The ridge erupted into motion the moment Rowan spoke the words.
Bloodfang.
Not rogues.
Not Hollow.
Not shadows.
Rylan's pack.
Wolves scrambled to defensive positions, claws scraping stone, growls rumbling like thunder. The air thickened with tension, fear, and something sharper — betrayal.
Rylan stood frozen for a heartbeat, shock flickering across his face before he masked it with cold, lethal focus.
"How many?" he demanded.
Rowan's jaw tightened. "At least thirty. Maybe more."
Rylan cursed under his breath. "That's half my warriors."
"Then why are they here?" Rowan snapped. "To finish what Lucien started?"
Rylan shook his head. "No. My pack wouldn't follow Lucien. Not willingly."
"Then explain this."
Rylan didn't answer.
Because he couldn't.
Because he didn't know.
A howl echoed from the forest — deep, commanding, familiar.
Rylan stiffened. "That's Kade."
"Who?" I asked.
"My third-in-command."
Rowan growled. "And what does he want?"
Rylan's expression darkened. "Me."
The bond pulsed — sharp, warning, electric.
I stepped closer. "Rylan… what if this is a trap?"
"It is," he said. "But not for me."
His eyes met mine.
"For you."
My stomach twisted. "Lucien."
"Yes."
Rowan barked orders. "Form a perimeter! No one engages until I say!"
Wolves moved instantly, forming a defensive arc along the ridge. The forest below rustled with movement — dozens of wolves shifting, pacing, waiting.
Rylan stepped forward, but Rowan blocked him. "You're not going down there."
Rylan's voice dropped to a growl. "They're my wolves."
"And this is my territory."
Rylan's eyes flashed gold. "If they're here for Lyra, I'm not letting them get within ten feet of her."
Rowan didn't back down. "Neither am I."
The tension crackled between them, sharp and dangerous.
I stepped between them. "Enough. Both of you."
They fell silent.
I turned to Rylan. "What will they do if you don't go down there?"
He hesitated. "They'll come up."
"And if you do go down there?"
"They'll listen."
Rowan scoffed. "You think they'll listen to you over Lucien?"
Rylan's jaw tightened. "Lucien isn't here."
"Are you sure?"
Rylan didn't answer.
Because he wasn't.
Another howl echoed — sharper, impatient.
Rylan exhaled. "I have to go."
Rowan growled. "You're not going alone."
Rylan's eyes flicked to me. "I wasn't planning to."
My breath caught. "Me?"
"No," Rowan snapped. "Absolutely not."
Rylan ignored him. "They need to see the bond. They need to see you're alive. If they think Lucien has you—"
"They'll attack," Rowan finished.
Rylan nodded. "Yes."
I swallowed hard. "So I go with you."
Rowan stepped in front of me. "No. You're not leaving this ridge."
"Rowan—"
"No."
Rylan's voice softened. "Lyra… he's right. It's too dangerous."
I blinked. "You just said—"
"I know what I said," Rylan cut in. "But I won't risk you."
The bond pulsed — warm, aching, infuriating.
I crossed my arms. "You can't have it both ways."
Rylan blinked. "What?"
"You can't say I'm the key to stopping your pack from attacking, then say I can't come."
His jaw clenched. "I can and I am."
I stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "You don't get to decide for me."
He stepped closer too, voice low. "I'm trying to keep you alive."
"And I'm trying to keep your pack from tearing us apart."
Rylan froze.
Rowan sighed. "She's right."
Rylan shot him a glare. "I wasn't talking to you."
Rowan smirked. "Doesn't matter."
Rylan turned back to me, eyes burning. "Lyra… if anything happens to you—"
"It won't," I said. "Because you'll be there."
The bond pulsed — warm, steady, grounding.
Rylan exhaled shakily. "Fine. But you stay behind me. You don't speak unless I tell you to. You don't move unless I say so."
I raised a brow. "You're very bossy."
He didn't smile. "I'm very scared."
My breath caught.
Before I could respond, Rowan stepped forward. "I'm coming too."
Rylan nodded. "Good. They'll respect another Alpha."
Rowan snorted. "Or they'll try to kill me."
Rylan shrugged. "Either way, it'll be useful."
Rowan glared. "I hate you."
Rylan didn't blink. "Get in line."
I sighed. "Can we go before they get impatient?"
Rylan nodded. "Stay close."
We descended the ridge together — Rylan in front, Rowan beside him, me behind them both. The forest grew darker as we approached, the air thick with the scent of Bloodfang wolves.
When we reached the clearing, dozens of wolves stepped forward, forming a semicircle. Their eyes glowed in the moonlight — wary, confused, angry.
A tall, broad‑shouldered wolf shifted into human form.
Kade.
His gaze locked onto Rylan. "Alpha."
Rylan nodded. "Kade."
Kade's eyes flicked to me. "She's alive."
"Yes."
Kade's jaw tightened. "Lucien said—"
"Lucien lied," Rylan snapped.
Kade hesitated. "He said you were corrupted. That the Moonshadow wolves had taken you. That the girl—"
"Her name is Lyra," Rylan growled. "And she's under my protection."
Kade's eyes widened. "So the bond is real."
Rylan didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
The bond pulsed — warm, bright, undeniable.
Kade swallowed. "Alpha… Lucien said you'd lost your mind. That you'd abandoned us."
Rylan stepped forward, voice low and lethal. "Lucien is the one who abandoned us. He's the one who betrayed the pack. He's the one who killed Kael."
A ripple of shock went through the Bloodfang wolves.
Kade's face paled. "Kael is dead?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Rylan's voice broke. "Lucien."
Kade staggered back. "No. No, he wouldn't—"
"He did," Rylan said. "And he'll do worse if we don't stop him."
Silence fell.
Then Kade looked at me again. "And her?"
Rylan stepped in front of me. "She's my mate."
Gasps rippled through the clearing.
Kade stared. "Alpha… the curse—"
"I know."
"And you still—?"
"Yes."
Kade swallowed hard. "Then we stand with you."
Rylan blinked. "What?"
Kade dropped to one knee. "Bloodfang stands with its Alpha."
One by one, the wolves knelt.
Rylan stared, stunned.
I felt the bond pulse — warm, proud, fierce.
Rowan exhaled. "Well. That's unexpected."
Rylan turned to me.
And for the first time…
He didn't look cursed.
He looked like a leader.
A protector.
A wolf worth following.