The Dead Pass grew narrower the farther Ronan traveled, jagged cliffs rising like blackened fangs on either side. The storm screamed overhead, snow turning into whirling sheets of white that blinded the path.
Aria lay cradled against him, barely conscious.
Her breath hitched. Her wrist glowed so intensely it illuminated Ronan's chest through his cloak. Silver veins now reached up her forearm, branching over her skin like frost patterns.
"Ronan…" she whispered weakly. "I feel… cold."
He tightened his grip immediately. "I won't let you freeze."
"It's not… that kind of cold," she murmured. "It's inside."
Ronan's stomach twisted.
Stage Two.
He'd heard whispers in ancient texts—but nothing prepared him for the real thing.
Her heartbeat wasn't steady.
It wasn't weak.
It was changing.
He pressed his forehead to hers, grounding her as best he could. "Stay with me, Aria. Don't fade."
"I'm trying…" Her voice cracked. "Ronan… I keep seeing things."
"What things?"
"Light. Shadows. A woman… the First Luna…" She shivered violently. "She said something. I think it was a warning."
Ronan swore softly. "Damn it. You're slipping too fast."
Behind them, wolves howled closer—echoing through the pass.
Lyra's voice cut through the wind:
"RONAN! SURRENDER HER!"
Aria whimpered, burying her face in Ronan's chest. "They're coming…"
"They won't reach you." Ronan adjusted his hold, his breath warm against her hair. "I'll kill them before they take you."
"No…" Aria whispered. "Please don't kill them. They're your pack."
"They stopped being my pack when they chose fear over truth."
Aria tried to shake her head, but even that motion drained her. "Ronan… please. Don't kill anyone for me."
He hesitated—then rested his cheek against her forehead.
"I'll try."
Not a promise.
Not a threat.
The truth.
⸻
Stage Two Intensifies
They reached the heart of the pass, where ice had fused with stone into an almost glasslike surface. Ronan slowed carefully.
Aria's body jerked suddenly in his arms.
Ronan stiffened. "Aria?"
She gasped, hand flying to her chest. "It—hurts—"
Her wrist flared bright white.
THROB—THROB—THROB.
Ronan nearly dropped to one knee. The power blasting from her stung his skin like frostburn.
"Aria! Look at me—"
She couldn't. Her eyes rolled back, her entire body arching. It felt like the power inside her was trying to tear free—stretching against her bones, her skin, her breath.
"Ronan—it's too much—it's too—"
He pressed her to his chest, shielding her from the wind. "Hold onto me. Let it pass through you—not out."
"I-I'm scared—"
"I know. It's okay."
Silver light erupted from her wrist, casting shadows across the cliffs.
The storm froze.
Even the wind stilled.
Aria's scream tore through the pass.
"RONAN!"
He held her tightly, ignoring the burning spreading through his muscles. "I'm here. I'm right here. This is the awakening, not the Devourer. Don't fight it—just breathe."
She sobbed into his shoulder. "It feels like I'm breaking."
"You're not," he whispered fiercely. "You're becoming."
Her body shook.
Then—
The silver light faded abruptly.
Aria went limp.
"Aria?" Ronan's voice cracked. "Aria!"
She stirred faintly, eyes opening halfway.
"I'm… still here."
Relief crashed through him so hard his knees nearly buckled.
But the relief shattered instantly when more howls echoed behind them—dozens this time.
They had minutes at most.
Ronan lifted Aria fully in his arms again. "We have to move."
She clung weakly to him. "Ronan… I can't do this…"
"Yes," he said, breath fogging in the cold. "You can."
Her eyes swam with tears. "I'm too much trouble."
Ronan stopped dead in the storm.
He lowered his head until their foreheads touched.
"Listen to me," he whispered. "You are not trouble. You are not a burden. You are the most important thing in this world—whether you believe it or not."
She stared at him, breath trembling.
"And I'm not leaving you," Ronan said softly. "Not now. Not ever."
Aria's tears spilled silently.
Then her eyelids fluttered closed again.
Ronan held her tighter.
⸻
Council Wolves Attack
The storm parted behind them.
