~ RONAN ~

I’m feeling uneasy. I can’t count the number of times I’ve paced around this room—it’s countless. And funny enough, the two shots of tequila I downed aren’t even fucking helping.

I’ve never felt this way before. You know when something is right in front of you, yet you can’t fucking solve the puzzle or piece it together? That’s exactly how I feel. It’s driving me insane.

She might not know it, but whoever entered her room doesn’t have good intentions. Something about this feels wrong, and I can’t shake the feeling that she’s in danger.

After questioning Liora and demanding answers as her Alpha, I can tell she’s being sincere. According to her, she waits until Dr. Elias is finished, and the pack guards can back up her story.

I know she’s telling the truth, and it’s pointless to press the matter any further. Still, that doesn’t ease the knot twisting in my gut. If Liora isn’t lying, then someone else is involved, and I don’t like what that means.

I’m beginning to piece together Kael’s reasoning. She doesn’t want me to press further whenever I ask about the person, which means she knows who it is and is, in some way, protecting them.

"Someone’s finally using his brain," Kael singsongs in his usual sassy tone.

I simply ignore him. As much as I hate to admit it, he might actually be onto something.

I don’t know her reasons for protecting whoever it is, but I fucking need her to understand that this isn’t her old pack—a place where her voice is silenced, where she’s forced to keep secrets and shield people who don’t deserve it.

I stride over to the nearest wall and slam my fist into it. The impact cracks through the room, but the pain doesn’t affect me one fucking bit.

I can tolerate her protecting someone back in Westbrook. That’s her past. But not here. Not in my fucking pack.

No one should be able to entertain the sick thought of hurting their Luna and walk away scot-free. Not under my rule, not while I’m Alpha. And if someone in my pack thinks they can threaten her, scare her into silence, or lay a hand on her without consequences, they’re about to learn just how wrong they are.

"What do you think, Kael?"

I hear him scoff. Running a hand through my hair, I almost regret asking him. I should’ve asked Nikolai instead, but he’s already digging into Roselle and Westbrook for me. The last thing I need is—

"What? I let you use your precious human brain for one whole minute and it’s already overheating?" Kael snorts. "How tragic. Should I call for help? Maybe a healer? Perhaps a funeral director?"

I grit my teeth.

"Seriously, Ronan, I step aside for sixty seconds and suddenly you’re wandering around in circles like a lost pup. It’s honestly embarrassing."

"You’re not helping."

"And yet here you are, asking for my opinion." His laugh is downright obnoxious. "Go on. Say it. ’Kael, you’re the smarter one.’ We both know it’s true."

"You know what? This is a mistake." I drag a hand down my face. "Maybe I should just ask her. Nicely, and try reasoning with her."

I pause, thinking it through.

"I mean, there’s no logical way I can spell out the word danger to her and she still refuses to tell me who it is... right?"

Kael lets out a bark of laughter. "I’m not saying a damn thing until you admit it."

I narrow my eyes. "Admit what?"

"That I’m smarter than you." His tone is unbearably smug. "Come on, Ronan. The words won’t kill you. They might hurt your ego, but let’s be honest, that thing survives on delusion anyway."

"Fuck you, Kael."

"See? Still avoiding the truth." He clicks his tongue dramatically. "Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic."

I ignore him. "For the record," Kael continues, clearly enjoying himself, "your brilliant plan is to politely ask the woman who’s been dodging your questions all day and hope she suddenly develops a passion for honesty? That’s your strategy?"

"Shut up."

"No, no. Please continue. I love watching disasters unfold in real time."

I shake my head as I step out of my room, slamming the door shut behind me and heading back toward hers. It’s still early in the night. She might already be asleep. Or worse—

If she’s asleep, then I’ll just have to watch over her until morning, I’m not risking it.

"Yeah, you have to," Kael chimes in, sounding far too excited.

I frown. "I thought you said you weren’t saying another word."

"I did." He pauses. "But then you mentioned my favorite activity."

I already know where this is going. "Watching over Roselle?"

"Stalking Roselle," he corrects cheerfully.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "You’re unhinged."

His laughter echoes through my head. "Honestly, Ronan, call it whatever helps you sleep at night. Watching. Guarding. Protecting. Staring at her while she sleeps like a complete creep. Tomato, tomahto."

"Say whatever you want."

