Ashton's POV
"You care about her."
Marissa's voice echoed off the stone walls of the corridor, sharp and furious.
Ashton didn't slow his steps. "Lower your voice."
"Why?" she snapped, moving in front of him and forcing him to stop. "So no one hears the truth?"
He stared down at her, jaw tight. "You're making a scene."
"Oh, I'm making a scene?" she laughed bitterly. "You've been defending that little omega all day. After you rejected her. After you humiliated her. And now that the Lycan King looks at her, suddenly you're her protector?"
"That's not what this is."
"You're jealous."
The word hit hard.
He didn't answer fast enough.
Marissa's eyes flashed. "You still love her."
Silence.
Her nostrils flared. "Why would you care about her when I'm your mate? You shouldn't give a damn about that little wh—"
"Finish that sentence," Ashton warned, voice dropping dangerously.
"She's spreading her legs for the Lycan King to climb ranks and everyone knows it—"
His growl shook the hallway.
"Enough."
A few pack members at the end of the corridor froze.
Marissa stepped closer instead of backing down. "You look pathetic defending her. She's embarrassing this pack."
"No," Ashton shot back, fury finally breaking through, "you're embarrassing yourself. Those rumors are disgusting."
"They're true."
"They're not."
"You don't know that!"
"I know her," he snapped.
That shut her up for half a second.
Then her hand struck his face.
The sound cracked through the hallway.
Ashton didn't move. Didn't flinch. Just slowly turned his head back toward her.
Her chest was heaving. "You're supposed to care about me."
His voice went ice cold. "I don't recognize the person standing in front of me right now."
Her expression flickered—hurt, then rage.
"You're choosing her."
"I'm choosing what's right."
"And what is that?"
"Protecting someone who doesn't deserve to be torn apart by lies."
She stared at him like she hated him.
"Pathetic," she spat.
He didn't argue again.
He just turned and walked away.
Katie's "room" looked smaller than ever in the daylight.
Ashton knocked softly.
"Yeah?" her voice came from inside.
He stepped in and felt something twist in his chest.
She deserved better than a storage space with a mattress.
"You shouldn't be living like this," he muttered.
She gave a small shrug. "It's fine."
It wasn't.
He rubbed the back of his neck before speaking again. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For kissing you." His voice was quiet now. "After you confessed… something came over me. That wasn't fair to you. I rejected you, and then I confused you. I won't do that again."
Katie studied him for a moment before nodding.
"I know," she said softly.
A brief silence passed between them.
"I argued with Marissa," Ashton added.
Katie stiffened immediately.
"She won't spread anything else," he said.
A flicker of relief crossed her face… followed by determination.
"There's something I need to show you," she said.
He frowned slightly. "Show me?"
She nodded. "But… we need somewhere private."
His brows lifted. "Private?"
"I don't want anyone else seeing this."
That was enough for him.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go."
At Ashton's house, the air felt different.
Calmer. Safer.
Katie stood in the middle of the living room, her hands trembling slightly.
"I've been hearing her," she whispered.
"Your wolf?" Ashton asked.
She nodded.
"She's been talking to me. Her name is Rachel."
Ashton didn't laugh. Didn't question it.
He simply nodded once.
"Show me."
Katie closed her eyes.
For a moment nothing happened.
Her breathing slowly became uneven.
Inside her mind, she pleaded.
Rachel… please. I trust him.
Silence answered her.
Then a quiet voice echoed in her thoughts.
He isn't our mate.
I know, Katie replied silently. But he's my friend.
A long pause stretched between them.
Then—
Katie's eyes snapped open.
Gold.
Bright. Powerful. Unmistakable.
Ashton sucked in a breath. "Wow…"
The glow wasn't unstable.
It was controlled.
Ancient.
"She's real," Katie whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm not broken."
"You were never broken," Ashton said quietly.
Then something shifted in the air.
The sun was still up, but the pull of the coming full moon suddenly felt heavier.
Katie's body trembled.
"I think it's happening tonight," she breathed.
Ashton stepped a little closer. "The first shift is always painful."
Nervousness flashed across her face.
"Do you want me to stay here?" he asked carefully.
She hesitated.
"Or…" he added gently, "I could come with you. Just for moral support."
Relief immediately crossed her face.
"Yeah," she said. "Please."
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Katie barely made it ten steps into the clearing before the pain hit.
She collapsed to her knees.
Her scream tore through the trees.
Ashton's heart nearly stopped.
"Katie!"
Her back arched violently as her fingers clawed into the dirt.
Bones cracked.
Muscles tore and reformed beneath her skin.
Another scream followed—raw and primal.
Ashton took a step forward but forced himself to stop.
She needed space.
But watching this felt unbearable.
"You're doing it!" he called desperately. "Katie, breathe! You're strong!"
Her body convulsed once more.
Then—
Silence.
Where Katie had fallen, a massive wolf now stood.
Midnightblack fur gleamed beneath the rising moon.
Golden eyes burned with life.
Ashton let out a shaky breath.
"You did it…"
The wolf—Rachel—took a hesitant step.
Then another.
Learning her new limbs.
Testing her strength.
Suddenly—
Branches snapped somewhere deeper in the forest.
Ashton stiffened.
Something was coming.
Fast.
Liam's POV
He heard her scream.
And everything inside him snapped.
Kael surged forward inside his mind with a furious roar.
She's in pain.
Liam didn't hesitate.
He ran.
Her scent was stronger than ever now—vanilla and roses mixed with something wild and electric.
He followed it straight to Ashton's house.
Empty.
His jaw clenched.
Then the scream came again—this time from the forest.
Cold dread flooded his veins.
He ran faster.
Branches tore at his skin as Kael pushed harder.
By the time he reached the clearing, his wolf had already taken control.
And then he saw her.
Standing.
Majestic.
A midnight black wolf stood beneath the rising moon.
Golden eyes scanned the clearing.
Alive.
His breath left him.
She shifted.
Without him.
At the edge of the clearing stood Ashton.
Watching.
Every territorial instinct in Liam flared—but he forced it down.
This wasn't about pride.
Rachel's gaze snapped to him.
Sharp. Assessing.
Liam slowed.
Then lowered his head slightly.
Respect.
She tensed at first.
Then cautiously stepped closer.
When she brushed her shoulder against his chest, the entire world seemed to still.
He didn't move.
He simply stayed steady.
Her forehead pressed briefly against his.
And something ancient clicked into place.
Recognition.
Rachel pulled back slightly, studying him.
Then she moved to stand beside him.
Matching his stance.
Choosing.
Liam glanced once toward Ashton.
Their eyes met across the clearing.
There was tension.
But there was also understanding.
Because in that moment, both of them realized something undeniable—
Katie was never weak.
And she had just changed everything.