The Devourer pulse rolled through the forest a third time.
Not sound.
Not mana.
Not magic.
Instinct.
Sharp as talons. Heavy as blood.
Kanah felt it hit her sternum like a hammer.
She gasped, fingers twisting in Owain's shirt as her knees buckled.
Owain caught her instantly, snarling.
"KANA—look at me—LOOK—"
Her vision blurred—
black-gold veins flickering beneath her skin—
her hunger twitching awake like a startled beast.
Helion snapped his gaze to Gerrin.
"Is her father attacking?!"
Gerrin's expression tightened.
"No. This isn't from the father. This is—"
His breath stopped.
Yllas stepped forward sharply, wings half-flared.
"Speak."
Gerrin whispered:
"It's the brother."
A silence fell.
Heavy.
Wrong.
Ilai looked at Kanah in horror.
"Sweetheart… I thought your father said he was dormant?"
Kanah trembled.
"He lied."
THE BROTHER AWAKENS
The pulse struck again.
Kanah doubled over.
Owain lifted her, arms steady despite the tremors running through his own muscles.
"Kana—stay with me—hey—HEY—look at my eyes—"
But she couldn't.
Not when the pulse hit her resonant center
—not her mind—
not her bones—
but the bite.
The incomplete bond.
She gasped, clutching her throat.
"Owain—it's—it's hitting the bite—it's—AGH—!!"
Owain snarled.
"Gerrin—WHAT DO I DO?!"
Gerrin moved forward, pressing his hands over Kanah's chest.
Silver light flared between his palms.
"Kana, breathe—focus—eyes on me—Good—again—"
Another Devourer pulse slammed outward from the fortress ruins.
Kanah's scream tore from her throat.
Owain's eyes widened in panic.
"That's it. We're finishing the bite. NOW."
Gerrin grabbed his arm.
"No!"
Owain nearly ripped his hand away.
"SHE IS IN PAIN—!"
Gerrin hissed, eyes bright with strain.
"And if you bite her when she's riding a Devourer pulse, the bond will overload and she could LOSE her mind!"
Kanah's breath choked.
"O…Owain…"
Owain's heart broke.
He pulled her into his chest, rocking slightly.
"I'm here. I'm right here. You're okay, little wolf. You're okay—"
But a moment later, he asked quietly:
"What happens if we don't stabilize her?"
Gerrin swallowed.
"The Devourer seed inside her will sync with the wrong frequency."
Yllas growled.
"The brother's."
Kanah's breath froze.
"No—NO—I don't want—OWAIN—"
Owain held her face, forcing her gaze into his.
"Listen to me. He doesn't get you. Ever. I don't care if he bleeds resonance or tears the sky open—I don't care if he calls your bones or your hunger. He does. Not. Get. You."
Her tears fell hot and fast.
"Owain—please don't leave me—"
His voice cracked.
"I won't. Not even for death."
THE FOREST AWAKES TO THEIR RUN
The guardian beast paced behind them restlessly—
its claws digging trenches into the forest floor as it snarled at the Devourer pulses.
Ilai pointed toward a gap between towering black pines.
"There! A cliff shelf leads to an old hunter's path. We can move fast, hide easier."
Owain nodded once, pulling Kanah into his arms again.
"Everyone stay tight. We run on my signal."
Helion crouched.
"Scouts incoming. Six of them. Fast."
Yllas inhaled once.
"Then we will be faster."
Gerrin raised a shimmering barrier over Kanah.
"I can hold off their resonance for a few minutes, no more."
Owain whispered into Kanah's hair:
"Stay with me."
Her breath trembled.
"I'm with you."
He took one step—
And the forest exploded.
THE FIRST ASSASSINS
Six silhouettes dropped from the trees—
thin, shadow-boned shapes wearing Devourer markings, eyes burning black-gold.
They moved like ghosts.
But their claws were real.
Helion leapt first, slamming into one mid-air with a snarl.
"One down!"
The guardian beast charged, swatting another into a tree so hard the bark splintered.
Yllas unleashed a scorching stream of frost-flame, freezing two assassins solid.
Owain ran—
Kanah held tight—
his claws cutting through the black roots as they fled deeper into the pines.
But the assassins were coordinated.
The remaining two sprinted directly at Kanah.
Owain whirled, baring his teeth.
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!"
He lunged.
But Gerrin was faster.
Silver mana burst from his palms, wrapping the assassins in glowing chains.
"Strike NOW—!"
The guardian did, crushing them with one swipe.
Ilai clung to a root, gasping.
Kanah trembled violently in Owain's arms.
"Owain—something's wrong—my chest—it's—"
Gerrin pressed a hand to her sternum.
Small, crackling black veins pulsed under her skin.
"No," Gerrin whispered. "Already?!"
Owain's breath hitched.
"What is that?"
Gerrin's voice shook.
"Her Devourer lineage is syncing to the brother's frequency. If we don't finish the wolf-bond soon… she may imprint to him by force."
Kanah screamed—
A raw, terrified sound.
"No—NO—I don't WANT HIM—I DON'T KNOW HIM—I WANT—OWAIN—I WANT YOU—OWAIN—!!"
Owain hugged her as if trying to fuse their hearts together.
"I'm here— I'm here— KANA, I'M HERE—"
Her nails dug into his shoulders desperately.
"Owain—help me—please—help me—"
Owain's throat tightened painfully.
He looked at Gerrin.
"WHEN can I finish the bite?"
Gerrin whispered:
"When the pulse drops."
Yllas shouted from behind, sensing another wave coming:
"Then move!"
Owain roared:
"RUN!"
And they did.
Through trees bending under Devourer pressure.
Through air thickening with resonance.
Through instinct choking like smoke.
Kanah sobbed weakly into Owain's neck.
"Don't let him—don't let him take me—"
Owain kissed her forehead.
"He won't," he growled.
"Because you're mine."
Helion yelled from ahead:
"Clearing up ahead! We can defend from there!"
But just as they reached the break in the trees—
Kanah inhaled sharply.
And collapsed.
Not from exhaustion.
Not from fear.
Her Devourer eye flashed open—
bright gold-black—
and she whispered:
"He's here."
Owain froze.
"Who?"
Her voice cracked into a whisper:
"My brother."
The forest went still.
Too still.
Ilai whispered:
"…Where?"
Kanah lifted a trembling hand—
And pointed straight ahead.
Owain followed her finger.
Saw the silhouette.
Tall.
Predatory.
Devourer.
Standing in the clearing—
smiling faintly—
as if he had been waiting for them the whole time.
Her brother murmured:
"Sister."
Kanah broke.
Owain snarled.
And the war began.