~ RONAN ~

The day has been absolutely fucking hectic.

I’ve been stuck in back-to-back meetings since dawn—pack territory disputes, warrior training schedules, alliance agreements with neighboring packs, and a fucking audit of our border security. Kael has been restless all day, pacing under my skin, complaining about being away from Roselle, whining like a lovesick fool.

"We should be home. At least give her a heads-up that we’re tied up with work..."

"She’s fine," I reply, trying to convince myself just as much as him. "She’s with Celeste, and she’s safe."

Thinking about it sends a wave of unease creeping down my spine. It’s unlike Kael to be this insistent, and vocal about wanting to go home. Usually, he’s content to let me handle pack business without a word.

But ever since we grew closer to Roselle, he’s become more present, more demanding... and fiercely protective.

I’m in my office when Caius finally arrives, a folder of documents clutched in his hands. He looks exhausted, his usually pristine suit rumpled and his tie loosened.

"We’re done," he says, dropping the folder onto my desk with a heavy thud. "The territorial agreement is finalized. Warren keeps his position as Alpha of Westbrook, but Roselle holds fifty percent authority over pack decisions, resource allocation, and strategic planning. Any major decision requires her signature or approval."

I lean back in my chair, satisfied.

"Good work," I say, opening the folder and scanning the documents. "When can she sign?"

"Whenever you want," Caius responds. "I’ve prepared everything. All she has to do is sign three documents, and the agreement becomes legally binding under pack law and Council oversight."

I nod, my mind already moving forward. There’s so much to do before the Council meeting tomorrow. The vetting of our wedding bond has been scheduled, which means the Council will need to assess Roselle, and verify that she’s mentally and emotionally capable of becoming Luna of Black Shadow Pack.

It’s a formality, mostly. But with her trauma history, there’s always a chance some Council member will try to argue that she’s unfit. The thought makes my hands clench into fists.

"Set up a time for her to review and sign these," I tell Caius. "This week, if possible. The sooner it’s official, the better."

Caius nods and heads out, leaving me alone with the stack of documents that represent Roselle’s reclaimed power.

By the time I finish reviewing everything and delegating final tasks to my Betas, it’s nearly eight o’clock in the evening. The sun is already setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. I’ve missed dinner. I’ve missed the entire afternoon with her.

The drive home feels longer than usual. Kael is practically vibrating with impatience beneath my skin, and I have to actively restrain him from forcing me to drive faster.

The moment we make it to the pack house, I stride through the front doors, already calling out for Roselle.

I’m home, I announce through the bond. The response I get back is fuzzy, emotional, and tinged with something I can’t quite identify.

I find her curled up on the living room couch while Celeste fusses over her hand. My entire body goes rigid.

Her right hand is wrapped in white bandages, and even from across the room, I can see dark spots where blood has seeped through. Her face is pale.

A deep frown settles on my face as I cross the room in quick strides.

"What happened?" I ask, unable to keep the concern from my voice. "Who hurt you? Where?"

Celeste immediately stands and steps back, giving me space. She can sense the change in my demeanor, the fierce protectiveness radiating from every inch of me.

She holds up her bandaged hand, and even through the white wrappings, I can tell the injury is bad. Blood has already soaked through the bandages, revealing deep cuts that are still bleeding.

Celeste speaks up hesitantly. "There was an incident at the medical building, Alpha. A child’s backpack got caught in an elevator. Roselle stopped the elevator, freed the boy, but her hand was injured in the process...."

I’m not listening anymore. I’m staring at Roselle, at the evidence of her selflessness, at the way she risked her own body to protect a child she didn’t even know.

I pull her into my arms, careful of her injured hand, and hold her against my body. My face buries itself in her hair, breathing in her scent.

I can hear her heartbeat hammering against my chest as she buries her face into me.

"You could have been seriously hurt," I say, my voice rough with emotion I can’t quite contain. "You could have been killed."

But even as I say it, I’m not angry. I’m in awe. I pull back just enough to look at her face, my hand cradling her cheek.

"I love you," I say, the words falling out of my mouth like a confession, like a prayer, like an absolute truth that I can no longer deny.

