20. Ronan
TWENTY
RONAN
Ronan's enormous black wolf tore across the moonlit landscape with deadly purpose, his powerful legs eating up the miles between Hale territory and Kade territory.
Beside him, Kozue's large brown wolf matched his pace stride for stride, their synchronized movement a testament to years of fighting side by side.
Behind them, fifty of the Hale pack's finest warriors followed in perfect formation—enforcers and pack members who had insisted on joining this rescue mission the moment they learned their Alpha and Beta's mate was in danger.
We should have gone alone, Ronan projected through their telepathic link, his wolf's blue eyes blazing with barely controlled fury. This isn't their fight.
Like hell it isn't, Kozue responded immediately, his mental voice carrying the same protective intensity that burned in Ronan's chest. When Eli stepped forward and said if any of our mates were in trouble, the entire pack would fight to bring them home, I nearly lost it.
They chose this, Ronan. They chose her as one of us.
The fierce pride that swelled in Ronan's chest threatened to overwhelm him.
His pack—their pack—had rallied without hesitation when they discovered Sloane was missing.
Eli, their former Beta, had been the first to volunteer, followed immediately by every single warrior present.
Even pack members who rarely engaged in combat had stepped forward, their faces set with fierce determination.
She's only been with us for days, Ronan thought, still amazed by the loyalty Sloane had already inspired. But they're willing to risk everything for her.
That's what family does, Kozue replied simply. And she's family now.
But beneath his pride burned a rage unlike anything Ronan had ever experienced.
Through the completed mate bond, he could still feel the echo of Sloane's terror when she'd first been captured, followed by her grim determination as she fought to escape.
And threading through it all was the devastating confirmation he'd waited twelve years to hear.
Darius Kade had murdered his family.
The rival Alpha had finally confessed to the crime that had shattered Ronan's world and thrust him into leadership before he was ready.
The attack that had claimed his parents and younger brother Davis.
The night that had nearly killed Ronan himself, leaving him with scars both physical and emotional that had never fully healed.
Twelve years, Ronan projected grimly as his wolf's powerful muscles propelled him faster through the forest. Twelve years of suspecting but never having proof. Twelve years of restraint.
Tonight that ends, Kozue projected back, his mental tone carrying deadly promise. Tonight we get justice for our family. For our pack. For every life he's destroyed.
They crested a hill that marked the halfway point between territories, the scent of pine and mountain air sharp in their nostrils.
The pack behind them moved like liquid shadow, their formation tight and disciplined despite the urgency driving them forward.
These weren't rogue wolves charging blindly into battle—they were a coordinated force united by purpose.
Another desperate message from Sloane blazed through their link: Help me.
The raw fear and determination in that telepathic plea nearly sent Ronan's wolf into a frenzy.
Through their connection, he could feel her fighting—not just for her life, but for the future they'd only just claimed together.
She was running, evading capture, using every skill they'd taught her to survive.
She's fighting for us, Kozue observed, his wolf's green eyes reflecting the same fierce protectiveness that consumed Ronan. She's not giving up.
She never does, Ronan replied, his admiration for his mate blazing through the bond. That's why she's perfect for us.
The territorial boundary between Hale and Kade lands appeared ahead—a line marked more by scent than any physical barrier. For twelve years, Ronan had respected that boundary, had chosen diplomacy and patience over the war his wolf demanded. But Darius had crossed every line tonight.
No more restraint, Ronan projected to his pack as they approached Kade territory. No more mercy. We end this tonight.
The responding howls from his warriors sent a chill of satisfaction through Ronan's wolf as they crossed into enemy territory as one unstoppable force.
Minutes later, they emerged from the tree line onto Darius's estate grounds, and Ronan's wolf immediately spotted the scene unfolding.
There was Sloane—his beautiful, fierce mate wearing his oversized black t-shirt and her black leggings, her long hair streaming behind her as she ran barefoot across the cold ground.
Even from this distance, he could see the determination in every line of her body.
Behind her, Darius pursued in human form, his eyes gleaming with predatory satisfaction. But it was the sight of the fifty rogue and pack wolves converging from all angles that made Ronan's blood run cold. They were trying to surround her, cut off her escape routes, and trap her like prey.
