Aria stared at Ronan, heart pounding so loud it drowned out everything he'd just said.
"R–run?" she whispered. "You want us to run?"
Ronan cupped her face gently, thumbs brushing her cheeks as his breath trembled.
"Yes," he said. "It's the only way to keep you safe."
Her pulse tripped over itself. "But… Frostfall. Your pack. Your throne—"
"None of it matters," Ronan cut in softly. "Not compared to your life."
Aria's breath hitched. "Ronan… the council will never forgive this."
"They don't have to," he said. "I'm not asking for their forgiveness."
She stared into his fierce blue eyes and saw the truth there:
He meant it.
He would leave everything.
For her.
Her knees felt weak.
"Ronan," she whispered, "this could destroy your rule."
"Let it," he murmured. "I will not stand by while they drag you away in chains."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"But where would we even go?" she asked. "There's nowhere safe."
"Not true," Ronan said. "Beyond Frostfall, in the old mountains, there are sacred groves where the Devourer's influence weakens. The Moonborn once trained there."
Aria blinked. "How do you know that?"
Ronan hesitated. "Because my father told me before he died. He believed the Moonborn would return one day."
Her throat tightened. "And you think that place will protect me?"
"It won't just protect you," Ronan said. "It will help you survive your awakening."
Aria looked down at her wrist—the mark glowed faintly in the half-light, almost as if it felt the danger approaching.
She swallowed. "When do we leave?"
Ronan didn't hesitate.
"Now."
⸻
Gathering What Cannot Be Left Behind
Ronan moved quickly, collecting supplies from drawers and hidden compartments: two cloaks, dried herbs, a silver dagger, a waterskin, a sealed pouch of powder she didn't recognize.
Aria forced her trembling hands to move, grabbing only what she absolutely needed: a pair of warm boots, the scarf Mae had given her, and the small bracelet from her childhood.
Ronan watched her quietly. "You don't have to bring anything if it slows you down."
"It won't," she said.
"Good." Ronan slung a satchel over his shoulder. "Stay behind me at all times. Don't speak to anyone. And if something happens—"
"Nothing will happen," Aria said firmly. "Not while I'm with you."
Ronan paused, eyes softening for a heartbeat.
Then the moment shattered.
Wolves howled outside.
Not the triumphant war howl.
Not the alarm of battle.
This was the summoning howl—an ancient call for the entire pack to gather.
Aria froze. "They know."
Ronan grabbed her hand. "We're out of time. Come."
He pulled her toward the hidden passage that led out of her room—a narrow stone corridor she never would've noticed without him revealing it.
"How did you know this was here?" she whispered.
Ronan gave a humorless smile. "The Alpha King knows every secret passage in Frostfall. Even the ones the council forgot."
Aria followed as he led her deeper into the shadows.
⸻
The Hidden Path
The corridor twisted and narrowed, the air cold and stale. Their footsteps echoed softly, swallowed by the darkness.
"Ronan…" Aria whispered, "what if the council blocks the exits?"
"They won't expect me to use the old tunnels. They're dangerous and half collapsed."
"And you still want to go through them?" she asked nervously.
Ronan squeezed her hand. "With you? Yes."
Her cheeks warmed despite the cold.
After several minutes, they reached an old door made of reinforced wood and metal. Ronan pressed his palm against a carved rune.
The rune glowed faintly.
Then the door unlocked with a deep click.
Aria stared. "Wolves have magic too?"
"Some," Ronan said. "Old magic, tied to tradition and pack heritage."
He pushed the door open.
A gust of freezing air blew through, carrying scents of snow, pine, and—
Ronan stiffened.
"Rogue wolves," he murmured. "They're close."
Aria tensed. "Are they council guards?"
"No," Ronan said. "These wolves… smell wrong."
A chill ran down her spine. "The Devourer?"
"Not directly," Ronan said. "But its influence twists weaker minds. It may have corrupted wolves beyond our borders."
Aria grabbed his arm. "Then we shouldn't leave this way."
"We have no choice," Ronan said. "The council will reach your room any second now."
He tightened his grip on her hand.
"Stay close," he said. "No matter what you hear."
