And in that moment—I realized he wasn’t just angry. He washurt. Not from the betrayal. From the shame of not seeing it sooner.
The wind was silent.
Even the trees had gone still, as if the Hollow itself was holding its breath. Diesel and Killian were frozen—heads low, backs bowed, instinct pressing them to the earth under the weight of his Will.
But not me. Not now. Not now I knew my mate was hurting. I took a step forward.
“Rowen, don’t—” Diesel looked up and reached for me.
I shook him off.
I couldn’t feel him. Couldn’t feel Wolfe. Not really. The bond was still there but buried beneath a tide of fury and anguish so loud it drowned him out. Like he’d sunk into his own power, into the guilt, into the burn.
But Iknewhim, and I wasn’t going to let him drown in his own storm.
I stepped between him and Killian, my steps sure, and I felt Killian move slightly, giving me a little space.
Wolfe’s back was rising and falling in sharp, shallow bursts. His hands were shaking. Claws half-shifted. Eyes wild with the glow of alpha magic.
He didn’t see me. I doubted he saw anything, but I could seehim. I reached into the bond, past the static, past the wrath, and deeper still.
Come back to me.
No answer. I pushed harder.
Wolfe, I swear to the Goddess, if you shut me out now, I will bite you myself. Right now. On your ankle.
The tremble in his shoulders deepened. His breath caught. His head jerked, like he’d heard a voice underwater.
You’re not alone,I told him, voice soft but fierce in the place between us.You’re not carrying this alone anymore. You have me. You have us. I’m here, my love, I’m right here.
The bond buckled—and then surged.
Heat rushed through me, not pain, but pressure, like being pulled through wildfire by something older than time.
I reached both hands up and cupped his face.
His eyes met mine. And just like that—he fell.
His knees buckled. His weight collapsed into me. I staggered, but Killian was there, helping me lower us both to the ground. Wolfe’s head dropped to my shoulder, the ragged sound of his breathing shaking through my bones.
He wasn’t unconscious. He was justempty. His Will had drained him dry. Around us, the Hollow began to stir. Quiet murmurs beyond us. A quick glance showed me we were still alone.
Killian moved fast, crouching beside us, his face pale. “You brought him back.”
“No,” I said, brushing Wolfe’s sweat-damp hair back from his face, pressing a kiss to his temple. “He brought himself back. I only reminded himwho he is.”
Right now, he was mine. I felt the Hollow exhale around us, and the druid walked out of the trees.
“If you can help me move him,” they murmured. “Let’s not have too many see this.”
Killian and Diesel moved as one, and Wolfe was taken from me. Then, they walked with him, and had I not just seen him fall, I would have said there was nothing wrong with him.
Killian saw my confusion and gave me a guilty grin. “Been drunk one too many times. We have a system.”
The druid tutted their disapproval, but I merely picked up my dad’s papers and followed them as they walked my alpha home.
The druid kept pace beside me, their eyes watchful, their lips silent. In the house, Brand was waiting, pacing back and forth, and between the three of them, they had Wolfe in our bed, boots off, and out cold.
