Chapter 60

[ 936 words ]

Ashfall

60: 60.

Ashfall Aria

The word Ashfall shouldn’t sound the way it does.

It sounds soft.

Almost beautiful.

Like snow or a soothing melody.

It isn’t.

We’re standing in Ronan’s cabin when Theo finally exhales and explains it, and the moment he does, something cold crawls down my spine.

“Protocol Ashfall,” Theo says, voice steady but tight, “is a commission issued by the Assembly for dire situations. Situations where the entire shifter race is considered at risk. I is a last resort.”

My wolf stirs uneasily.

Danger.

Big danger.

I swallow.

“Okay…”

Theo’s eyes flick to mine, and for a second, I think he doesn’t want to say the next part.

His face sets into a grimace when he speaks.

“Humans who are suspected to know about us,” he says carefully, “or who show potential ill intent toward shifters… are eliminated on sight unless they choose to spend the rest of their lives within the pack they are set to expose. However, protocol Ashfall is called when the number of humans who know the truth is too much to control and every human is disposed of.”

The room goes silent.

Completely silent.

I feel like the floor just dropped out from under me.

“Disposed of?” I repeat.

Like they are trash.

My voice sounds wrong.

Too thin.

Too far away.

Liam doesn’t look at me.

His jaw is tight, his expression grim in a way I’ve never seen before.

“They kill them?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

Theo nods once.

My stomach twists violently.

No, my wolf whines.

Wrong.

Wrong.

“That’s—” I shake my head, stepping back.

“That’s not protection.

That’s—”

“Murder,” Liam says quietly.

No one argues with him.

Something inside me recoils.

A month ago, I was human.

A month ago, I would have been exactly the kind of person they’d be judging.

Watching.

Deciding whether I lived or died based on suspicion.

My chest tightens.

“They can’t just—” I start.

“They can,” Ronan cuts in.

His voice is sharp.

Controlled.

Dangerous.

But the look on his face tells me he is as disgusted by this as I am.

That this choice is not one he would make.

That, at least, pushed back the rage inside of me.

And then just like that, he shifts.

Not physically.

But something in him snaps into place.

Alpha.

“Barric,” he barks.

Barric straightens instantly.

“Lockdown,” Ronan says.

“Full perimeter. No one in or out without clearance.”

Barric nods.

“Done.”

“Marcus is already mobilizing patrols,” Ronan continues, pulling out his phone.

“We tighten everything.”

My heart is pounding now.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

Ronan glances at me briefly, and there’s something in his eyes—something protective, something fierce.

“We’re going to the Citadel,” he says.

“We?” I blink.

“Kade. Liam. You. Me.”

Barric frowns.

“You’re taking her there?”

Before Ronan can answer, I cut in, “What happens at this meeting?”

Ronan exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair.

“That depends on the vote,” he says.

“They’ve already initiated Ashfall in one city.”

My breath catches.

“One?” I whisper.

“They’re testing it,” Liam says darkly.

“Seeing how far they can push.”

Ronan nods.

“With all the Alphas there, they’ll vote on expanding it. Possibly worldwide.”

The word worldwide echoes in my head like a gunshot.

“And if the veil breaks completely,” Kade adds, “they’ll decide how to handle that too.”

Handle.

Like it’s a problem to solve.

Like people aren’t involved.

Kade looks at Ronan again.

“Why bring Aria into this?”

Ronan doesn’t hesitate.

“Because this is the perfect time to present a united front.” My pulse stutters.

“And to show them she’s ours,” he continues.

“Our mate.

Our Luna.”

“If the Assembly has objections to her,” Ronan says, voice hardening, “they’ll be hard-pressed to act against a fully mated Luna tied to multiple dominant males.”

I stare at him.

“You’re… protecting me,” I say slowly.

“Always.”

Simple.

Absolute.

Liam nods.

“It worked for me.”

I look at him, confused.

“What do you mean?”

His mouth tightens slightly.

“When they found out about my ability… they were uneasy. Afraid.”

Afraid?

Of Liam?

“They couldn’t just get rid of me,” he continues, “because under their laws, every wolf shifter has a right to life.”

That should sound reassuring.

It doesn’t.

My stomach twists again.

“Why would they want to hurt you?” I ask.

Ronan answers this time.

“Because he’s a threat.”

I turn to him sharply.

“How?”

Ronan’s gaze is steady, a small smirk teasing the edge of his severe lips.

“Liam can exist between forms. Perfectly. He’s a hybrid in a way no one else is.”

My wolf leans forward, intrigued.

He is balanced.

One with his wolf.

“That means there’s a possibility of a lineage,” Ronan continues, “that could rival—or overthrow—the Assembly.”

My eyes widen.

“That’s… that’s insane.”

“Is it?” Liam murmurs.

I look at him, really look at him.

And for the first time, I see it.

Not just strength.

Potential.

Unpredictable.

Uncontainable.

“But he’s already grown,” I say, grasping for something normal.

“He’s an adult.”

“His human side is,” Ronan says.

“His wolf is still developing.”

That makes zero sense.

“It started late,” he adds.

“So it’s catching up.”

I blink.

That’s… terrifying.

I turn back to Ronan.

“And you’re not afraid of that?” I ask.

“Of him?”

Ronan doesn’t even pause.

“No.”

The certainty in his voice hits something deep in my chest.

“I trust Liam,” he says.

“I know where his loyalty lies.”

Liam’s gaze flicks to him.

“Pack,” Ronan continues.

“Me.”

Then softer—

“Family.”

Something warm spreads through me.

Even now.

Even with everything.

“So no,” Ronan finishes.

“I’m not worried about what he *could* become.”

His eyes meet mine.

“I’m worried about keeping him safe.”

My breath catches.

“Just like I’m worried about keeping you safe.”

My wolf presses close to me.

He means it.

I hesitate, then ask the question that’s been building.

“Is that why we’re not telling the Assembly what I am?”

Ronan’s expression darkens slightly.

“Yes.”

No hesitation.

“No matter what they claim,” he continues, “there’s always been something… off about them.”

My wolf growls softly.

Don’t trust.

“I’ve never trusted them,” Ronan says.

“And I’m not the only one.

A handful of Alphas keep a close watch on the boundaries.”

“Because they keep pushing,” Kade adds.

Ronan nods.

“And the way they handled you? The interest they took in you?”

I flinch slightly at the memory.

The “adoption.”

The control.

The fear.

“There’s nothing good about that,” he says.

I swallow.

He’s right.

I know he’s right.

But that doesn’t make this easier.

Because now I’m going with them.

Walking straight into a place where they already tried to take me.

Twice.

My wolf bristles.

We fight if needed.

I hope it doesn’t come to that.

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