Aria nodded once, her heart hammering.
They stepped outside into the snow.
⸻
The Pursuit Begins
The forest was dark and dense, shadows stretching between ancient pines. Snow crunched beneath Ronan's boots as he guided Aria through the trees with swift, careful steps.
But they hadn't gone far before howls erupted behind them.
Closer than before.
Angrier.
Determined.
Aria's pulse spiked. "They're after us."
"Of course they are," Ronan growled. "Lyra probably led them."
Aria stumbled at the mention of Lyra's name. "She wouldn't… would she?"
Ronan didn't sugarcoat it.
"She will do anything to prove she's the better protector of Frostfall."
Aria swallowed. "Even betray you?"
Ronan's jaw tightened. "She thinks she's saving the pack."
Aria's throat closed. "And I'm the threat."
"You're not the threat," Ronan said fiercely. "You're the key."
Her eyes widened. "The key to what?"
"Survival," Ronan said.
"The Devourer wants you because you can destroy it. The council wants you because they fear what you could become."
Aria shivered. "And what about you?"
Ronan didn't hesitate.
"I want you alive."
Her breath hitched.
Another howl cut through the forest—this one much closer.
Ronan cursed under his breath. "We need to move faster."
Aria tried to run, but her legs wobbled. Her awakening had drained her. Her body still trembled from the earlier surge.
Ronan scooped her into his arms without warning.
"Ronan!" she gasped. "I can walk—"
"You're exhausted," he said. "And we don't have time for pride."
Aria clung to his shoulders as he moved swiftly through the trees. She could feel his muscles tense beneath her hands, could hear his breath steady and controlled despite the weight he carried.
Behind them, branches snapped.
Voices shouted.
"Fan out!"
"They can't be far!"
"Find the girl!"
Aria's heart dropped. "They're close."
"I know," Ronan whispered. "But they won't find you."
He ducked behind a fallen tree, moving deeper into an old ravine. Snow flurries swirled around them.
Then—
A voice rang out in the distance.
Clear.
Cold.
Familiar.
"RONAN!"
Aria stiffened.
Lyra.
Her voice echoed through the forest like a blade slicing through frost.
"You don't have to run," Lyra called. "Give us the girl, and everything will be forgiven."
Aria's stomach twisted painfully.
Ronan growled, deep and threatening. "She thinks I'm that weak?"
Aria clutched his coat. "She's trying to manipulate you."
"And failing," Ronan muttered.
Lyra's voice came again—sharper.
"Aria Hale! Come out now! The council will give you fair trial—"
Ronan barked a humorless laugh. "Fair trial? They want to cage you."
Aria's chest tightened.
"Ronan," she whispered, "what if they hurt wolves because of us?"
"Then that's on them," Ronan replied. "Not you."
Aria opened her mouth to argue—
But the air shifted.
Her wrist pulsed violently.
THROB—THROB.
She gasped. "Ronan—my mark—!"
He lowered her to her feet and grabbed her shoulders. "Aria—look at me. Focus. Don't let the pulse take over."
But the pulse wasn't pain this time.
It was warning.
A cold whisper slid through her mind:
Moonbreaker…
he comes.
Aria staggered. "Ronan… something's wrong. The Devourer—"
Ronan's gaze snapped to the forest edge.
And then Aria saw it too.
A ripple in the shadows.
A darkness deeper than night.
A dense, swirling fog creeping through the trees.
"Ronan…" she whispered. "It's here."
Ronan moved in front of her instantly, shielding her with his body. "Get behind me."
The temperature plunged.
The trees groaned.
Whispers slithered between the branches.
Lyra's search party went silent.
Then—
A scream ripped through the forest.
Not from Ronan.
Not from Aria.
From one of the council's wolves.
Aria clamped her hands over her mouth as a dark shape dragged the wolf's silhouette into the shadows.
Ronan's voice was cold steel. "It followed us."
Aria trembled. "Ronan… what do we do?"
Ronan reached back, grabbing her hand, their fingers interlocking.
"We run," he said. "But this time, we run for our lives."
And the Devourer's shadow spilled into the clearing behind them.