Chapter 26Ronan Wolfe
Chapter
Twenty-Six
RONAN WOLFE
T he forest is thick with shadows, the faint glow of the moon barely cutting through the canopy overhead. The humans—what’s left of them—are nothing more than prey now. They scatter, thinking they can outrun their fate. I move through the trees with ease, my senses sharp, my power still humming beneath my skin, despite the moon's fading pull.
There’s one more left. I can feel her. She’s close, hiding under the roots of a massive tree, thinking she’s safe. Her fear is palpable, calling to me like a beacon, guiding me right to her.
I smile to myself, the thrill of the hunt simmering in my blood. This one has been clever, managing to avoid me longer than the others. But now, she’s mine.
I crouch low, moving silently through the underbrush until I see her. A woman, trembling, her breathing shallow and panicked. She doesn’t see me yet, too busy trying to hide, thinking she’s escaped.
But there’s no escape. Not from me.
I step forward, deliberately letting a twig snap underfoot. She turns sharply, eyes wide as they lock onto mine. There it is—the pure, unfiltered fear I love to see. She scrambles back, pressing herself against the tree, her heart racing, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
“Please,” she whispers, her voice breaking. “Take me.”
I chuckle, low and dark, enjoying every second of her terror. I crouch in front of her, reaching out to cup her chin in my hand. She flinches, but she doesn’t move away. She knows it’s pointless. Besides, she wants this.
“Oh, but I will,” I murmur, my grip tightening just enough to make her eyes widen further. "There's no running from this, sweetheart."
Her lips tremble, and I can feel her resolve crumbling. I lean in, inhaling deeply as I catch the scent of her fear mixed with something else—resignation. The knowledge that it’s over.
“Your soul will be a fine addition,” I whisper, brushing a stray tear from her cheek with my thumb. “And you’ve run long enough.”
My fingers trail down her neck, sending shivers through her body. "You're going to be a delightful toy for me tonight. Let's see how much you can take, shall we?"
I grip her hips tightly, slamming my thick cock into her dripping cunt with ruthless abandon. Each powerful thrust sends her careening towards the edge, her moans echoing through the room.
"That's it, take it all," I growl, feeling her walls flutter around my shaft. "Cum for me. Show me how much you love being fucked senseless!"
With a final, brutal plunge, I hit her deepest spot, sending her plummeting into ecstasy. Her pussy clamps down on me like a vice as she screams my name, her orgasm crashing over her in waves.
I follow closely behind, my balls drawing up as I bury myself to the hilt one last time. With a guttural roar, I spill my hot seed deep inside her, marking her as mine.
With a swift, practiced motion, I press my palm against her chest, feeling the pull of her soul as it begins to unravel. She gasps, her body jerking as I siphon her essence, her life force flooding into me in a rush of power. It’s intoxicating, the way it fills me, strengthening me, feeding me.
Her eyes roll back, her body going limp as I take the last of her. By the time I release her, she’s nothing more than an empty shell, her soul consumed.
I stand, wiping my hand on my pants as I turn away from her soulless form. She lays there with a satisfied grin on her face. She will return to her life, but without her soul. But, most humans don’t use them anyway. I know she won’t miss it. The hunt is over for her, but there’s another hunt waiting.
The manor.
I can feel them there. The girl. The others. Their presence is a pull I can’t ignore, and I’m done playing games. It’s time to claim what’s mine.
I move through the forest with purpose, the manor looming ahead. As I near it, though, a sudden pressure invades my mind, sharp and commanding.
The Order.
Their voice echoes in my head, clear and cold. I stop, gritting my teeth, my hands clenching into fists as their presence settles over me like a weight.
“ Ronan ,” the voice says, firm, yet laced with a promise of something darker. “ We have been watching. You have proven yourself worthy in this Hunt. But there is one task left for you .”
I stay silent, but my heart races with anticipation. I know the Order too well—they do not make promises lightly.
“ The girl ,” they continue. “ Her name is Selene. She is... special. More than we anticipated. You will bring her to us, and in return, you will be rewarded. ”
A flicker of surprise cuts through me. Special ? I knew she was different, but the way they speak of her... there’s more to this than I realized.
“ Bring her to us, and Damien’s place will be yours. His loyalty is... questionable. Yours has been proven. The power will be yours to wield, but only if you succeed .”
The thought of taking Damien’s place sends a surge of excitement through me. I’ve waited for this. All the years of being in his shadow, always second to his position... it’s time for that to end.
“I’ll bring her,” I say aloud, my voice steady, my mind made up. “Consider it done.”
The presence of the Order fades from my mind, and I take a deep breath, my focus sharpening.
Selene is mine to take. And now, with the promise of the Order’s power, I have every reason to make sure I get to her first.
I approach the manor, my determination growing with every step. I can feel her inside, her presence like a beacon. She doesn’t know it yet, but her fate is sealed.
And I will be the one to claim her.
The manor looms ahead, a sprawling estate of stone and shadow. One of Adrian’s family homes, I know this place is layered with protections, ancient runes woven into every corner of the building. It’s a fortress, not just for Adrian, but for whoever he deems a guest. Which means, for now, I’m at a disadvantage. I can’t just storm in and take what I want. Not yet. Not with those protections in place.
