Snowstorms usually carried wind.
This one carried whispers.
They curled around Evelyn as she walked beside Ronan toward the fortress gates—soft voices threading through the air like strands of cold silk.
Child of the in-between…Daughter of neither moon nor shadow…Both. And neither.
She flinched.Ronan immediately stepped closer, instinctively shielding her from a threat he couldn't even see.
"Evie," he murmured, "are you hearing it again?"
She nodded. "They're getting clearer."
He stiffened.
Behind them, two warriors exchanged uneasy looks.
This wasn't normal.This wasn't even supernatural by their standards.This was something ancient—older than packs, older than magic, older than the Moon Goddess herself.
And everyone could feel it.
*************************************************************************************
AT THE GATES
When the fortress doors opened, the courtyard went silent.
Not because an Alpha returned injured.
Not because Evelyn looked shaken.
But because the mark on Evelyn's shoulder—glowing, shifting like a living constellation—cast faint shadows across the snow.
People stumbled back.
Someone gasped.Someone dropped to their knees.
Ronan bared his teeth."One more step back and I'll throw you into the river."
The crowd didn't need telling twice.
Evelyn's throat tightened.She wasn't used to people recoiling from her.
Ronan noticed the flicker of hurt in her eyes and immediately wrapped an arm around her waist.
"They're reacting to what they don't understand," he said quietly. "Not to you."
"But I don't understand it either," Evelyn whispered.
Ronan exhaled hard, frustration and fear blending into something sharp.
"That's why we're going to the Council Chamber."
Evelyn froze.
"The High Council?""Ronan… they already hate me."
"They hate anything that threatens the old ways," he said. "Which is exactly why I want them in one room where I can break their bones if they speak out of turn."
"Ronan—"
"I'm not kidding."
She believed him.
************************************************************************************
THE COUNCIL CHAMBER
The room was already full when they entered.
Six elders at the long stone table.Warriors lining the walls.The entire space tense enough to snap.
Ronan entered like a storm.
Evelyn entered like a question mark.
The elders all turned toward her—
—and the mark glowed the moment their eyes touched her.
"Goddess have mercy…" Elder Maren whispered. "The shadow sigil."
Ronan slammed his hand on the table.
"Not another word until I say so."
The Elders went silent.
Ronan took his seat.
Evelyn remained standing.
Everyone stared at her.
She felt the shadows under her skin stir uneasily, as though aware of the scrutiny.
Elder Varyn leaned forward, voice trembling.
"Child… how did the Shadow Father mark you?"
Evelyn opened her mouth—but Ronan answered first.
"He attacked her. That's how."
The elder shook his head."No. His mark can't be forced. A soul must be compatible—"
Ronan shot to his feet so violently the table rattled.
"She. Did. Not. Choose. Him."
Evelyn touched his arm gently.He forced himself to sit.
Elder Lysa stood slowly."Evelyn… show us the sigil."
Evelyn hesitated.
Ronan growled low."You don't need to show them anything."
But she lifted her sleeve anyway.
The moment the sigil was exposed—
A ripple of shadow fluttered across the chamber.Torches dimmed.Everyone flinched.
Elder Lysa gasped."That is the mark of a conduit."
"A what?" Evelyn whispered.
The elder licked her lips nervously.
"A bridge," she said."A living connection between two opposing forces. A being capable of channeling light and shadow without dying."
The entire council murmured in shock.
Evelyn felt her pulse spike.
"Is that… bad?"
Elder Varyn looked horrified.
"It's impossible. No creature can contain both. The power would tear a soul apart."
Evelyn swallowed.
"But I'm still here."
The elder nodded, pale.
"That is what frightens us."
Ronan's chair scraped as he stood again.
"Enough. She chose the light. I witnessed it. Whatever mark remains is a residue of the battle—nothing more."
But Elder Maren shook his head slowly.
"Alpha… look closely."
Ronan did.
And his heart dropped.
At the center of the shadow sigil…
…a faint sliver of white light glowed.
Not fighting the darkness.
Not overtaking it.
But intertwined.
Elder Lysa whispered the words no one wanted to hear.
"She is not light.She is not shadow.She is the union of both."
Ronan froze.
Evelyn turned pale.
The council backed away.
And the torches flickered violently—responding to her pulse.
Evelyn tried to step back, but her legs felt weak.
"Ronan…" Her voice cracked. "What does that even make me?"
Ronan looked at the mark.Looked at her trembling hands.Looked at the council's terrified faces.
Then he stepped in front of her—shielding her with his entire body.
His voice was low.
Possessive.
Defiant.
"It makes you mine."
Evelyn's heart twisted.
But the elders weren't done.
Elder Varyn lifted a shaking hand toward her.
"Child… you are becoming something the world has not seen since before written time."
Evelyn held her breath.
"What am I becoming?"
The elder whispered:
"A being who can rewrite fate."
A hush fell.
Ronan's grip tightened.
Evelyn trembled.
And in the corner of the room…For a fraction of a second…
A shadow flickered.
Watching.
Waiting.
Almost smiling.