"Roselle, I love you. I need you to know that. I need you to hear it, to feel it, to understand that you are the most important thing in my life."

Her eyes widen, tears glistening in them.

"I’m going to stand with you forever," I continue.

I lean down and kiss her forehead, then her nose, then finally her lips. It’s a tender kiss, full of emotion and devotion, a promise made in the most intimate way possible.

When I pull back, I’m still holding her close, still cradling her like she might break.

"Tomorrow, we have a Council meeting," I say quietly. "They’re vetting our bond, our wedding, our right to be together. Some of them will try to argue that you’re not fit to be Luna. Some of them will look at your trauma and see weakness. But I need you to know that I see strength. I see a woman who speaks truth even when her voice is broken. I see a woman who risks her own safety for strangers. I see a Luna."

She’s crying openly now, her body shaking against mine.

I guide her to sit on the couch and settle beside her, keeping her wrapped in my arms. My fingers carefully examine her bandaged hand, assessing the damage.

"We’ll have Elias look at this again," I say. "Make sure it’s healing properly."

The thought of her in pain, even from something as selfless as saving a child, makes Kael growl low in my chest.

Celeste slips out quietly, offering us privacy with a soft, understanding nod. The moment we’re alone, everything I’ve been holding back crashes down on me. I can’t keep this from her anymore.

"Roselle," I say gently, concern filling my voice as I tilt her chin up until our eyes meet. "There’s something I need to tell you. Something about me... about my bloodline. You deserve to know the full truth before the Council meeting tomorrow. Before you agree to any of this."

She watches me intently, hazel eyes still shiny with tears from my confession. Her uninjured hand comes up to rest against my chest, right over my heart, as if anchoring herself.

I take a deep breath.

"The males in my family line have been cursed for generations. Every bride we take... dies. Without exception, they fall ill. They waste away. Some within months, others after a few years. It doesn’t matter how much we love them or how well we protect them. The curse claims them anyway."

Her breath hitches. I feel her body tense against mine, but I push on, needing her to hear all of it.

"It only breaks when we find our true mate. The one the Goddess herself chose for us. Only then does the curse lift for that generation. My father... My father found his. That’s why my mom has been so terrified of me bonding with anyone who isn’t my fated mate. She’s watched too many women die in this family."

I cradle her face with both hands, thumbs brushing away fresh tears.

"But you, Roselle... you’re different. I feel it in my bones. Kael feels it too. And I swear to you, I will not let the curse touch you. I will protect you with everything I am. Even if I have to burn down every old law and challenge the Goddess herself, I won’t lose you."

Silence stretches between us for a long moment. Her lips part, and finally she pulls back slightly, signing with trembling hands.

"But what if I’m not your mate?" Her eyes search mine, fear creeping into every word. "What if you find her one day? You’d have to leave me... marry her to break the curse."

The fear in her eyes tears me apart.

"Roselle—"

"You would leave me," she signs again, her hands trembling. "For her. Because the curse demands it. And I would be alone again."

She really thinks we’d abandon her? Kael snarls inside my head, his voice filled with sarcasm.

’Brilliant, genius. You just poured your heart out and then immediately reminded her she might be temporary. Real smooth, Ronan. She was finally feeling safe, and you had to dump generations of trauma on her like an idiot. Fix this before she talks herself into believing you’ll leave her.’

I ignore him, mostly, but the bastard’s right. I pull her closer again, tucking her against my chest as if I can shield her from the very words I just spoke.

"No," I say fiercely. "I won’t leave you. Mate or not, I choose you. I’ve already chosen you. The curse can go to hell. I’ve spent my whole life watching people I love suffer because of it. I refuse to let it take you from me. We’ll find another way. I’ll break it myself if I have to."

She shakes her head against my shirt, body trembling. Her good hand fists in the fabric like she’s afraid I’ll disappear.

"You can’t promise that." She searches my face for answers, fear clouding her eyes. "No one has ever broken it without their true mate. What if your real mate appears tomorrow? What happens to me then?"

Kael’s sass flares again.

’See? She’s making more sense than you right now. Tell her she’s it for us. Stop terrifying our woman.’