She's outnumbered, Kozue projected urgently. We need to move now.
But Ronan's wolf was already running as fast as he could, his powerful legs propelling him down the slope toward the estate.
Behind him, his fifty Hale pack warriors followed, their formation spreading wide to counter Darius's forces.
The sound of their approach—paws thundering against earth, low growls rumbling from powerful chests—carried across the night air like approaching thunder.
Darius must have heard them coming because he suddenly stopped his pursuit of Sloane and turned toward the tree line where Ronan's pack emerged.
For one moment, the rival Alpha's face went completely blank.
Then his ice-blue eyes widened as he took in the sight of Ronan's massive black wolf leading fifty warriors onto his territory.
Look at him, Kozue projected with dark satisfaction. The coward finally realizes what's coming for him.
Rather than stand and fight like the Alpha he claimed to be, Darius immediately pivoted and began running in the opposite direction—away from Sloane, away from the battle, abandoning his own forces to avoid facing the consequences of his actions.
"Protect me!" Darius shouted to his wolves as he fled. "Hold them off!"
But his rogue wolves and pack members were already hesitating, their confidence shaken by their Alpha's immediate retreat. Some held their ground, snarling and snapping as they prepared to fight. Others looked between their fleeing leader and the approaching Hale pack with obvious uncertainty.
The bastard's running away, Ronan projected with disgust. Letting his people die for him while he saves his own skin.
Just like twelve years ago, Kozue replied grimly.
The realization that Darius was exactly the kind of leader Ronan despised—one who demanded loyalty but offered none in return—only fueled his rage. This was the man who had shattered his family, destroyed his life, and now threatened the future he'd built with Sloane and Kozue.
Tonight he answers for all of it, Ronan projected to his pack as they closed the distance to Darius's forces. Tonight justice comes home.
Ronan's black wolf finally reached Sloane's position just as the fifty Kade wolves were closing in from the dense forest, their snarls echoing across the moonlit estate grounds.
The moment his paws touched the earth beside her, she reached out instinctively, her fingers tangling in his thick fur.
The contact sent a jolt of electric awareness through his wolf's body.
Get behind us, Ronan projected through their telepathic link as Kozue's enormous brown wolf flanked Sloane's other side. Let us protect you.
"No." Her voice rang with fierce conviction as she positioned herself between them, her bare feet planted firmly on the cold ground. "I'm fighting with you and Kozue. I'm not standing back while you protect our pack and our home."
The absolute certainty in her voice made Ronan's wolf beam with pride. This was his mate—their mate—refusing to cower when everything they'd built together faced destruction. Through the triad bond, he felt Kozue's matching admiration and protective instincts flare.
Then stay between us at all times, Ronan projected back. We fight as one, not separate.
Sloane's understanding blazed through their connection as she adjusted her stance, her fighter's instincts aligning perfectly with their wolf positioning.
The three of them formed an unbreakable triangle—Ronan's black wolf on her left, Kozue's brown wolf on her right, and Sloane at their center like the missing piece that made them complete.
The first three Kade wolves lunged simultaneously, their coordinated attack designed to overwhelm.
But they hadn't anticipated fighting a triad bond.
Ronan's wolf dove left, his powerful jaws clamping around the throat of the largest attacker while Kozue's wolf spun right, using his momentum to knock the second wolf off balance.
In the center, Sloane dropped low and rolled beneath the third wolf's leap, coming up behind it with deadly precision.
The synchronization was flawless—as if they'd fought as one unit for years instead of hours. When Sloane's hands found the wolf's neck and twisted with lethal efficiency, the sharp crack echoed across the grounds as the massive body dropped lifeless at her feet.
Perfect, Kozue projected, his mental voice thick with admiration as his own opponent fell beneath his claws.
Our warrior mate, Ronan agreed, pride blazing through their bond as he released his kill.
But there was no time to savor the victory. More Kade wolves poured toward them, their eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. Behind them, Ronan could hear his own pack engaging the enemy forces—snarls, howls, and the crash of bodies colliding in deadly combat.