"Oh, I will." Kael sounds positively delighted. "And for the record, if anyone’s obsessed here, it’s definitely not me. I’m just the wolf. You’re the one finding excuses to spend every waking second around our mate."

I grit my teeth and keep walking. Unfortunately, Kael’s laughter follows me the entire way.

The moment I reach her door, my jaw clenches. The two guards stationed outside are asleep. So much for trusting them. I quietly turn the doorknob and slip inside, easing the door shut behind me. I do my best not to make a sound, just in case she’s asleep.

My eyes immediately land on the bed, and my heart doesn’t just skip a beat—my entire body freezes. Kael lets out a furious growl inside my head.

The bed is empty.

"Roselle?" I call out, trying to calm the overreactive wolf pacing frantically in my mind. Maybe she went to the bathroom. Maybe she’s somewhere else in the room. Maybe—

Hell no. I’m not taking chances.

I cross the room in seconds and shove open the bathroom door, only to find it empty. I check every corner of the room, the closet, the balcony, and every other possible hiding place, but there’s nothing.

She’s nowhere to be found.

"Fuck you, Ronan!" Kael roars. "I fucking told you she was mapping out the exits! I told you, but no, you just had to use your brilliant human logic!"

I grind my teeth, trying to keep my temper in check.

"Kael—"

"No! Fuck you!" he snaps. "If anything happens to our mate, I’m going to chew you alive. Do you hear me? Alive. I’ll start with your legs so you can’t walk away from another one of your stupid decisions."

I don’t know whether I should correct the fact that she’s not our mate first or focus on the more pressing issue that Roselle is missing. Either way, I don’t have time to argue with him.

A strange panic begins clawing its way up my throat, and for the first time all night, I realize I’m not thinking straight. I force myself to take a slow breath. Then another.

Luckily, I catch it. Her scent.

Relief crashes into me so hard that my chest physically loosens. Her scent is still fresh, still in the room, which means she hasn’t been gone for long.

Closing my eyes, I inhale again, focusing on the familiar fragrance and letting my wolf instincts take over.

A low growl rumbles from my chest as I follow her scent outside. The trail is still there, but it’s fading.

Fuck. My pace quickens, then it turns into a run.

We race across the pack lands, following every trace of her scent before it disappears completely. Branches whip against my arms, and dirt kicks up beneath my boots, but I barely notice.

All I can think about is Roselle. I should mindlink Nikolai, to alert the guards and organize a search party, have the entire pack looking for her. But fuck that. Whoever is with my bride needs to face my wrath.

I want to be the one who finds them. I want to bask in the satisfaction of tearing them apart, limb by fucking limb.

"Fucking let me out," Kael snarls, pacing so violently inside my head that I can practically feel his claws scraping against my skull. "We need to reach her in time, and I can’t trust your weak human legs to get us there fast enough."

"You call them weak every chance you get, yet they’ve kept us alive this long."

"Barely." Kael scoffs. "You’re running. I’m built for hunting. There’s a difference."

I ignore him and push myself harder. As soon as we reach the woods, her scent slams into us again. This time, I can hear the loud, erratic pounding of her heart. It’s beating too fast, too unevenly, like she’s in danger.

Kael strains against me. I can’t hold him back any longer. He surges forward, forcing the shift as my bones snap and reform beneath my skin. The wind howls violently around us, whipping through the trees. Branches sway and crack as the entire forest trembles beneath the force of his rage.

A furious growl tears from his throat, echoing through the night like thunder. The sound is primal, savage, filled with a level of anger that makes even me uneasy.

For once, I’m grateful we’re deep in the woods and not inside my pack. If we were, the destruction would have been catastrophic. Wolves would be scrambling for cover, and half the territory would be in chaos.

I ignore him and push myself harder. As soon as we reach the woods, her scent slams into us again. This time, I can hear the loud, erratic pounding of her heart. It’s beating too fast, too unevenly, like she’s in danger.

Kael strains against me. I can’t hold him back any longer. He surges forward, forcing the shift as my bones snap and reform beneath my skin. The wind howls violently around us, whipping through the trees. Branches sway and crack as the entire forest trembles beneath the force of his rage.

But Kael doesn’t stop.

A furious growl tears from his throat, echoing through the night like thunder. The sound is primal, savage, filled with a level of anger that makes even me uneasy.

For once, I’m grateful we’re deep in the woods and not inside my pack. If we were, the destruction would have been catastrophic. But right now, none of that matters. All that matters is Roselle.