Chapter 4 The Battle For Freedom

For a moment, there was nothing. Just the quiet hum of the night outside the tent, the faint crackling of the lantern flames.

Then she heard a rough, shaky inhale.

Selene watched with fear, then she let out a little sigh of relief as Ronan's fingers twitched, then his eyes fluttered open.

Weak, but still burning. Still him.

Relief crashed through her so violently she almost collapsed against him, and his voice was hoarse when he finally spoke.

"I'm right here."

A laugh broke from her, half-sob, half-exhausted relief.

She cupped his face, ignoring the way her hands still shook. "You stubborn bastard," she whispered.

He gave her a weak smirk. "Wouldn't be me if I wasn't."

Selene exhaled, pressing a hand to his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat beneath her.

That's when she heard a slow, mocking laugh echo through the clearing.

Selene froze.

That voice-it was female.

She turned sharply, her body tense.

A woman stepped out of the shadows.

Tall, elegant, and radiating danger.

Her eyes gleamed an unnatural violet, her raven-black hair cascading down her back in thick waves. Her dress-**deep red, like freshly spilled blood-**clung to her curvaceous frame.

Selene's stomach twisted.

She had never seen this woman before.

But she knew, instantly, she was not human.

Ronan stiffened beside her, his grip tightening around Selene. His voice was low, edged with fury.

"Nyra."

Selene's breath caught.

He knew her.

The woman, Nyra, tilted her head, amusement dancing in her violet gaze.

"Alpha Ronan," she purred. "How touching."

Her eyes flicked to Selene.

"You've finally found your little mate. How sweet."

Ronan growled, his entire frame taut with tension.

"What are you doing here?"

Nyra smirked, stepping closer, her movements slow, deliberate.

"I came to see if the rumors were true," she said, eyes locking onto Selene. "And they are."

Selene's wolShe didn't trust this woman.

Something about her felt wrong, as if the very air around her was poisoned.

"What do you want?" Selene demanded.

Nyra's smirk widened.

"To offer you a choice."

Selene stiffened.

"I know what you are," Nyra continued. "What you will become." She turned her gaze to Ronan.

"And I know what happens if she refuses you." She watched as Ronan's jaw clenched.

Nyra sighed dramatically. "The mate bond is such a fragile thing. If she fights it too long..." She trailed off, her violet eyes flashing with amusement.

"You'll lose yourself. And she'll watch as you become the very thing you swore you never would."

Selene's blood ran cold.

"How do you know this?" she whispered.

Nyra chuckled. "Oh, little wolf. I know everything. I also know he's been feeding you lies."

She stepped forward, her gaze locking onto Selene's.

"I can help you," Nyra said, her voice smooth as silk. "I can free you from this curse. You don't have to be his mate."

Selene's heart pounded.

She wanted to refuse.

She should refuse.

But the doubt crept in.

The bond was suffocating.

The curse was real.

Was there a way to undo the mate bond?

What if Nyra was right?

Ronan's growl deepened, his canines elongating.

"Stay away from her."

Nyra laughed. "Oh, Alpha. You can't protect her from the truth." Her gaze flicked back to Selene, piercing her.

"The choice is yours, little rogue."

And with that, she vanished into the shadows.

Her disappearance left behind a chilling silence.

Selene stood frozen, her mind racing.

Ronan turned to her, his eyes desperate.

"Don't listen to her," he said roughly. "She's dangerous."

Selene swallowed hard.

She could still feel Nyra's words lingering in her mind.

Because as much as she hated to admit it-

A part of her wondered if they were true.

What if Ronan was lying to her?

---

The Shadowfang Pack was preparing for war.

Selene tended to Ronan's wounds that night.

She stood at the heart of the pack's encampment, her senses on high alert as the warriors gathered.

The air was thick with tension, every wolf bracing for the inevitable Bloodfang attack.

The moment Magnus had escaped, they all knew that he would return.

And this time, he wouldn't come alone.

Ronan stood beside her, his golden eyes burning with determination and barely restrained fury.

His mate bond with Selene had strengthened him, but they both knew it wouldn't be enough on its own.

He had recovered from his wounds, but his sides were still hurting.

Magnus wanted her.

And he would do anything to take her.

Selene inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stay calm.

She had spent her entire life running.

This was the first time she would stand and fight.

"I don't like this," Ronan murmured, his voice low so only she could hear.

"I should send you away. Somewhere safe."

Selene turned to him, fire in her gaze.

"No. I won't hide while my pack-our pack-fights for me."

Ronan clenched his jaw, but before he could argue, the first howl pierced the night.

It was time.

The ground trembled as the Bloodfang warriors surged forward, pouring into Shadowfang territory like a violent wave.

Selene's stomach twisted as she caught sight of Magnus leading the charge, his silver-white wolf towering above the others, his crimson eyes locked onto her.

The war erupted.

Fangs met flesh. Claws tore through fur. Blood stained the earth.

Selene dodged as a Bloodfang warrior lunged at her, his fangs snapping inches from her throat.

She spun, landing a solid kick to his ribs before shifting mid-motion, her wolf exploding forward.

Her silver-white fur shone under the moonlight as she leaped at the enemy, knocking him to the ground.

She didn't hesitate as she tore into his throat.

Another wolf came at her.

Then another.

She fought like hell.

But no matter how many wolves she took down, more replaced them.

In the chaos, she saw Ronan, his massive black wolf tearing through enemy ranks.

He was a force of nature, his golden eyes glowing with raw power and fury.

Then she saw Magnus.

He was coming for her.

Her heart pounded as he charged through the battlefield, his silver-white fur streaked with blood, his eyes locked onto her.

Selene braced herself, but Ronan got to him first.

The two Alphas collided with bone-crushing force, their battle shaking the very earth beneath them.

Selene wanted to help, but she was surrounded.

More Bloodfang warriors closed in, cutting off her path.

She fought, desperately.

Slashing.

Biting.

Dodging.

But she was losing ground.

Her breath came in ragged gasps.

Her body ached.

She needed more power.

Then she felt it.

The bond.

It flared inside her, hot and alive, calling to her.

Selene closed her eyes and let it in, the power exploded through her.

Her body felt lighter, stronger.

When she opened her eyes, everything sharpened.

She could hear every heartbeat, sense every movement before it happened.

The warriors rushed her but she moved faster.

She took them down with ease, her speed and strength beyond anything she had ever known.

Then she turned to Ronan.

And her blood ran cold.

Magnus had him pinned.

Ronan's black fur was matted with blood, his breathing ragged and tired.

His closed wounds were opening from the force.

Magnus had won.