The night never returned to normal.
Not after the shadows.Not after Ironfang.Not after Kael's threat.
The forest felt different — heavier, watching them with a kind of ancient attention.
Ronan didn't let go of Evelyn the entire walk back.
Not once.
His arm stayed locked around her waist, her fingers gripping his forearm for balance as she stumbled through roots and uneven ground. His wolf form had faded, but the intensity in his eyes hadn't — they still shimmered with the afterbite of the shift. Gold. Silver. Wild.
Evelyn felt every tremor of his muscles, every breath he took.She hated how safe she felt.She hated that she wanted to lean into him.She hated that she needed him.
When they reached the protective stone line marking Blackthorn territory, Ronan finally exhaled — like he'd been holding his breath since the moment Kael appeared.
"You're bleeding," Evelyn said quietly.
Ronan glanced down at the slash across his ribs — deep, ugly, still dripping. He shrugged."It's nothing."
She stared at him. "Ronan, you're literally—"
"It's nothing," he repeated, more forceful.
Evelyn swallowed.Right.Alphas and their stupid pride.
They reached the pack clinic — a dimly lit, wooden cabin with herbs hanging from the rafters. Ronan pushed the door open with one hand, the other still on her.
"Sit," he ordered.
She crossed her arms. "You sit."
He didn't argue — which scared her more than anything.
Ronan never backed down.Not from enemies.Not from danger.Not from her.
But now?
He looked… shaken.
Evelyn grabbed a clean cloth, dipped it in water, and pressed it to his wound. He hissed. Not in pain — in frustration.
"Evelyn," he murmured, "you shouldn't have been there."
"You shouldn't have rejected me."
Silence slammed between them.
Ronan's eyes snapped to hers, sharp and pained."Evelyn—"
"No," she whispered, voice cracking. "I need to say this. You threw me away. You ripped something out of me and just stood there."
He looked like she had stabbed him.
"I know."
"You didn't even hesitate."
"I had to."
She pulled back, disgust twisting her stomach."Why? Because I wasn't wolf enough? Because I wasn't chosen enough? Because I wasn't powerful enough?"
A dark laugh escaped him — painful, broken."You think that's why?"
"Then why?" she yelled. "Why did you destroy me?"
Ronan stood slowly, towering over her, his hands clenched.
"Because claiming you," he said in a low, tortured voice, "would have killed me."
Her breath vanished.
Evelyn stared at him, stunned."What… what are you talking about?"
Ronan dragged a hand through his blood-matted hair."The Wolf Goddess. She showed me. The moment our bond snapped into place, she forced a vision inside my skull. I saw my death, Evelyn. I saw myself choking on my own blood. I saw darkness closing in."
He stepped closer.
"And I saw you standing above me… alive… glowing."
Evelyn's knees weakened.
"Ronan—"
He didn't stop.
"I rejected you because claiming you would have ended me. I rejected you because I wanted you to live." His voice cracked. "I rejected you to save you."
Her throat tightened.Her heartbeat thundered.
"But you're still alive," she whispered.
Ronan met her eyes with raw honesty.
"That's what terrifies me."
A shiver ran down her spine.
"What do you mean?"
"The bond isn't broken."He touched his chest."I can feel it. Stronger. Wilder. It's clawing at me, Evelyn. Pulling me to you like gravity. Like fate is forcing us together anyway."
Her breath hitched.
"And worse…" He moved closer, gently taking her wrist. "Your shadows answered me. They listened to me. That shouldn't happen."
"What does it mean?" she whispered.
Ronan leaned his forehead against hers — something instinctual, intimate, ancient.
"It means my rejection didn't free us."His breath shuddered."It fused us."
A loud crash outside shattered the moment.
Ronan spun, growling. Evelyn flinched as the clinic door flew open.
Beta Cassian stumbled inside, breathless, covered in dirt and blood.
"Alpha—" he gasped. "Ironfang left traps on the northern border. Three scouts are down. Kael is marching toward us. He brought—" Cassian swallowed hard. "—he brought his entire war pack."
Ronan's fury darkened the room.
Cassian turned to Evelyn, eyes wide with fear and something like respect.
"They're not just hunting you," he said."They're coming to claim you."
Evelyn's stomach dropped.
Ronan moved instantly.
"No," he snarled. "Not happening. Cassian—slam every gate, double the guards, get the mages awake, send word to my father's old allies." He grabbed Evelyn's hand. "We protect her at all costs."
Cassian nodded sharply and raced out.
Evelyn pulled her hand away."Ronan… your pack is going to be destroyed because of me."
He stepped into her space again, grabbing her chin so she couldn't look away.
"No."His voice dropped to a raw, dangerous whisper."My pack is safe because of you."
Her breath trembled."What?"
He nodded at her hands.
Her fingers were glowing faint silver.
"You're the only reason Ironfang didn't overwhelm us tonight. You saved my life. You saved my wolves."
She shook her head."But I don't know how to control any of it!"
Ronan cupped her face, his touch surprisingly gentle.
"Then I'll teach you."
"You can't teach shadow magic."
"No." His thumb brushed her cheek. "But I can teach you how to fight. How to survive. How to breathe when fear tries to crush you."
Her voice cracked."You're not afraid of me?"
His answer was immediate.
"I'm terrified of losing you."
Evelyn froze.
Her pulse spiked.
Ronan's chest rose and fell sharply as he pulled her closer — too close — his breath brushing her lips.
"Every moment tonight," he whispered, "I kept thinking… I can't lose her. Not again."
The bond pulsed between them, hot, electric.
"Ronan…"She didn't know if it was warning or want.
He didn't care.
He tilted her chin up, eyes wild.
"You are mine to protect, Evelyn Kane."
Then, softer—broken:
"And I don't know what I'll become if someone takes you from me."
The moment held.Burning.Dangerous.Electric.
Until—
A horn blasted across the territory.
A war horn.
The ground shook.
Ronan stiffened.
"They're here."
Evelyn swallowed hard, feeling the shadows rise behind her like wings.
Ronan grabbed her hand.
"Stay with me."
And Evelyn whispered—"For now."
Because she felt it.Deep.Dark.
The prophecy.Her power.The fate that refused to let go.
Everything was about to change.