The valley grew quiet as evening settled in.
Soft gold faded into twilight.
The air cooled.
Lanterns lit with elven mana glowed across the camp like pale stars.
Kanah walked alone toward the riverbank—
the place where her heart felt loudest.
No fear followed her.
No enemy stalked her path.
Only footsteps.
Gentle ones.
One by one, they came.
Not crowding.
Not pushing.
Not demanding.
Just quietly… present.
The beast lords she trusted with her life.
GERRIN arrived first.
He sat a few paces away, offering a calm smile.
"You looked like you needed quiet," he murmured.
Kanah nodded.
"I do."
"If you want to talk," he said softly, "I'll listen. And if you want to sit in silence, I'll sit with you."
Kanah's chest tightened.
"You're always gentle with me."
Gerrin's eyes softened.
"Because you deserve gentleness. And because you give strength to those around you without even noticing."
He reached out, fingertips brushing her wrist—warm, steady.
"I will be whatever you need, Kanah. A friend, a healer, a sub-mate… or nothing at all.
Whatever "choice" means to you—I accept it."
Her breath caught.
"Gerrin…"
He stood, bowing his head in quiet reverence.
"Your heart decides. I follow."
And he stepped back into the shadows—
not gone,
but giving space.
YLLAS came next.
He approached with the silence of a mountain breeze, standing behind her without intruding.
"Your heart is loud tonight," he said quietly.
Kanah laughed softly.
"It feels that way."
Yllas took a careful step closer.
"You do not need to fear the weight of choosing," he murmured.
"Dragons do not chase hearts—they protect them."
Kanah turned toward him.
"Yllas… I don't know how to give you what you deserve."
He lifted her chin gently with a single finger.
"You already have."
Her breath stilled.
"My devotion," Yllas continued, "is not bound to your decision.
If you choose a single mate… if you choose Owain…
I will still guard you.
Still stand beside you.
Still offer warmth when your nights feel cold."
Kanah swallowed.
"You're… willing to stay even if I don't claim you?"
Yllas bowed his head respectfully.
"You are my flame, not my possession."
She nearly cried.
Yllas stepped back, leaving her breathing quietly in the moonlight.
HELION dropped from a tree last.
He crouched in front of her, tail flicking, eyes soft for once—not playful.
"Kana," he said gently, "look at me."
She did.
He touched her cheek, his thumb brushing a tear she didn't know had fallen.
"You're scared," he whispered.
"But not of choosing."
Kanah's throat tightened.
"You're scared of hurting us."
Her breath hitched.
Helion smiled—tender, not mischievous.
"Silly little human…
you won't break us."
Kanah's lips trembled.
"How can you say that?"
"Because," Helion murmured, pressing his forehead gently to hers, "I care about you.
Really care.
Enough to let you go to the one who holds your heart the tightest."
Her vision blurred.
"You knew?"
Helion nodded.
"You look at all of us…
but you run to him."
Her heart twisted.
He kissed her forehead—light, sweet, not claiming.
"Choose him," Helion whispered.
"And let us stay by your side as your claws, your shadows, your warmth."
He pulled away with a soft smile.
"Let me tease you forever, even if I'm not your main mate."
Kanah laughed through her tears.
Helion winked and disappeared into the trees.
Leaving one.
The one she'd been waiting for.
OWAIN
She didn't hear him approach.
The wolf king moved like wind when it mattered.
She only felt him—
The warmth at her back.
The breath against her neck.
The trembling restraint in his hands as he refused to touch her without permission.
"Kanah," Owain whispered.
His voice.
Raw.
Rough.
A little afraid.
"Tell me to leave," he said.
"Tell me you want someone else…
and I will."
Kanah turned.
Slowly.
Owain stood there like a storm contained in flesh—
gold eyes burning,
jaw tense,
chest rising with uneven breaths.
She stepped closer.
He froze.
"Owain," she whispered, "look at me."
He did.
With everything in him.
Kanah placed a hand over his heart.
His breath stopped.
"I've been fighting my feelings," she whispered.
"For days. For weeks. Maybe since the moment I landed in your world."
Owain's throat bobbed as he swallowed.
"Kanah…"
"No," she whispered.
"No more running.
No more fear.
No more pretending."
Her other hand cupped his jaw.
"You are my heart."
Owain's breath shuddered.
"You… you chose me?"
She nodded.
"Not because of instinct.
Not because of resonance.
Not because you protected me.
But because—"
Her voice cracked.
"—I love you."
Owain staggered.
Literally staggered back a step, breath punched out of him.
"Kana," he rasped, voice breaking, "say it again."
She did.
"I love you."
Owain grabbed her—
not roughly, not hungrily—
but like a man drowning pulling the only rope thrown to him.
He kissed her forehead.
Her hair.
Her cheeks.
Her hands.
Her jaw.
Everywhere but her lips.
"Kana," he whispered against her skin, "you're sure?
You're absolutely sure?"
"Yes," she breathed.
Owain pressed his forehead to hers.
"I am yours," he whispered fiercely.
"Your wolf. Your king. Your mate.
For life.
For death.
For everything."
Kanah's chest felt like it might burst.
"Owain…"
He finally, finally brushed his lips to hers—
Slow.
Tender.
Devout.
Possessive.
Home.
She curled her fingers into his shirt, pulling him closer.
Owain groaned softly against her mouth, hands trembling on her waist.
When they pulled apart, breathless, Owain rested his forehead to hers again.
"What about the others?" he murmured.
Kanah brushed his cheek.
"They're my sub-mates. My heart-circle. But you—"
She pressed her palm over his heart.
"—you're my king."
Owain's eyes glowed gold with reverence and primal devotion.
"Then I will make you my queen."
Kanah smiled softly.
"You already have."
Owain pulled her into his arms, holding her like the center of his world.
Because she was.
Because he was chosen.
Because she finally said the words he lived for.
Because Kanah had chosen her beast king.