The forest swallowed us whole.
Moonshadow and Bloodfang wolves moved in a tight formation, paws silent on the damp earth, breath fogging in the cold night air. The trees loomed tall and ancient, their branches twisting overhead like skeletal fingers. The moonlight barely pierced the canopy, leaving the world dim and shifting.
Rylan led the front, Rowan beside him, Kade flanking the right. I walked just behind Rylan, close enough to feel the heat radiating from him, close enough that the bond hummed with every step.
We were running toward safety.
We were running toward war.
We were running toward destiny.
The river path.
A place wolves avoided unless desperate.
Tonight, we were desperate.
Rylan slowed as the sound of rushing water grew louder. "We're close."
Rowan muttered, "Good. My legs are going numb."
Kade snorted. "You're getting old."
Rowan glared. "Say that again and I'll throw you into the river."
Rylan didn't look back. "Both of you shut up."
Despite everything — the fear, the danger, the shadows stalking us — I almost smiled.
Almost.
Because the moment we reached the riverbank, the air changed.
The water roared, fast and violent, crashing against jagged rocks. Mist rose from the surface, cold and sharp, carrying the metallic scent of magic.
Rylan stopped abruptly.
Rowan frowned. "What is it?"
Rylan didn't answer.
He was staring at the water — or rather, at the faint silver glow shimmering beneath the surface.
Kade stiffened. "The river's reacting."
Rowan raised a brow. "To what?"
Rylan turned to me.
My breath caught. "Me?"
He nodded. "The sanctuary's magic is calling you."
The bond pulsed — warm, steady, certain.
I stepped closer to the water. The glow brightened, swirling like moonlight trapped beneath the surface. The river's roar softened, as if recognizing me.
Rowan muttered, "Well, that's not ominous at all."
Kade elbowed him. "Shut up."
Rylan approached me slowly. "Lyra… the river path is dangerous. The current is strong. The rocks are sharp. And the magic—"
"Is unpredictable," Kade finished.
Rowan crossed his arms. "So how do we cross?"
Rylan hesitated. "We don't."
Rowan blinked. "What?"
Rylan looked at me. "She does."
My stomach twisted. "Alone?"
"No," Rylan said quickly. "Not alone. With me."
Rowan frowned. "Why only you two?"
Rylan exhaled. "Because the sanctuary won't open for anyone else. Only the marked."
Kade nodded. "The rest of us will follow the ridge trail and meet you at the entrance."
Rowan scowled. "That trail is a death trap."
"Better than drowning," Kade said.
Rowan grumbled. "Debatable."
I looked at the river again — the swirling silver glow, the violent current, the jagged rocks.
Fear prickled down my spine. "Rylan… what if I can't do this?"
He stepped closer, voice soft. "You can."
"How do you know?"
He brushed his fingers against mine. "Because the moon chose you."
The bond pulsed — warm, fierce, grounding.
Rowan sighed dramatically. "If you two start making heart eyes again, I'm throwing myself into the river."
Kade muttered, "Please do."
Rylan ignored them. "Lyra… the sanctuary will only open if we cross together. The river will test us. It will test the bond."
My heart pounded. "Test how?"
Rylan hesitated. "By trying to break it."
A chill ran through me. "Break it?"
"Yes," he whispered. "The river path is meant to separate the unworthy. If the bond isn't strong enough… it will drown us."
Rowan cursed. "This is insane."
Kade nodded. "Completely."
Rylan didn't look away from me. "Lyra… I won't force you. If you don't want to do this—"
"I do," I said before he could finish.
He blinked. "You do?"
"Yes," I said, voice steady. "Because Lucien won't stop. Because the sanctuary is our only chance. Because the moon chose us. And because…"
I swallowed.
"Because I trust you."
Rylan froze.
The bond pulsed — hot, electric, overwhelming.
Rowan muttered, "Well, that's new."
Kade elbowed him again. "Shut up."
Rylan stepped closer, eyes softening. "Lyra… thank you."
I nodded. "Let's do this."
He took my hand.
The moment our fingers intertwined, the river exploded with silver light.
Wolves gasped. Rowan cursed. Kade whispered something that sounded like a prayer.
Rylan squeezed my hand. "Stay with me."
"I will."
We stepped into the water.
The cold hit instantly — sharp, biting, alive. The current pulled at us, trying to drag us under. The rocks shifted beneath our feet, slick and treacherous.
Rylan held me steady. "Don't fight the current. Move with it."
I nodded, gripping his hand tighter.
The river roared louder, the silver glow swirling around our legs, rising higher, brighter.
Kade shouted from the bank, "You're almost halfway!"
Rowan added, "Don't die!"
Rylan growled, "Not helping!"
The current surged, slamming into us with brutal force. I stumbled, slipping on a rock.
Rylan caught me instantly, pulling me against his chest. "I've got you."
The bond pulsed — warm, fierce, protective.
But the river wasn't done.
The water rose suddenly, swirling around us like a vortex. The silver glow intensified, blinding, burning.
Rylan shouted, "Lyra — hold on!"
I clung to him, but the current tore at us, trying to rip us apart.
The bond strained — stretched — screamed.
Pain shot through my chest. "Rylan!"
He roared, pulling me closer. "Don't let go!"
The river surged again, stronger, angrier.
The bond flickered.
My heart stopped.
"Rylan—!"
The water exploded upward, swallowing us whole.
Cold.
Dark.
Silent.
The bond dimmed.
Faded.
Broke—
No.
Rylan's voice echoed through the darkness.
"LYRA!"
The bond snapped back, blazing with moonlight.
A burst of silver light erupted around us, tearing through the water, splitting the river in two.
We were thrown forward — out of the current, onto solid ground.
I gasped, coughing, shaking.
Rylan collapsed beside me, chest heaving.
We were on the other side.
Alive.
Together.
Rylan reached for my hand, voice trembling. "Lyra… you did it."
I squeezed his fingers weakly. "We did it."
The bond pulsed — warm, steady, unbreakable.
Rylan looked up.
And his breath caught.
I followed his gaze.
The forest ahead glowed with soft silver light.
Ancient stones rose from the earth, carved with moon symbols older than any pack.
The sanctuary.
We'd made it.