But I’m not one to rush in blindly. No, I’m smarter than that. I’ve always been good at biding my time, watching for the moment when things start to crack.
I push through the front doors with ease—Adrian’s wards let me in, because I’m still considered an ally. For now.
The hall inside is dim, lit by flickering sconces along the walls. I step inside and immediately sense them: Adrian, Lucien, and Damien. They’re gathered in one of the rooms beyond, likely plotting, scheming. About her.
Selene.
I feel a flicker of something hot and dark curl in my chest. She’s different, more than any prey we’ve hunted before. And the fact that they’ve already been with her gnaws at me, sharp and bitter.
I make my way through the hall until I reach the room where the three of them are. Adrian’s lounging by the fireplace, as if he owns the place—which he does, of course. Lucien is pacing, his movements quick, impatient. Damien stands near the window, his jaw tight, eyes sharp as they glance toward me .
“I was wondering when you’d show up,” Adrian says, not even looking at me as I enter.
“Had some unfinished business to take care of,” I say casually, leaning against the doorframe. “You know how it is.”
Adrian’s lips quirk up into a small, knowing smile. “Oh, I do.”
I scan the room, the tension hanging thick between all of us. They’re already on edge, I can feel it. Good. I’ll use that.
“Where’s Selene?” I ask, pretending it’s just idle curiosity.
Adrian’s eyes flick to me, a shadow of amusement in them. “Resting. Though I’m sure you could sense that.”
I feel my temper flare. He knows. Of course, he does. “You’ve been with her, haven’t you?” I ask, my voice lowering.
Adrian doesn’t bother denying it. “She came to me.”
Damien’s posture stiffens. He’s always been the protective one when it comes to her, though I doubt even he knows why. “You crossed a line, Adrian,” he growls. “We agreed?—”
Adrian shrugs. “I didn’t take her soul, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Lucien scoffs, stepping closer. “It’s not about that. It’s about the fact that you’re acting like she’s yours to take. None of us should be laying claim to her.”
“And yet,” Adrian cuts in smoothly, his gaze shifting between all of us, “we’re all thinking it, aren’t we? Who has the right to claim her?”
The tension in the room spikes. Damien’s eyes darken with anger, and Lucien’s already on edge, his power simmering just beneath the surface. I feel it too, that pull toward Selene, the desire to make her mine. It’s maddening.
“She’s not a trophy,” Damien says, his voice tight. “She’s more than that. And we made a pact. None of us would try to take her soul.”
Lucien rolls his eyes. “Like that’s going to hold. You really think any of us are going to just... walk away?”
Before Damien can respond, the sound of footsteps echoes from the hallway. I turn just as Selene steps into the room. She stops short, her eyes darting between us, taking in the scene.
“What’s going on?” she asks, her voice laced with suspicion.
Adrian stands, moving toward her with a calculated calm. “We were just discussing?—”
“Who has the right to claim me?” she cuts him off, her eyes flashing with anger. “I heard you. All of you. You’re still treating me like I’m some prize in your twisted game.”
Damien steps forward, his voice soft but urgent. “Selene, it’s not like that?—”
“Isn’t it?” she snaps, her power radiating off her in waves. “You made a pact that none of you would try to claim me, and yet here you are, arguing over me like I’m a possession.”
Adrian holds up his hands, his voice steady. “We’re trying to understand what’s happening, Selene. You’re different. The Order has plans for you, and we need to know why.”
“I don’t care about your plans,” she spits. “I can’t trust any of you.”
I see the flicker of power in her eyes just before it happens. A surge of energy explodes from her, sending all of us flying back. I hit the wall hard, my head ringing from the impact. Damn. She’s stronger than I thought.
She stands in the center of the room, breathing hard, her eyes wild with fury. “I’m leaving,” she declares.
Damien, recovering first, steps forward. “Selene, you can’t leave. The shadows are closing in. The Order’s creatures will hunt you down.”
“Better them than you,” she retorts, her voice hard.
“Selene, wait,” Adrian says, stepping forward carefully. “You don’t know what you’re up against out there. You’re safer here.”
She doesn’t even look at him. “I’ll take my chances.”
With that, she storms out of the room, her power still crackling in the air behind her. The door slams shut, and for a moment, there’s only silence.
Then I push myself off the wall, brushing the dust from my clothes. “I’ll go after her. ”
Damien’s eyes flash with warning. “You’re not going anywhere near her.”
I meet his gaze, feeling the familiar surge of competitiveness. “You really think you can stop me? I’m the best tracker here. I’ll find her before you even leave the manor.”
Lucien chuckles darkly from the corner. “Sounds like someone’s getting territorial.”
Adrian steps in, his voice cutting through the tension. “He’s right, Damien. Ronan is the best tracker we’ve got. If anyone can find her, it’s him.”
Damien glares at Adrian, his power rippling in the air. “You’re not seriously suggesting we let him go after her alone.”
“Of course not,” Adrian replies smoothly. “You’ll go with him.”
I scoff. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
Adrian’s eyes narrow. “You’re not getting a choice.”
Lucien crosses his arms, smirking. “Sounds like we’re splitting up, then. Divide and conquer.”
I roll my eyes but don’t argue. I can bide my time. Wait for the right moment. “Fine,” I say, turning toward the door. “Let’s go find her.”