Shadowed figures emerged—
wolves with silver-frost fur
and glowing blue eyes.
Elite council wolves.
Ronan swore. "Of course they sent the elites."
One stepped forward, shifting into human form. "Alpha Hale. Hand over the girl."
"No."
"This is your last chance."
"Then you're wasting time."
The wolves growled.
Aria stirred. "Ronan—don't—don't fight them—"
He shifted slightly, claws sprouting at his fingertips. "I said I'd try not to kill anyone. I didn't say I'd let them take you."
The lead warrior lunged.
Ronan's body moved instantly—lean, fast, controlled. He kicked the wolf's jaw sideways, sending him skidding across the ice.
Two more attacked.
Ronan dodged one, grabbed the other by the scruff, and slammed him into a snowbank.
"Stand down!" he roared.
But they didn't.
Ronan snarled, "I don't want to hurt you—but I will if you make me."
Instead of backing away, more wolves dropped from the cliffs.
Ronan shielded Aria with his body, kicking one wolf away while blocking another with his forearm.
"Enough!" a new voice snapped.
Everyone froze.
A figure stepped through the snowstorm—
Dark-haired
Golden-eyed
Calm.
The stranger.
Ronan growled. "What now?"
The stranger raised a hand. "Ronan—move aside."
"No."
"I am not here for Aria," the stranger said. "I am here for them."
He pointed toward the council wolves.
His golden eyes glowed brighter.
"You're chasing the wrong enemy."
Lyra's voice rang sharply from behind the wolves. "You dare interfere—"
"Yes," the stranger said simply. "Because you're wasting time while the Devourer gains ground."
The wolves tensed.
Lyra stepped forward angrily. "Our priority is the safety of Frostfall! And that means securing the Moonbreaker!"
The stranger tilted his head. "Does it?"
Lyra stiffened. "What?"
"Then explain why your wolves are wearing shadows."
Gasps broke through the warriors.
Ronan's eyes flashed. "What shadows?"
The stranger pointed at the wolves' legs and lower backs.
Aria forced herself upright enough to look—
Her breath froze.
Black threads clung to their fur like parasites.
Not normal shadows.
Devourer marks.
One wolf howled in agony as the blackness spread up his throat.
Lyra stumbled back. "What—what is happening?"
The stranger's voice was cold. "The Devourer corrupted them while you pursued the wrong target."
Ronan's jaw clenched. "Damn it—"
Aria whispered, "It's spreading…"
"This is your fault, Lyra," the stranger said. "Your fear made you blind."
Lyra looked horrified, trembling. "No—no, this can't—"
Ronan growled, "Get Aria out of here. Now."
"What about you?" she whispered.
"I'll slow them down."
"No," Aria breathed. "Ronan—you can't stay—"
He brushed her cheek with his thumb. "I'll find you."
Her heart cracked.
The stranger stepped beside her and lifted her gently from Ronan's arms.
Ronan stiffened. "Touch her wrong, and—"
"I know," the stranger said calmly. "But if she stays here another minute, she'll die."
Aria reached for Ronan desperately as she was pulled away. "Ronan—please—come with me—"
He pressed a shaking kiss to her forehead.
"Survive this," he whispered. "I need you alive."
Then he turned toward the corrupted wolves and shifted fully into wolf form—a massive silver beast.
The ground trembled under his paws.
Aria screamed, "RONAN!"
But the stranger carried her into the blizzard—
As Ronan charged into battle.
⸻
A Hidden Refuge
The storm swallowed everything.
Snow blurred into darkness.
Aria could barely lift her head, but she saw faint lights flickering in the distance—blue flames between trees.
"What… is that?" she whispered.
"The entrance," the stranger said. "To a hidden refuge."
He carried her toward a crack in the mountain—a narrow opening glowing with ancient runes.
Aria shivered violently, the silver veins climbing past her elbow now.
"Am I dying?" she whispered.
"No," the stranger said. "But you're running out of time."
He stepped inside the glowing cavern.
White light enveloped them.
Aria gasped.
The awakening surged again.
Pain tore through her chest.
Her vision blurred.
Her last breath trembled with one desperate word—
"Ronan…"
Everything went dark.