet her."
The wolf blinked.
Slow.
Conflicted.
Gerrin whispered urgently:
"It's listening—Owain—keep talking—"
Owain inhaled deeply.
"And I'm grateful."
The wolf stopped pacing.
Owain stepped until he was only a few feet away from the huge creature.
"You are not the part of me that must be destroyed," he said quietly.
"You are the part of me I must reclaim."
Kanah's breath hitched.
Owain lifted his chin.
"So if you want me—"
He slammed a fist into his own palm.
"—come take me back."
The wolf lunged.
The Fight Begins
The wolf hit Owain like a falling boulder.
They crashed together in a blur of claws and teeth.
Snow exploded beneath them.
The earth cracked.
Owain rolled, barely avoiding the wolf's bite.
He threw an elbow into the wolf's ribs.
The wolf responded with a swipe that tore across Owain's shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
Kanah screamed.
Helion held her back.
"Don't interfere — you'll get him killed!"
Yllas clenched his jaw.
"He needs to fight himself."
Gerrin nodded.
"This isn't a physical battle — this is dominance. The wild must choose him."
Owain shoved the wolf backward.
The wolf snarled, snapping at his throat.
Owain growled back —
low, animal, instinctive.
Kanah trembled.
"That's not… just fighting…"
Gerrin whispered:
"He's speaking its language."
Owain crouched, hands clawed.
The wolf mirrored him.
Two halves of one soul.
Kanah took a step forward before she even realized.
"Owain—!"
Helion grabbed her arm.
"Don't."
"But he's bleeding—"
"If you intervene," Helion growled softly, "his wolf will see him as weak."
Kanah's breath shook.
Owain twisted as the wolf pounced again.
He slammed his forearm into the wolf's throat.
They rolled through the snow, leaving a trail of crimson.
Owain gritted his teeth.
"You think— I'm going to— lose to myself—?"
The wolf crushed him into the ground.
A claw pressed against his chest.
Kanah choked.
"Owain—!!"
Owain grabbed the wolf's muzzle and snarled into its face:
"I didn't lose her."
The wolf froze.
Owain shoved it off.
They skidded apart, chests heaving.
Owain wiped blood from his lip.
"I didn't lose her," he repeated.
"I let her choose."
Kanah covered her mouth.
Owain pointed at the wolf.
"And I'm choosing her again."
The wolf's ears flicked.
A low sound — not a growl.
A whine.
Gerrin gasped.
"It's yielding—!"
Owain approached slowly.
His wolf lowered its head.
Kanah held her breath.
Owain placed a hand on the wolf's skull.
"You miss her too," he whispered.
The wolf leaned into his touch.
A pulse of amber light erupted between them.
Kanah gasped.
Yllas shielded his eyes.
Helion cursed under his breath.
Gerrin smiled.
"It's returning.
The wild bond."
The wolf dissolved into amber mist —
and sank into Owain's chest.
Owain staggered.
Kanah ran to him.
"Owain—!!"
She caught him as his knees buckled.
His eyes lifted to hers —
a mix of pain
and memory
and instinct
and something deeper.
He lifted a trembling hand.
And cupped her cheek.
Kanah froze.
"Owain…?"
He swallowed.
His voice cracked.
"You cried into me once… like this… didn't you?"
Kanah nodded, unable to speak.
Owain brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
"And I held you…
like this…
didn't I?"
Kanah covered his hand with both of hers.
"Yes," she whispered.
Owain leaned his forehead against hers.
His breath trembled.
"I'm getting everything back," he whispered.
"I can feel it."
Kanah smiled through tears.
"Owain…"
He closed his eyes.
"Don't let me stop.
Don't let me lose it again."
"You won't," she whispered.
"I'll be here. No matter how long it takes."
Owain exhaled shakily.
Then—
The First King's voice cut through the moment like a blade.
"The wolf is reclaimed.
Two trials remain."
Kanah's smile faded.
Owain stiffened.
Gerrin's eyes widened.
"Two…?"
Helion whispered, "He's not done."
Yllas cursed under his breath.
Kanah tightened her grip on Owain.
"What… what trials?"
The First King answered:
"The heart.
And the promise."
Owain's hand shook against her cheek.
Kanah swallowed hard.
"Owain… does that mean…?"
Owain whispered:
"I think I'm about to remember everything."