Chapter Twenty Seven
With a snarl, Killian lunged at Ronan, claws unsheathing mid–air as he knocked the silver blade from Ronan’s grip. It skittered across the cave floor, clinking against the rock. Before Ronar could react, Killian slammed into him, both of them crashing to the ground with a thud that echoed in the cavern.
Ronan growled, his fangs bared, but Killian was bleeding. I could smell the iron in the air, sharp and terrifying. His movements were slower now, jerky and weak. The silver wound in his side hissed with every breath he took, and blood soaked through his shirt, dark and sticky.
Still, he didn’t let go.Killian’s arm wrapped around Ronan’s throat, muscles straining, his eye: glowing with primal fury. “You-” he coughed, blood staining his lips, “you don’t get to touch her
Ever.”
Ronan thrashed, trying to break free: He drove his elbow backward, right into Killian’s wound. Killian cried out, his body convulsing from the pain, and he loosened his grip. Ronan shoved him off roughly, rolling away.
I stood frozen, my wolf howling inside me, frantic. Do something. Move. Now. That’s when I saw it–Killian’s dagger lying near the rock wall, glinting faintly under the moonlight that filtered through the cave’s cracks.
I darted for it, ignoring the sharp sting in my ankle from when I’d fallen earlier. My fingers closed around the hilt just as Ronan turned toward me.
‘Lunara,” he said softly, his voice laced with something almost… gentle. “It’s me. Richie. You’re not going to kill me, not for him.”
rose slowly, pointing the blade at him with both hands. “Try me,” I growled, my voice shaking. His eyes flicked to the blade, then to my face. Hurt and disbelief flickered across his features, but I didn’t care. I didn’t blink.
Killian groaned behind me, and the sound shredded my insides. His heartbeat was slowing–l could hear it now that I was listening.
Leave,” I snapped. “Before I drive this into your chest.”
Ronan’s jaw clenched, but something in my stance must have convinced him. With a final glare
e turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving behind nothing but the scent of betrayal.
The dagger clattered to the floor from my trembling hands. I dropped beside Killian immediately His skin was damp, his breath ragged. His shirt was soaked with blood, and the silvery lines of oison from the blade crawled like veins along his side.
No, no, no. Stay with me,” I whispered, pressing my hands over the wound.
He gave a weak laugh. “Didn’t… know you cared this much,” he said, eyes fluttering.
Shut up,” I choked, forcing pressure onto the wound. “You’re not dying. Not on me.”
His eyes softened as they met mine. Despite the pain, there was peace in them. Something ender.I dug into the inside pocket of his jacket and yanked out the comm crystal–a communication rune Enzo had given him. My hands shook as I activated it, blood smearing
4:45 am
across the glowing sigils.
“Come on, come on…” I whispered as the rune pulsed.
“Alpha?” Enzo’s voice crackled through.
“It’s Lunara,” I said breathlessly. “Killian’s down. Silver blade. He’s bleeding bad. Please, help!”
“Where are you?” he barked.
“In the southern ridge cave–the old rogue hideout. Please hurry!”
“We’re on our way. Don’t let him sleep. Keep him conscious.”
I tossed the rune aside and turned back to Killian. His eyes were closing. “No. Killian–look at me.”
He smiled weakly. “You’re… beautiful when you panic,” he murmured.
A hysterical laugh burst out of me. “You’re a jerk.”
He gripped my hand with more strength than I expected. His eyes locked with mine–bright, intense, and unguarded.
“I love you,” he whispered.
My breath caught. My heart stopped. Did he really just say that?
But before I could say a word, his hand fell away.
His eyes closed.
“No!” I screamed, shaking him. “Killian, don’t you dare-!”
I could hear paws thundering in the distance. Enzo. Reinforcements. But it was too late. He was
unconscious.
The healer’s den was warm, but I felt frozen inside.I sat outside Killian’s chamber, wrapped in a borrowed cloak, my legs numb and my heart raw. I hadn’t moved for hours. This must’ve been what Killian felt when I’d been poisoned weeks ago. Helpless. Broken.
The memory of his last words haunted me. I love you. He’d said it like it had been burning inside him all this time.
And I hadn’t said a thing back. The healer finally stepped out, removing her gloves. Her face was calm.
“Miss Winslow?”
I bolted upright. “Yes–how is he? Please-”
“He’s stable,” she said quickly, and I almost collapsed. “The silver was deep, but it didn’t reach his heart. We’ve purged the poison and closed the wound. He’s resting now.”
Tears flooded my eyes. “Can I see him?”
She nodded.I stepped into the den. The scent of herbs filled the air, but all I saw was Killian, lying too still on the stone bed. Pale. Quiet. Not my fierce, loud–mouthed Alpha.
I took his hand. Warm.
“You scared the hell out of me,” I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks.
Chapter Twenty Seven
4:45 am G D D D
He didn’t stir.I laughed bitterly. “You told me you loved me, and then you passed out like a dramatic idiot before I could say anything.”
Nothing.
Three days passed. Healed but unconscious, Killian remained still.I never left his side except to shower or grab food. Enzo kept hunting Ronan. The trail had gone cold.
Every morning, I prayed Killian would wake up. Every night, I whispered that I loved him, hoping he could hear me.On the fourth morning, his finger’s twitched.
I gasped, leaning forward. “Killian?”
His brows furrowed slightly. A groan escaped him.My heart thundered.
“Killian, open your eyes.”
He did–slowly. Blinking like he was waking from a century–long sleep. His gaze met mine.
The first thing he said was, “Did I die? Is this the Moon Goddess‘ realm? Because you look- glorious.”
I laughed through my tears and cupped his cheek. “You’re alive, you idiot.”
He smiled weakly. “You didn’t say it back.”
I leaned down, brushing my lips over his. “I love you, too.”
His hand slid into my hair. “Say it again.”
I smiled. “I’ll say it for the rest of my life.”
