<h4>Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Ronan’s Heart</h4>


    The ceremony finished with Marcus announcing a feast to celebrate his daughter’s return. As the pack scattered, he pulled ra close. "Rest before tonight’s ritual," he whispered. "You’ll need your strength." His cold smile made her skin crawl. Two guards led her to avish bedroom on the east wing, far from where the triplets were being kept. ra paced the room, mind racing. The metal key Luna gave her felt heavy in her pocket.


    She needed to find that book, but first, she had to check on Kael and his brothers. A soft tap at her window startled her. Ronan’s face showed, grinning through the ss. Her heart leaped as she rushed to open it. "What are you doing?" she hissed, helping him climb inside. "If the guards catch you—" "They won’t," Ronan said, brushing rainwater from his hair. "I’ve been sneaking out of this house since I was a pup." "Where are your brothers?" "Creating a distraction. Darian’s brilliant n involves a small fire in the kitchen and Kael yelling at everyone." His smile faded. "We don’t have much time. Come with me." "Where?" "Somewhere safe. Somewhere we can talk." He offered his hand. "Do you trust me?" The earnestness in his eyes made her choice easy. "Yes." They slipped out the window and down a secret path behind the main house. Ronan moved with the quiet ease of someone who had used this escape route many times. Once in the forest, they changed to wolf form. Ronan’s russet-colored wolf was smaller than Kael’s but faster. He led her up winding mountain tracks, away from the packnds. ra’s silver wolf followed, her newly awakened power making the run exciting instead of tiring.


    They climbed higher until the trees thinned. Ronan led her to a small area overlooking the valley. A natural rock overhang sheltered the area from rain. Back in human form, Ronan sat on a t rock. "Wee to my thinking spot." ra looked around in wonder. From here, she could see the entire territory—the pack house, theke, even the old home in the distance. "It’s beautiful," she said, sitting beside him. "Ie here when everything feels too much." Ronan’s voice was softer than usual. "When I need to escape being a triplet." ra studied his face. Without his brothers close, he seemed different—less the jokester, more thoughtful. "What do you mean?" Ronan picked up a small stone, turning it over in his hands. "Kael’s the future Alpha. Darian’s the smart one. I’m just... the extra." "That’s not true," ra argued. "Isn’t it?" His smile held no fun. "One soul split three ways, that’s what Mother told you.


    But the pieces aren’t equal." The hurt in his voice made ra’s chest tighten. She reached for his hand. "Ronan—" "I’ve never told anyone this," he interrupted. "Not even my brothers. But I feel... less. Like I got the smallest piece." "The bond doesn’t feel that way," ra said softly. "When I connect with you, it’s just as strong as with Kael or Darian." Hope flickered in his eyes. "Really?" "Really." She squeezed his hand. "You’re not an extra, Ronan. You’re important." Silver light sparked where their skin touched. Ronan watched, intrigued. "What’s it like?" he asked. "Having all that power inside you?" "Scary," she admitted. "It’s like having a storm in my veins. I don’t know how to control it yet." "You will." His confidence warmed her. "You’re the strongest wolf I’ve ever met." "I don’t feel strong. Your father wants to use me as a tool. Celeste looks at me like she’s nning my death. And Luna Evelyn is dying because she tried to help me." Ronan moved closer. "You’re not alone in this. You have us—all three of us." For the first time since learning her true name, ra felt tears threatening. "I never asked for any of this. I just wanted to belong somewhere." "You belong with us," Ronan said strongly. "With me." Before she could reply, he leaned forward and kissed her. Unlike Kael’s intense kiss, Ronan’s was gentle, almost shy. But the effect was just as strong. Silver light bloomed between them, and the mate bond surged with emotion—his fear of rejection, his desire to be seen, his growing love for her.


