Ryder’s jaw clenched.
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he pulled her closer, shielding her with the strength of his entire being. His heartbeat thundered against her back – a frantic, furious rhythm.
"That," he muttered darkly, "I’m not entirely sure. But... he’s like ."
Reana’s breath hitched. Her wolf whimpered, unsettled but no longer resisting. Ryder’s presence cald it – like an anchor in the middle of a storm.
Her hand curled against the bare muscle of his shoulder. "Tell the truth... who are you really? He seed to know you."
Ryder looked at her then – really looked at her. The storm in his eyes dimd just a little, and his voice dropped to a whisper.
"Snow," he said.
Reana swallowed hard. She didn’t blink. She just stared into his eyes... those red irises slowly cooling to a familiar blue.
She’d suspected it. Felt it in her bones. But hearing it... hearing it from his mouth...
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed through the hall – racing toward them. The pack must’ve been drawn by the crashes and the trembling of the building.
"You’re going to be caught if you don’t do sothing, and I’ll gladly have you killed if—" Her voice vanished into thin air, just like the two of them.
They disappeared.
The pack mbers burst into the chamber seconds later. Horror widened their eyes. A massive crater yawned in the temple wall, smoke curling upward like the aftermath of a godly war. Cracks webbed through the ancient stone. The air was thick with the stench of scorched rock.
"Wh–what happened here?" one muttered, his voice tight with fear.
"We need to inform the Luna and the council," another said grimly.
"The goddess is still angry. She must be appeased," an older warrior rasped, more to himself than anyone else.
They exchanged looks – dread weighing heavy in their eyes.
It had to be Vivian and her bloodline. Trouble always followed them.
...
Ryder collapsed to one knee the mont they reappeared in Reana’s room. His breath hitched, his muscles spasming from the brutal effort of bending ti and space—especially while still healing.
That morning, his fury had fractured his mind. He’d seized control of nature, wrested it from the goddesses themselves. It had nearly consud him. His darker half had surged forward, and the result had left him unconscious.
But even unconscious... his mind had been with his Luna.
When that enemy entered to kill him, he had summoned Shadow One. When Reana cried out for help, it wasn’t Shadow One responding to her—it was Ryder, calling him from within.
He’d forced himself to wake the mont the intruder stepped into the territory. But he’d needed ti to gather strength.
And now, what little strength he’d managed to collect... was gone.
Reana slipped out of his arms and walked toward the wardrobe. Ryder slowly rose to his feet, watching her saunter away.
His lips curved into a sad smile. She was going to kill him for the lie he’d told her. Maybe he should’ve told her the truth when he had the chance.
He dragged a palm over his face. "My Luna," he said softly—too softly. She didn’t respond.
Reana pulled out a crimson robe and draped it over her shoulders. Slowly, the fur on her body retracted, giving way to smooth, flawless skin.
"So, let get this straight," she said, voice calm—too calm. "You’re Alpha Snow. Of the Dark Snow Pack. My supposed enemy..."
She paused.
"You’re the man I’ve been hunted by... and the sa one who’s held through every nightmare since?"
She didn’t turn around. Just stood there, back to him, still and silent. It was the kind of stillness that ca before a storm.
Ryder—Snow—stood frozen.
"Yes," he said quietly.
The word hit the room like a blade, slicing through everything.
Reana’s hand clenched at her side. Slowly, she turned to face him.
"Why?" she asked, her eyes afla. "Why lie to ? Why pretend to be soone else? Why crawl into my world, into my pack... into my bed?"
"Your father made a rule," Ryder said, stepping closer, "that you couldn’t marry outside the pack. I had no choice."
She laughed—dry, sharp, humorless. "That’s rich. So now you’re playing the love card?"
"No." His voice was low. Firm. "I don’t expect forgiveness. I expect fury. I expect you to hate . But you need to know—everything I did after that lie... protecting you, holding you, choosing you... that was real. No more masks. No more lies. This is it. I’ve got nothing left to hide."
Reana stared at him for a brittle mont. Then, without a word, she walked past him to the balcony. The wind picked up, tugging strands of her hair free, whipping them around her face. She stared out into the wild horizon—woods and flowers and snow.
"I don’t know who to be more afraid of," she murmured. "You... or that thing that ca, claiming to be my mate."
Ryder’s jaw tightened. "He’s not your mate. Not truly. That thing... it’s a shadow made flesh. He was likely made from the Moon goddess’ jealousy and hatred. It has no heart, so he can’t love. You felt it too. The bond might exist, but it’s twisted. It’s wrong. It’s not natural."
Reana didn’t turn around. "And you? Are you natural?"
Silence stretched.
Then Ryder’s voice, ragged and low: "I don’t know anymore."
The wind howled between them, carrying snow into the room.
Reana whispered, "Then maybe... we both need to figure out who we are before fate swallows us whole."
Ryder took a long shaky breath. "Okay. You need space. I’ll give you space."
She didn’t respond. Didn’t move. Didn’t look back.
He continued. "Still... I can’t leave your chambers in this condition. Can I at least... share your room? Your bed?"
Reana spun, fury rising in her chest at his audacity, but then she saw him and her breath caught in her throat. He was pale, weak and feeble. His long red hair swaying with the cold breeze.
He looked sinfully beautiful and utterly worn. Her hands twitched, wishing to go forward and gather him in her arms. Then, he made that pitiful face - his blue eyes brimming with tears.
Reana scowled and she glared at him.
"Shaless," she muttered.
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