Chapter 10 The Road To BloodWood

The night stretched endless and silent around them as they walked.

Celeste's legs burned, her breath still uneven, but she forced herself forward, one step at a time.

She didn't want to go with Ronan.

But she didn't have a choice.

The moment he had said the name Bloodwood, something inside her had recoiled.

No wolf went there.

Not unless they were desperate.

The Bloodwood was cursed.

It was a place of old magic, forgotten gods, and the things that howled in the dark when even Alphas were afraid.

And now?

She was walking straight toward it.

With the one wolf she feared more than the forest itself.

Her hands fisted at her sides.

She still didn't trust him.

Not after everything.

Not after the secrets, the lies, the way he had looked at her like he had known all along.

Celeste's breath shook.

A Bloodborn.

The word felt foreign in her mind, like it didn't belong to her.

She had spent her whole life thinking she was a Beta. Weak. Normal.

Now, suddenly, she was something rare? Something dangerous?

Her stomach twisted.

It wasn't fair.

None of this was fair.

She felt Ronan's gaze on her watching.

She scowled. "What?"

Ronan's lips curled slightly. "You're angry."

Celeste let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, am I?"

His smirk didn't falter. "You're cute when you're mad."

Celeste stopped walking.

Her eyes burned as she turned to face him fully. "I don't want to be here with you."

Ronan tilted his head slightly. "And yet, here you are."

She wanted to punch him.

Instead, she stepped closer, her wolf bristling. "You knew what I was, and you didn't tell me."

His smirk faded.

Good.

She pushed forward. "You sat there, watching me panic, watching me question everything I've ever known, and you just let me-"

Her breath shook.

"You let me believe I was normal."

Silence.

Then, so softly she almost missed it

"I wanted you to have a little longer."

Celeste froze.

Ronan's gaze was steady, unblinking. Serious.

She swallowed. "What?"

"You think I didn't want to tell you?" His voice was low. Rough. "I know what happens when someone learns what they are."

Celeste's hands curled into fists. "And what happens, Ronan?"

He didn't blink. "They become hunted."

The words hit hard.

Because she knew he was right.

She had seen the way the shadow wolves had looked at her.

She had heard the way their leader had said there you are.

She had felt the shift in the air-the moment they had recognized her.

Her stomach twisted.

She wasn't safe anymore.

And somehow, Ronan had known this was coming all along.

Celeste took a shaky breath. "And what happens if I don't go with you?"

Ronan's jaw ticked.

"You die."

The words were blunt. Absolute.

Celeste hated that she believed him.

Her breath was uneven.

This wasn't just about what she wanted anymore.

It was about survival.

Celeste closed her eyes for half a second.

Then, she walked past him.

She didn't look back.

Didn't speak.

She just kept walking.

And a moment later, she felt him fall in step beside her.

---

They walked for hours.

Celeste's muscles ached, her mind spinning with too many thoughts, too many emotions.

She was angry.

She was scared.

But worse than all of it

She felt something else.

Something dangerous.

Something tied to the mate bond pulling at her every time she stepped too far from Ronan's side.

Celeste hated it.

She hated that she was aware of him.

Of his steady breathing. Of the heat radiating from his body. Of the way he always walked slightly in front of her, like a shield.

It made her want to scream.

"Where is this place?" she muttered, desperate to think about something else.

Ronan didn't hesitate. "Another day's walk."

Celeste groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."

His lips twitched. "Tired?"

She glared. "Don't start."

His chuckle was deep, amused.

Celeste rolled her eyes.

They walked in silence for a while longer.

Then

The wind shifted.

Celeste stopped walking.

Her wolf stiffened.

Something wasn't right.

Ronan noticed instantly.

His hand moved to his dagger. "What is it?"

Celeste inhaled.

The scent hit her like a punch to the gut.

Not enemy wolves.

Not hunters.

Something worse.

Her throat went dry. "Smoke."

Ronan's entire body locked.

And then, for the first time, she saw something flicker in his red eyes.

Panic.

He moved.

Faster than she had ever seen, faster than her mind could process he grabbed her arm and pulled her forward.

"Run," he said, voice sharp. "Now."

Celeste stumbled. "What? What's-"

"Run."

He didn't wait for her to react.

He took off.

Celeste ran after him.

Branches whipped at her skin, the wind rushing past her ears. Her lungs burned.

She had never seen Ronan afraid before.

And whatever he had just scented?

It was enough to terrify him.

Celeste's heart slammed against her ribs.

They broke through the trees

And her entire body went cold.

Because there, in the distance

The Bloodwood was burning.

The sky was red.

Smoke rose in black pillars, twisting into the sky.

And at the edge of the forest, dozens of figures stood in the flames.

Waiting.

Watching.

Hunting.

Celeste's blood ran cold.

And beside her, Ronan whispered

"We're too late."