Chapter 49

[ 737 words ]

Theo

Kade and Ronan don’t argue when Barric calls for them.

That’s how I know it’s serious.

Kade gives me one last look before he leaves, his jaw tight, eyes flicking toward Aria like he’s debating whether to say something.

He doesn’t.

Ronan claps my shoulder as he passes, a silent *handle it*, and then the door shuts behind them.

The cabin feels too quiet after that.

Too small.

Too full of everything unsaid.

Aria sits on the edge of the couch, hands clasped so tightly her knuckles are white.

Liam is stretched out on the rug in front of the fire, still in that in-between form—too human to be a wolf, too wolf to be anything else.

His chest rises and falls steadily, but the sight of him like that… it’s a lot for someone who just learned our world exists.

My wolf shifts under my skin, restless.

She’s breaking, he murmurs.

No, she just needs support.

Your first kill is a lot for anyone to take in.

Aria’s head snaps up.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I say quickly, stepping further into the room.

“Just… thinking out loud.”

That’s a lie, but I’m not about to explain inner wolf commentary right now.

I move toward the fireplace, crouching near Liam.

His scent is steady—no immediate danger.

Good.

I glance back at Aria.

She looks smaller than usual.

Not physically.

But like something inside her has folded in on itself.

“I remember my first kill,” I say.

The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.

Her eyes snap to mine.

“Why would you say that?”

Because silence is worse.

Because I can feel the storm inside her and I know if she doesn’t let it out, it’s going to tear her apart.

“Because,” I say slowly, “you’re not the only one who’s been there.”

She swallows.

“Was it… easy for you?”

A humorless breath leaves me.

I sit back on my heels, staring into the fire as the memory creeps in whether I want it or not.

“No,” I admit.

“It was hell.”

My wolf growls softly, remembering.

He deserved it.

“Maybe,” I murmur back internally.

“Didn’t make it easier.”

I drag a hand over my face and glance at her again.

“I couldn’t eat for two days after. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it again. Felt it again.” My fingers curl slightly.

“You don’t forget that kind of thing.”

Her lips part, but she doesn’t speak.

I push on.

“But here’s the part you need to hear, Aria.” I lean forward slightly, making sure she’s really listening.

“You didn’t do it because you wanted to.”

Her gaze flickers, pain flashing across it.

“You did it to protect Liam.”

Her eyes immediately shift to her brother.

“And if those hunters had taken him…” I shake my head, jaw tightening.

“They wouldn’t have been nice to him. Hell, they probably wouldn’t have given him back at all.”

That lands.

I see it in the way her shoulders stiffen.

In the way her expression hardens just a fraction.

Good.

Not because I want her to feel worse—but because guilt alone will destroy her.

She needs anger.

She needs context.

She needs truth.

For a moment, neither of us speaks.

The fire crackles.

Liam shifts slightly but doesn’t wake.

Then Aria’s voice comes out quiet.

“Theo…”

“Yeah?”

She hesitates, eyes fixed on Liam.

“What’s… wrong with him?”

I follow her gaze.

Or rather, I look at Liam the way she must be seeing him now.

Not as her brother.

But as something… else.

“Why does his wolf look like that?” she asks.

I exhale slowly, sitting back and resting my forearms on my knees.

“That,” I say, “isn’t just a wolf.”

She frowns.

“Clearly.”

Despite everything, I huff a quiet laugh.

“Fair,” I admit.

Then I nod toward Liam.

“Your brother’s got a rare gift. Most of us? We’ve got two forms—human and wolf. Clean split.”

She listens intently.

“But Liam…” I tilt my head slightly.

“He’s got a third.”

Her brows knit together.

“A third?”

“Yeah. That form right there?” I gesture toward him.

“It’s something in between. Not human. Not fully wolf. It’s… both.”

My wolf stirs, interest sharpening.

Strong.

“More than that,” I continue.

“It’s dangerous. More powerful than what most of us can do.”

Aria’s eyes widen slightly as she looks at her brother again.

“Why?”

“Because it’s balance,” I say.

“No separation. No dividing line between instinct and thought. It’s the perfect blend of human and beast.” I pause.

“Makes them… whole, in a way the rest of us aren’t.”

She’s quiet for a long moment.

Then—

“Why didn’t he tell me?”

I shrug lightly, though I’ve wondered the same thing myself.

“Could’ve slipped his mind.”

She gives me a look.

I lift a shoulder.

“Hey, you just found out an entire supernatural world exists. He’s been living in it his whole life. Different priorities.”

That earns me the faintest hint of a breath that might almost be a laugh.

Good.

I push off the floor and stand.

“Come on,” I say.

“You need something warm.”

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