The snow turned red the second our packs slammed together, and the man I killed was there to
watch me bleed.
Fresh flakes fell heavily as we hit the river clearing. My wolves spread out fast, growls mixing
with the rush of water. I gripped my blade tight, already tasting the fight.
"Stay tight!" I shouted to Jax and Finn beside me. "Protect the flank. Do not let them push us
into the water!"
Jax wiped snow from his eyes. "They came out swinging tonight, Eamon. Twice as many as last
time. You see their Alpha yet?"
"Not yet," I called back, ducking a leaping wolf. "But he will show. Keep moving!"
The battle exploded around us. Steel rang against claws. I shifted quickly, silver fur ripping
through my clothes as I tore into the first Shadowfang fighter. My jaws closed on his shoulder.
He yelped and went down.
"Push them back!" Finn yelled from my left, his brown wolf slamming another aside. "For
Stormridge! Do not give an inch!"
I spun and slashed at two more coming at me. "Jax, behind you! Take the gray one!"
"Got him!" Jax roared, crashing into the enemy. "These bastards fight like they have something
personal. You think it is because of you and their new leader?"
"Focus!" I snapped, ripping through another. Blood sprayed across the fresh snow. My wounds
from before pulled, but I ignored them. My people needed me sharp. I cut down a big wolf trying
to flank our line. "Mira, get the injured back! Do not let them pick us off!"
Mira's voice carried over the chaos from the rear. "Already on it, Eamon! You watch your own
back. You are bleeding again!"
I did not have time to answer. The fight pushed us closer to the riverbank. Snow stuck to my fur
as I took down another. Growls and shouts filled the air.
Then I felt him.
Ronan stepped out from the trees on the far side, eyes locked on me as nothing else existed.
My heart slammed hard. I shifted back to human form without thinking, blade ready. He did the
same, moving like a predator through the snow.
"You came!" I shouted across the distance. "Ready to finish what you started last night?"
He laughed low, circling closer through the battling wolves. "You still talk too much, Eamon. I
came to watch you break."
We crashed together in the middle of the fray. Fists first, then we both shifted. My silver wolf met
his massive black one head-on. We circled tight, fangs bared, the world fading around us. The
mate bond flared so strongly it made my head spin. Everything else blurred. The river noise, the
howls, the fighting. Just him and me.
"Why hesitate?" I growled through the link. "You had me pinned before. Do it now if you hate me
so much."
Ronan snarled, his black fur bristling. "You think I forgot? Your face when you killed me. The
bond is snapping. I remember every second, you bastard."
"Then strike!" I snapped back, lunging but pulling short at the last moment. The pull between us
held me back. "Stop playing games and end this."He circled again, amber eyes burning into mine. "You feel it too. This thing between us. It makes
me sick. I should tear your throat out right now."
"Do it then," I shot back, voice rough. "Or are you scared the bond will stop you?"
For a heartbeat, neither of us moved. The bond screamed louder than the battle. His muscles
tensed. Mine did too. Snow fell on us both as we stared.
"You do not deserve an easy death," he growled. "I want you to suffer as I did."
Before I could answer, arrows whistled through the air from the ridge above. Not from our packs.
A third group. One grazed Ronan's shoulder deeply. He jerked with a sharp yelp.
"Ambush!" I barked. "Third party on the ridge! Everyone down!"
Ronan spun toward the new threat. Without thinking, I leaped forward and slammed into him,
shielding his body with mine. A blade sliced across my side from one of the hidden attackers
who had closed in fast. Pain exploded hot and deep.
"What the hell are you doing?" Ronan snarled, shifting back to human form under me. His hands
gripped my arms. "Get off me, Eamon!"
"Shut up and move!" I gasped, blood soaking my shirt fast. "Those are not my wolves. Not yours
either."
Jax's voice cut through. "Eamon! Fall back! We got incoming from the trees!"
Finn shouted right after. "They are everywhere! Who are these guys?"
Ronan hesitated, eyes wide with conflict. His hand pressed against my bleeding side for a
second. "You idiot. Why shield me?"
"Because the bond would not let me do anything else," I admitted through clenched teeth. "Now
finish it or help me. Your choice."
He cursed under his breath. "This does not change anything." But instead of killing me he
grabbed my arm and started dragging me away from the main fight, toward the thick trees on
the Shadowfang side.
His wolves howled in confusion nearby. "Alpha! What are you doing?" one called out. "Leave
him! Kill the Stormridge dog!"
"Shut your mouths and hold the line!" Ronan roared back without stopping. "I handle this one
myself."
I stumbled beside him, pain making my vision spotty. Snow crunched under our boots. "You
dragging me to finish me quiet? Or are you finally admitting you feel it too?"
"Keep talking, and I will drop you here," he muttered, but his grip stayed firm. "Why did you jump
in front of that blade? After everything, you still protect me?"
I laughed weakly, blood dripping into the snow. "Ask the bond. It pulls harder than your hate.
You felt it when we circled. Tell me I am wrong."
Ronan glanced back at the chaos. Arrows still flew. His pack clashed with the mystery attackers
now too. "This third group changes nothing. I still want you broken."
"Then why pull me away?" I pressed, voice rough as he hauled me deeper into the trees. "Your
wolves sound pissed. They think you lost it."
He stopped short behind a thick trunk, eyes blazing. "I should kill you right now. End the bond
for good."
"Do it," I challenged, meeting his stare. "Or admit you cannot. Not yet."
His jaw clenched hard. "You do not get to die easily. Not by their hands."
Shouts echoed behind us. "Alpha Ronan! Where are you going with him?""Back to the fight!" he yelled over his shoulder. "I will deal with this traitor myself."
I gripped his arm, breath coming short. "Traitor? You are the one who came back from the dead.
Tell me how."
"Not now," he growled, dragging me further. "Your pack is calling for you. Hear them?"
"Eamon!" Jax shouted distantly. "Where are you? Answer us!"
Finn joined in. "He took him! The black wolf took Eamon!"
Ronan kept moving, my blood marking the snow behind us. "They will not find you tonight. I
decide when this ends."
The trees closed around us. Pain throbbed in my side, but the bond burned hotter. He saved
me. Dragged me away instead of ending it. His own wolves howled in total confusion as we
vanished deeper into the shadows.
Whatever came next, the line between enemy and something more had just blurred badly. And I
knew the real storm was only starting.
