The night air felt wrong.
Too dense.Too sharp.Too charged with something that made every wolf in Moonfall bristle without understanding why.
Ronan paced along the balcony outside Evelyn's room, his body half-shifted, claws scraping into the wooden railing. His wolf was restless—no, furious—because he could still feel the echo of power she had released.
Light.
Shadow.
Both fighting over her like predators that had scented a prize.
Behind him, Evelyn sat curled up against the headboard, hugging her knees. The moonlight still clung faintly to her skin—like it refused to let her go.
"Ronan…"
He didn't turn.
He was afraid that if he met her eyes, he wouldn't be able to hide the terror running through him.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for her.
"You felt it too," she whispered. "The presence in the forest."
"Yes."His voice was gravel."And I'm not leaving it unchallenged."
He finally faced her.
Her eyes widened.
His wolf was right beneath the surface—gold burning bright, fur threatening to break through skin, fangs lengthening.
He wasn't calm.He wasn't composed.He was an alpha on the edge of war.
"Stay inside," he ordered. "Barricade the windows. Don't open the door for anyone except me or Ash."
Evelyn stood from the bed.
"I'm coming with you."
"No."
"Ronan—"
"No."His voice cracked like thunder."You're not stepping into that forest tonight."
She stepped closer until she was right in front of him.
"Something is happening to me," she whispered. "Something I can't stop. Something I don't understand. And that—we both felt it—whatever is out there… is connected to me."
"That's exactly why you're not going."
Her jaw tightened stubbornly."Ronan—"
He grabbed her face gently but firmly.
"Evie, listen to me. If something out there wants you, then walking toward it is the last damn thing you're doing."
"But what if it's coming because of my power? What if it's—"
"It doesn't matter."
His thumb brushed her cheek.
"I won't lose you to the forest. Or the shadows. Or the moon. Or anything else trying to claim you."
Her breath trembled.
"Why?"
Ronan froze.
The question hit him harder than a blade.
He leaned in, forehead brushing hers.
"Because you're the only thing in this world I can't replace."
Her heart stuttered—painful, warm, terrifying.
But before she could speak—
Ash burst into the hallway, panting.
"Alpha—we found tracks."
Ronan stiffened.
"What kind?"
Ash swallowed hard.
"Not wolf. Not human."
Ronan's eyes sharpened.
"Where?"
"The northern ridge. And Ronan—" Ash hesitated. "The trees bent around it."
Evelyn inhaled sharply.
"It's the same thing I felt."
Ronan turned, grabbing his jacket.
Ash glanced between them, nervous.
"We're assembling warriors. Should we also—"
"No," Ronan snapped. "I'm going alone."
Ash blinked."What? Alpha, that's—"
"Not up for debate."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"You're not going alone."
Ronan spun toward her instantly, growling low.
"You step outside this room, and I swear I'll—"
She raised her chin defiantly.
"You'll what, Ronan? Lock me up? Tie me to the bed?"
His jaw flexed painfully.
"If that's what it takes to keep you alive? Yes."
Ash turned very slowly toward the hallway.
"Okay—nope, I'm not staying for this," he muttered before disappearing.
Ronan and Evelyn glared at each other.
He was shaking with the desire to protect her.She was shaking with the desire to stand her ground.
"I'm not helpless," she whispered.
"I know."His voice softened."And that scares the hell out of me."
Silence.
Then—
The torches lining the hallway flickered violently.
All at once.
Evelyn's breath caught.
"It's close."
Ronan's wolf surged.
"Stay here," he ordered. "Do not leave this room."
He didn't wait for her reply.
He didn't want to hear it.
He just kissed her forehead—quick, desperate, trembling—then vanished down the hallway in a blur of claws and fury.
****************************************************************
AT THE NORTHERN RIDGE
Moonfall's trees had always been strong, ancient, rooted deep into the earth.
Tonight, they bowed.
Bent in wide arcs, as if something massive had pushed them aside without touching them.
Ronan stepped into the clearing, chest rising with sharp breaths.
The wind dropped to nothing.
No sound.
No birds.No insects.No breath of the forest.
Only a cold hum spreading across the ground.
His wolf bared its fangs.
Something stood in the center of the clearing.
Not shadow.
Not light.
A silhouette wrapped in both—two opposite forces swirling like a storm around its body.
It wasn't the Shadow Father.
It wasn't a wolf.Or a man.Or anything Ronan understood.
The figure lifted its head.
And spoke.
"Where is the girl?"
Ronan's power burst outward violently.
"You'll die before you step near her."
The thing tilted its head.
"Alpha of Moonfall," it murmured. "You stand between the child and her destiny."
Ronan growled, low and lethal.
"She has a name."
The creature smiled.
And the forest shivered.
"She has many."
Ronan's heart slammed painfully.
"What are you?"
The figure slowly stepped forward.
With each step, the air rippled—like reality itself was bending around it.
"I am the one who answers the call of light."
Ronan stiffened.
"The light?"
The figure's eyes glowed white-hot.
"She is awakening. And we will reclaim what belongs to us."
Ronan's wolf roared inside him.
"You're not taking her anywhere."
The figure stopped.
Its voice softened.
"She will choose. Light or shadow."
A pause.
"Moonfall… is neither."
Ronan bared his fangs.
"She chooses me."
The air vibrated—almost laughing.
"You think she belongs to you, Alpha?"
Ronan stepped forward, claws glinting.
"I know she does."
Silence.
Then—
The creature lifted one hand.
The moon above them pulsed—
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
And Evelyn, miles away, collapsed to her knees, gasping as moonlight ripped through her veins.
Ronan felt it instantly—through the bond.
"Evie!"
The creature whispered:
"The moon has made its choice."
Ronan lunged.
The forest exploded.