The ridge settled into an uneasy quiet after the chaos of Rylan's revelation. Wolves returned to their posts, though their eyes never left him. Every growl, every shift of claws against stone, every flick of a tail was a reminder:
He wasn't welcome here.
And yet he stood among us, calm as moonlit water, as if he belonged.
I hated that the bond made him feel closer than he was.
Rowan dismissed the scouts and healers, then turned back to me. "Stay close tonight. I don't trust him."
"I know," I said.
But my gaze drifted to Rylan anyway.
He stood at the edge of the ridge, staring into the forest as if he could see through the darkness. His posture was rigid, shoulders tense, jaw clenched. He looked like a wolf ready to tear the world apart.
Or like a man barely holding himself together.
I tore my eyes away.
Rowan lowered his voice. "Lyra… if he's telling the truth about his brother, we're facing something we've never seen before."
I nodded. "Those rogues… their eyes…"
"Black," Rowan finished. "Like something hollowed them out."
A shiver ran down my spine. "What could do that?"
Rowan hesitated. "Old magic. Forbidden magic."
I frowned. "I thought that was just a story."
"So did I," he said quietly. "Until tonight."
Before I could respond, a sharp whistle cut through the air. One of the perimeter guards sprinted toward us.
"Alpha Rowan! Movement in the trees!"
Instantly, the ridge erupted into motion. Wolves shifted, claws scraping against stone. Growls rumbled through the air. Rowan stepped forward, ready to command.
But Rylan was already moving.
He reached the edge of the ridge in seconds, crouching low, eyes glowing gold. His entire body went still, every muscle coiled.Rowan lowered his voice. "Lyra… if he's telling the truth about his brother, we're facing something we've never seen before."
I nodded. "Those rogues… their eyes…"
"Black," Rowan finished. "Like something hollowed them out."
A shiver ran down my spine. "What could do that?"
Rowan hesitated. "Old magic. Forbidden magic."
I frowned. "I thought that was just a story."
"So did I," he said quietly. "Until tonight."
Before I could respond, a sharp whistle cut through the air. One of the perimeter guards sprinted toward us.
"Alpha Rowan! Movement in the trees!"
Instantly, the ridge erupted into motion. Wolves shifted, claws scraping against stone. Growls rumbled through the air. Rowan stepped forward, ready to command.
But Rylan was already moving.
He reached the edge of the ridge in seconds, crouching low, eyes glowing gold. His entire body went still, every muscle coiled.
"Not rogues," he murmured.
Rowan stiffened. "How do you know?"
Rylan didn't answer. He inhaled deeply, then stood.
"It's one of mine."
A ripple of unease spread through the pack.
Rowan growled. "If this is a trap—"
"It's not," Rylan snapped. "He's alone. Injured."
I stepped forward. "Who is it?"
Rylan hesitated. "My Beta."
The ridge fell silent.
A Bloodfang Beta approaching our territory? Injured? Alone?
That wasn't a trap. That was desperation.
Rowan exchanged a look with me, then nodded. "Bring him in. But if he tries anything—"
"I'll handle him," Rylan said.
He disappeared into the trees, moving with a speed that made my breath catch. Even injured, even surrounded by enemies, he moved like the forest belonged to him.
Minutes later, he returned—half‑carrying, half‑dragging a wolf with dark brown fur matted with blood. The wolf whimpered weakly, collapsing the moment Rylan lowered him to the ground.
He shifted into human form, revealing a man with sharp features and a deep gash across his chest.
"Kael," Rylan said, voice tight. "Stay with me."
Kael coughed, blood staining his lips. "Alpha… I tried… I tried to stop him…"
Rylan's expression darkened. "My brother?"
Kael nodded weakly. "He's… stronger than before. The shadows… they obey him."
Rowan stepped closer, cautious. "What does that mean?"
Kael's eyes flicked to him, then to me. "He's using the old ways. The forbidden ones. He's binding rogues with shadow magic. Controlling them. Twisting them."
My stomach twisted. "Why?"
Kael's gaze found Rylan again. "He wants your throne."
Rylan's jaw clenched. "I figured."
Kael shook his head. "No… he wants more. He wants both packs. He wants the entire northern territory."
Rowan growled. "Over my dead body."
Kael's eyes darkened. "That's exactly what he wants."
Silence fell.
Rylan knelt beside his Beta, voice low. "Kael. Tell me everything."
Kael swallowed hard. "He's building an army. Rogues, deserters, wolves he's broken with shadow magic. He calls them the Hollow."
The Hollow.
The name alone made my skin crawl.
Rowan crossed his arms. "How many?"
Kael hesitated. "Dozens. Maybe more. He's been gathering them for months."
Rylan's expression hardened. "And you didn't tell me?"
Kael's voice cracked. "I tried. He caught me. I barely escaped."
Rylan closed his eyes for a moment, pain flickering across his face. When he opened them, they were full of fire.
"He's going to attack again," Rylan said. "Soon."
Rowan nodded grimly. "Then we prepare."
Kael reached for Rylan's arm. "Alpha… there's more."
Rylan leaned closer. "What?"
Kael's voice dropped to a whisper. "He knows about her."
My breath caught.
Rylan stiffened. "Lyra?"
Kael nodded. "He knows she's your mate. He knows the bond is real."
Rowan growled. "How?"
Kael coughed again, blood pooling at the corner of his mouth. "He felt it. When the bond snapped into place… he felt the shift in the moon's pull."
Rylan's eyes widened. "He can sense the bond?"
"Yes," Kael whispered. "And he wants her."
My heart stopped.
Rowan stepped in front of me instantly. "Over my dead body."
Rylan's voice dropped to a deadly growl. "Over mine."
Kael's breathing grew shallow. "He thinks… if he takes her… he can break you. Break the bond. Break the moon's blessing."
Rylan's entire body went rigid. "He won't touch her."
Kael's eyes fluttered. "He's coming, Alpha. He's coming for her."
Then his body went still.
Rylan froze.
Rowan bowed his head.
I stared at Kael's lifeless form, my heart pounding.
Rylan stood slowly, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His voice was low, dangerous, trembling with barely contained rage.
"He killed my Beta."
Rowan's eyes narrowed. "And he wants my wolves."
Rylan turned to me.
"He wants you."
The bond pulsed—hot, electric, terrifying.
I swallowed hard. "What do we do?"
Rylan's gaze burned into mine.
"We fight," he said. "Together."