Moonfall was never silent.
Not truly.
But tonight, silence spread through the packhouse like a living thing—heavy, watchful, holding its breath.
Ronan carried Evelyn in his arms as if she were something breakable.Not because she was weak.
But because for the first time, he'd seen something that could take her from him.
Not Bloodmoon.Not prophecy.Something older.Something ancient enough to claim her with a whisper.
He hated it.
His wolf hated it.
Every instinct burned with one truth:
She is mine to protect.
Evelyn's eyelids fluttered open just as Ronan reached his room.
"Put me down… I can walk," she whispered.
"No," he said simply.
Not harsh.Not angry.Just the truth.
He set her gently on the bed, but his hand didn't leave her back—not even for a second. His fingers hovered, as if afraid she'd vanish from under them.
Evelyn exhaled shakily.
"Ronan… what he said—"
"No."His voice was low, dangerous."We're not repeating a single word he said."
She swallowed.The mark on her shoulder still throbbed.
"But he's right. I have to choose something, and I—"
"Evie."He lowered himself onto his knees in front of her, gripping her hands."You're Evelyn. You don't let anyone force your future."
Her breath hitched.
"You saw him," she whispered. "You felt him. I'm not normal, Ronan. I'm not like you. I'm not like anyone. I don't even know what I'm turning into."
"You're turning into someone dangerous," he said softly."And someone worth fighting for."
Her throat tightened.
Ronan brushed a strand of hair from her face, his thumb lingering on her cheek.
"If you choose light? I'll follow you.If you choose shadow? I'll drag the moon with me and find you in the dark."
Evelyn's heart twisted painfully at the raw honesty in his voice.
"But…"Her voice broke."What if he's right? What if the bond between us is holding me back?"
Ronan froze.
A quiet, dangerous silence fell between them.
Then—
"Evie. Look at me."
She lifted her eyes.
"I will never be the thing that cages you," he said, voice rough. "If you want freedom… you have it. If you want distance… I'll give it."
His jaw clenched.
"But don't question what this bond means. Not after everything we've survived."
Her breath trembled.
"I almost died," she whispered. "And he said it was because of you—"
"No."His voice was a growl."That ancient shadow bastard lied. You didn't almost die because of me. You almost died because you faced an entire alpha pack alone."
Evelyn flinched.
Ronan's voice softened instantly.
"You scare me," he admitted quietly. "Not because of what you are. But because you keep trying to carry the weight of the world alone."
Her fingers curled into his shirt.
"I don't know how to do this," she whispered. "I don't know how to be what everyone expects."
"Then don't be it," he said fiercely. "Be what you want."
Her eyes burned.
"And what if what I want…"She hesitated."…is you?"
Ronan inhaled sharply—as if she'd struck him.
His thumb brushed her bottom lip, slow, reverent.
"Then tell me," he whispered, leaning closer, "and I'll spend the rest of my life proving you're not choosing wrong."
The room thickened—slow breaths, racing hearts, the sharp pull of a bond that refused to die.
Evelyn's voice wavered.
"Ronan…"
He dipped his forehead to hers.
"Say it," he murmured. "Say what you want."
She opened her mouth—But the door slammed open.
Ash stood there, face pale.
"Alpha—Moonfall's border wards just collapsed."
Ronan went still.
Ash swallowed.
"And… we found something."
Ronan rose immediately, all softness vanishing.
"What?"
Ash stepped aside.
Two warriors dragged in a Bloodmoon scout—barely conscious, bleeding, terrified.
Ronan's eyes darkened.
"You step onto my land and—"
"N-no—" the scout stammered, shaking."I came to warn you."
Evelyn stepped closer despite Ronan's protective arm.
"Warn us about what?"
The scout looked at her, eyes wide with fear she didn't understand.
"T-the Shadowborn's awakening…"He choked on the words."It triggered something. Our alpha felt it."
Ronan stiffened.
"And?"
The scout trembled violently.
"He declared war."His voice cracked."Full war. On Moonfall."
Ronan growled, low and lethal.
But the scout wasn't finished.
"And he said…"His gaze slid to Evelyn, shaking."…the Shadowborn will return to Bloodmoon willingly… or the entire region will burn."
Evelyn's heart slammed painfully against her ribs.
Ronan's voice dipped to something feral.
"Over my dead body."
The scout swallowed.
"He said that too."
Silence.
Cold.Heavy.Final.
Evelyn's breath shuddered.
Ronan's hand found hers, gripping tightly as if anchoring her to the earth.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Ronan… what do we do?"
His answer was immediate.
"We fight."His eyes burned with violent determination."We protect our home. We protect our pack."He turned to her—gentle, but unbreakable."And we protect you."
But Evelyn felt it.
Deep in her bones.
This wasn't just war.
This was the beginning of the prophecy's end.
And the Shadowborn's truth…
Was coming for her.
Whether she was ready or not.