    When they pulled apart, Ronan looked shocked. "That was—" "I know," ra whispered, touching her lips. Rain began to fall again, pattering against the rock cover. Ronan cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. "There’s something else I need to tell you," he said. "Something I heard Mother say before she was shot." ra stressed. "What is it?" "The ritual Father’s nning... it’s not just about sharing power." Ronan’s face paled. "It’s a move. He means to take your power totally." "Luna Evelyn mentioned a willing sacrifice," ra said, remembering. "But I would never agree to that." "You won’t have to." Ronan’s eyes darkened. "Once the ritual starts, your consent doesn’t matter. The blood bond between father and daughter is enough." Cold fear washed through her. "We need to find that book. Luna gave me a key to her study." "I know where it is," Ronan said, standing quickly. "We should go now, while everyone’s busy with the feast." As they prepared to shift, a new smell caught ra’s attention—wolf, but wrong somehow. Twisted. "Someone’sing," she whispered. Ronan sniffed the air, then pushed her behind him protectively. "Not someone. Something." A huge ck wolf emerged from the trees, its eyes glowing an unnatural blue. Behind it came another, and another—six in total, the same guards who had attended Celeste. "Father’s elite guard," Ronan growled. "But something’s wrong with them."


    Thergest wolf snarled, showing teeth too long for a normal wolf. Its fur seemed to absorb the rain, staying strangely dry. "Blood magic," ra realized. "Like what Celeste used." The wolves began to circle them, cutting off exit routes. Ronan’s body tensed, ready to fight. "There’s too many," he mumbled. "We need to run." "Where? They’re blocking the way down." Ronan nced behind them—the area ended in a sheer cliff drop. His face hardened with decision. "Do you trust me?" he asked again. "Yes," ra answered without doubt. "Then jump when I do." He grasped her hand tightly. Thergest wolf lunged. In that instant, Ronan pulled ra backward—off the cliff edge. They fell together, the wind rushing past them. ra’s scream stuck in her throat as Ronan yanked her closer, wrapping his body around hers. "Shift!" he yelled in her ear. They burst into wolf form midair. Below them, a river appeared from the mist—narrow and wild with sharp rocks on either side. "Aim for the deep center!" Ronan’s voice echoed in her mind through their link. They hit the water with shocking force.


    The cold knocked the breath from ra’s lungs as the current instantly swept them downstream, away from the pack house—and away from Kael and Darian. Ronan’s brown wolf struggled beside her, fighting to keep both their heads above water. A gash on his shoulder turned the water pink around him. Stay with me, his voice urged in her mind. We’ll get through this. As they rounded a bend in the river, ra spotted a fallen tree making a natural bridge. With thest of her power, she pushed toward it, grabbing a branch with her jaws. Ronan followed, limping as they dragged themselves onto the shore. They fell in human form, gasping for breath. "That was insane," ra panted. Ronan managed a weak smile. "Told you I’m the fun brother." "You’re bleeding," she touched his shoulder gently. "Worth it to escape those things." He winced as he sat up. "But we’re on the wrong side of thend now. Miles from the pack house." "What about your brothers? The ritual?" "We’ll find another way back." Ronan checked the position of the sun, now barely visible through the clouds. "We have until midnight."


    A branch snapped in the trees behind them. Both froze, listening. "More guards?" ra whispered. Ronan shook his head. "Different smell. Not pack." A person stepped from the shadows—a tall man with striking green eyes and a scarred face. "Well, well," he said, his voice oddly familiar. "If it isn’t the missing triplet and the silver wolf everyone’s talking about." More wolves emerged from the trees, surrounding them. "Who are you?" ra ordered, calling her silver power to her fingertips. The man smiled, showing a gold tooth. "Name’s Gideon Ashford. I believe we have amon enemy in Alpha Marcus." Ronan growled. "Ashford was banished years ago for treason." "And now I lead thergest rebel pack in the mountains," Gideon replied smoothly. His eyes fixed on ra, studying the silver lines beneath her skin with undisguised interest. "But more importantly, little silver wolf, I’m your only chance to save your mates before mid night."