The tension from earlier still hung in the air like smoke. Raven could feel it crawling across her skin as whispers rippled through the pack house. Her chest ached with the memory of Ronan's eyes—hurt, furious, burning—as she pushed him away. Her wolf was restless, pacing inside, a low growl vibrating in her chest.
Then the night split open with a sound that froze every thought in place.
A rogue alarm.
A deep, echoing howl carried through the trees, followed by the frantic call of the guards. Raven's body stiffened. The scent hit her nose next—sharp, wild, bloodthirsty. Rogues.
Before she could blink, Ronan was already moving. His body tensed, muscles rippling as his blue eyes flared dangerously bright. He didn't look at her. Didn't need to.
"Shift," he ordered, his voice low and commanding. Then his body shimmered, bones breaking and reforming, fur spilling out until the massive black wolf stood before them. He was a shadow, a beast of power, eyes like molten ice.
Raven swallowed hard as her wolf surged forward, claws scratching inside. Her body trembled, then gave in, the shift tearing through her skin. In seconds, her paws hit the dirt, her white coat glowing under the moonlight.
They charged into the trees together.
The rogues were already upon the borders, snarling beasts with blood dripping from their muzzles. The air was thick with iron and fury. Ronan lunged first, a growl splitting the night as his wolf collided with one of the attackers, tearing into its side. Raven followed, swift and lethal, slashing at another rogue who dared creep behind him.
They moved as if they had done this a thousand times before. His dark figure and her white blur—night and moonlight fighting in unison. Every strike, every dodge, every growl was answered by the other.
Her heart thundered. She shouldn't notice the way his body moved with precision, the way his strength radiated through each attack. But she did. Even her wolf leaned toward him, craving the closeness.
A rogue lunged for her throat, jaws snapping. She reacted too slow.
"RAVEN!"
Ronan's roar shook the air. His wolf slammed into hers, shielding her with his body as fangs raked across his flank. Blood splattered the ground, his growl deep and furious as he ripped the rogue apart.
Raven's wolf snarled, guilt and rage flooding through her. She sprang forward, eyes blazing, and tore into another attacker that circled him. She was feral, vicious, each bite fueled by the raw fear of almost losing him.
For a heartbeat, she forgot everything—her rejection, her walls, her excuses. All she felt was the bond. The invisible thread that tied them together, pulling her to him, making her fight harder, faster, deadlier.
They ended the last rogue side by side.
Their breaths came out ragged, bodies bloodied, claws dripping. The forest was silent except for their panting and the crackling of leaves beneath their paws.
Slowly, their forms shimmered and broke apart, fur retracting into skin until they stood human again, bare under the moonlight, sweat and blood painting their bodies.
Raven's chest heaved, her hair wild, her brown eyes locked on him.
Ronan's muscular frame glistened, tattoos dark against his skin. Blood streaked his side where he'd taken the hit for her, but he stood tall, his jaw tight, eyes burning blue fire into her.
"You could've died," he said, voice low and ragged.
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She wanted to scream at him for being reckless.
She wanted to thank him. She wanted to close the space between them and give in.
But fear gripped her tighter than the rogues ever could.
"This…" she whispered, shaking her head.
"This bond—it's destroying me."
Ronan's steps were slow, deliberate. He didn't smile, didn't soften. He looked like a man on the edge of war. "No, Raven," he growled. "It's what's keeping you alive."
Her breath caught as he stood inches from her, his heat searing her skin. The bond pulsed, her wolf howling in desperate agreement. She wanted him—needed him—but her human heart still clung to the walls she'd built.
So she forced herself to step back.
"Stay away," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Stay within your boundaries, Ronan."
For a second, something shattered in his eyes. But then his expression hardened, ice over fire.
"I can't."
The words rolled out like a vow. His blue eyes glowed under the moonlight, the shadow of his black wolf looming behind him.
Raven's heart pounded so violently she thought it would tear through her ribs. Her wolf pushed against her chest, howling in frustration at the space she was trying to create. But she turned away, digging her nails into her palms, forcing herself to walk back toward the pack house.
Behind her, she felt his gaze burn into her back, heavy and unrelenting.
The night was still filled with the scent of blood, but all Raven could taste was the fire of Ronan's touch still lingering on her skin.
And no matter how far she ran, she knew it wasn't the rogues that would destroy her.
It was him.