The ridge felt colder after Kael's death, as if the shadows themselves had crept closer. Wolves moved quietly now, their growls low, their eyes sharp. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Rylan stood over his Beta's body, shoulders rigid, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white. His expression was carved from stone, but the bond pulsed with something raw and violent beneath the surface.
Grief.
Rage.
A promise of blood.
Rowan ordered two warriors to prepare Kael's body for burial rites, but Rylan didn't move. He watched every motion, every touch, as if memorizing the moment.
I approached slowly. "Rylan…"
He didn't look at me. "He was with me since we were pups. Before I was Alpha. Before I knew what power meant."
His voice was low, rough, dangerous.
"He followed me into every battle. Every mistake. Every victory. And now he's dead because of my brother."
I swallowed. "Kael chose to warn you. He saved lives tonight."
Rylan finally turned his head, golden eyes burning. "He shouldn't have had to."
The bond pulsed again, warm and heavy, pulling at something deep inside me. I hated it. I hated how it made me feel his pain as if it were my own.
Rowan approached, his expression grim. "We'll bury him at dawn. For now, we need to plan."
Rylan straightened. "There's nothing to plan. We hunt him."
Rowan raised a brow. "Your brother?"
"Yes."
"And you think we'll just follow you into Bloodfang territory?"
Rylan's jaw tightened. "You don't have to follow me. Just stay out of my way."
Rowan stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "If you go alone, you'll die."
"Then I die," Rylan snapped. "But I won't sit here while he builds an army."
Rowan didn't flinch. "You're not thinking clearly."
Rylan's voice dropped to a growl. "I'm thinking perfectly clearly. My brother killed my Beta. He's threatening my pack. And now he's coming for—"
His gaze flicked to me.
The bond pulsed.
Rowan stepped between us. "She's under my protection."
Rylan's eyes darkened. "She's under mine too."
The tension crackled like lightning.
I stepped forward. "Enough. Both of you."
They fell silent, though neither looked away.
I turned to Rylan. "You can't go alone. You know that."
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I don't want your pack involved."
Rowan scoffed. "Too late for that."
Rylan ignored him. His gaze locked onto mine. "If he wants you, he'll come here. And I won't let him touch you."
My heart stuttered.
"I don't need your protection," I said, though my voice wasn't as steady as I wanted.
Rylan stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You do. Because he won't come for you as a wolf. He'll come for you as a shadow. And shadows don't fight fair."
A chill ran down my spine.
Rowan crossed his arms. "Then we prepare for him."
Rylan shook his head. "You don't understand. He doesn't attack head‑on. He corrupts. He twists. He breaks wolves from the inside."
Rowan frowned. "Explain."
Rylan hesitated, then spoke quietly. "He can enter dreams."
My breath caught. "Dreams?"
Rylan nodded. "He can plant fear. Doubt. Commands. He can make wolves turn on each other without ever lifting a claw."
Rowan's expression darkened. "That's impossible."
"It shouldn't be," Rylan said. "But it is."
I swallowed hard. "How do we stop him?"
Rylan looked at me, eyes softening. "You don't. I do."
Rowan growled. "You're not going after him alone."
Rylan's voice hardened. "I am."
"No," I said.
Both men turned to me.
I stepped forward, meeting Rylan's gaze. "If he wants me, then I'm part of this. Whether you like it or not."
Rylan's jaw clenched. "I won't use you as bait."
"I'm not bait," I said. "I'm a warrior. And I'm not hiding while others fight for me."
Rylan stared at me for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
Respect.
Fear.
Something deeper.
Rowan sighed. "She's right."
Rylan glared at him. "I wasn't talking to you."
Rowan smirked. "Doesn't matter. She's still right."
Rylan turned back to me. "If you come with me, you listen to everything I say. You don't run off. You don't fight alone. You stay where I can see you."
I raised a brow. "You don't give orders here."
He stepped closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "I do when your life is on the line."
The bond pulsed again—hot, electric, overwhelming.
I forced myself to look away. "We'll discuss it later."
Rowan cleared his throat. "For now, we need to rest. Dawn will come quickly."
Rylan nodded reluctantly. "I'll take the first watch."
Rowan frowned. "You're injured."
"I've had worse."
Rowan didn't argue. He simply turned away, barking orders to the warriors.
Rylan walked toward the edge of the ridge, settling into a crouch as he scanned the forest below. His silhouette was sharp against the moonlight, a lone wolf guarding a pack that wasn't his.
I watched him for a moment, unable to look away.
He felt it.
He turned his head slightly, eyes meeting mine across the distance.
The bond hummed.
Warm.
Dangerous.
Unavoidable.
I tore my gaze away and headed toward the healer's tent.
But even as I walked, I felt him watching me.
Protecting me.
And for the first time, I didn't know if that terrified me…
…or comforted me.