The clearing fell silent.
Too silent.
Even the wind held its breath.
Owain lowered Kanah gently to her feet, one arm still around her waist, the other braced in front of her—protective, feral, ready to kill.
Kanah clung to him, trembling violently.
Because the male standing across from them wasn't just Devourer.
He was familiar in a way that made her bones ache.
Not memory.
Not love.
Recognition.
Blood recognizing blood.
And the instinct terrified her.
Her brother smiled faintly, stepping forward.
"Kanara."
The name sliced through the clearing like a blade.
Kanah jerked.
"No— don't call me that—"
Owain snarled, stepping in front of her fully now.
"She's KANAH."
The Devourer's black-gold eyes flicked over Owain, assessing.
"You are the one she bit."
Owain bared his teeth.
"Yeah. And I'll be the one who rips your throat out too."
Behind them, Yllas shifted, frost-flame igniting around his shoulders.
Helion prowled to one side, tail lashing with lethal anticipation.
Gerrin lifted a hand, silver magic spiraling around his fingers.
Even the guardian beast stepped forward—
placing its massive body between Kanah and the brother.
Her brother blinked, amused.
"So many protectors for one half-awakened girl."
Yllas' voice was cold steel.
"She is not half of anything. She is whole."
Helion rolled his neck.
"And she's not going with you."
Gerrin added softly:
"She chooses her own future."
Ilai muttered, "We're all going to die, aren't we—"
Kanah's brother ignored all of them.
His gaze locked on her again.
"You felt the pulse," he murmured. "You felt me awaken."
Kanah shook her head violently.
"No—no—I don't want that— I don't want ANYTHING from you—"
He tilted his head.
"You cannot deny blood. It answers itself."
Owain's claws dug into the earth.
"Touch her and I END you."
Her brother finally looked directly at Owain.
Not mocking.
Not dismissive.
Measuring.
"And you…" he murmured.
"You are the one she instinctively chose."
Owain stiffened.
Kanah's heart lurched.
The brother lifted one finger.
"She bit you. Not because she was forced by hunger. But because she recognized your resonance."
Owain growled.
"She bit me because she trusts me."
Her brother smiled—slow and wrong.
"That too."
Gerrin exhaled softly, eyes sharpening.
"He can sense the incomplete bond…"
"Correct."
Her brother's eyes glinted.
"And I smell it. The instability. The strain."
Owain positioned himself even more firmly between them.
"You're too late. We're finishing the bond."
Her brother blinked.
"No."
Kanah flinched.
"No—please—stop—don't—"
Her brother's voice lowered, soothing and strange.
"You are not ready for the wolf's bite."
Owain snapped.
"She decides that, not you."
Her brother ignored him.
He took one step forward—
The guardian beast growled loudly, blocking his path.
Her brother sighed.
"Move, relic."
The guardian didn't move.
Her brother's eyes narrowed.
"…Interesting. You already have a guardian."
Kanah whispered, voice shaking:
"I don't even KNOW you…"
He stopped.
His gaze softened slightly.
"You knew me once."
Kanah staggered backward.
Owain held her up.
"No—no— I would remember—"
"You were small."
Her breath stilled.
He continued slowly, tone dipping into something almost gentle.
"You hid behind a stone pillar during the purge. I carried you. You held onto my hair. You laughed."
"No—stop—please—"
"I put you to sleep before our father woke the hunger in you."
Kanah's knees buckled.
Owain caught her again, heart pounding.
Gerrin whispered:
"…He's not lying."
Yllas clenched his fists.
"Kanah was a child then. That does not entitle him to her now."
Her brother stepped closer.
Owain blocked him again.
The brother's eyes sharpened.
"She carries our blood. Our hunger. Our legacy. She is Devourer by birthright—"
"She's HUMAN," Owain snapped, voice shaking with rage.
"She chose us. Not you. Not him. Us."
Helion smirked.
"And you're outnumbered, pretty boy."
Ilai muttered, "And out-sane."
Her brother looked at them all—slowly, calmly.
Then back at Kanah.
"You fear me."
Kanah trembled.
Ashamed.
Frozen.
"Yes."
Her brother nodded.
"You should."
Owain lunged forward instantly.
Her brother moved faster.
In a blur of shadow, he appeared directly in front of Owain and placed one finger against his chest—
A shockwave blasted Owain backward.
"Owain!!"
Kanah screamed.
Helion caught Owain before he slammed into a tree.
Owain roared, pushing upright again.
"You bastard—!"
But he wavered.
Just a second.
Just enough for panic to spike through Kanah's chest.
"Owain—are you—?"
"I'm fine," he growled.
He wasn't fine.
She felt it.
Her brother stepped toward her.
The guardian beast blocked him again.
He sighed.
"You have too many shields."
He turned his gaze directly on Kanah.
"And you… have too much fear."
Kanah shook.
"I don't want ANYTHING from you—just leave—!"
Her brother's voice turned soft—
deadly soft.
"Kanara… do you know what happens when a Devourer awakens without a bonded mate anchoring their hunger?"
Kanah swallowed.
"No…"
Owain growled.
"Don't say it."
The brother looked at him coldly.
"They go feral."
Kanah's heart stopped.
"Wh-what…?"
He smiled faintly.
"The hunger consumes the mind. The resonance collapses. The body tears itself apart trying to anchor to anything—anyone—"
Owain stepped forward.
"SHUT UP."
"—and the Devourer becomes a beast with no will."
Kanah's breath hitched.
Gerrin whispered:
"He's trying to destabilize her—"
Her brother continued:
"And because you refuse the wolf's bite… you are nearly feral already."
Kanah gasped.
"No—no—Owain—Owain—"
She reached for him—
The brother reacted instantly.
His eyes flashed gold.
A pulse of Devourer power struck her—
Kanah screamed, clutching her chest as her hunger surged through her like a wildfire.
Owain lunged—
Helion and Yllas with him—
But the brother vanished into shadow.
Not running.
Not retreating.
Positioning.
A whisper brushed the back of Kanah's neck:
"I will return for you, sister."
Owain roared so loud the clearing shook.
"GET AWAY FROM HER—!!"
The brother emerged at the forest edge, smiling calmly.
"I will claim you when you break."
Kanah's voice cracked:
"I WON'T BREAK—!!"
He tilted his head.
"Then bite him."
She froze.
Her brother's eyes gleamed.
"Finish the wolf-bond. Or fall to me."
Then—
He dissolved into shadow.
Gone.
Kanah collapsed to her knees.
Owain caught her before she hit the ground.
"KANA—talk to me—look at me—hey—HEY—stay here—STAY—"
Her hunger twisted.
Her pulse raced erratically.
Her vision blurred.
"Owain…" she whispered, shaking violently.
"I think he's right…
I think I'm…
losing control—"
Owain gathered her into his arms, voice breaking.
"No. No, Kana. You're not breaking. Not while I'm here. Not while WE'RE here."
Yllas knelt beside them.
Gerrin touched her forehead.
Helion crouched close.
Ilai held her hand tightly.
The guardian surrounded them.
Owain pulled her against his chest.
"Kana… listen to me. You choose your anchor. Not him."
Her tears fell.
"Owain…
I choose you."
Owain's breath caught.
"Kana—"
She lifted shaking hands to his face.
"Please… finish it. Please—
bite me."