#Chapter Two: The Injured Defender

The walk felt endless. My legs ached, my thoughts spiraled in circles. I glanced over at Ronan, but he rarely talked. He moved as though he knew these woods, his body drawn tight, all of his senses tuned to an ear.

Finally, I broke the silence. "Where are we going?"

"My cabin." He turned and said this without looking. "It's hidden. Safe."

Safe. By this point, this word meant nothing.

I swallowed hard. "And then what?"

Ronan snorted out a breath. "I'll figure it out."

That didn't help me feel better. I hugged myself, shivering. Why should I trust you?

That made him stop. He batted around to look at me, his molten eyes unreadable. "You don't."

I blinked. "Wow. That's reassuring."

A ghost of a smirk ghosted across his face. "If that would be useful, I could make stuff up.

I scowled. "Not really."

His smirk faded. "I saved your life, Arden. That should do it for now."

I wanted to challenge her on that, but my head was still spinning from what I'd just gone through. An average human being would have run away by now. Called the cops. Something.

But I wasn't normal anymore.

And the worst part?

Deep down, I didn't want to run.

I sighed and kept trudging ahead. "Fine. But you owe me answers."

Ronan didn't respond.

After a few minutes, we reached a clearing. There was a small, dark, silent cabin between the trees. This felt old, the kind of place that had arrived long before and everything else kept going.

And Joel opened the door and came into it. I hesitated before following.

Inside were plain wooden walls, a fireplace, a small table and a bed wedged into the corner. It smelled of smoke and something else. Something warm.

I turned to Ronan. "Now will you tell me what's going on?"

He marched past me and flopped onto the edge of the bed, wincing.

That was when I first saw the blood.

A deep red oozed through his torn shirt, cascading down the arm.

"You're hurt," I said, stepping closer.

"It's nothing." He tried to wave me away, but I wouldn't allowed it.

"Well, you're bleeding all over, so I'd say it's something."

I grabbed the first thing I could find an old shirt hanging from the back of a chair and pressed it to the wound.

Ronan hissed through his teeth, but he didn't push me off.

I focused on the injury, shutting out my trembling hands. You ought to have spoken up,"

He smirked, but it was weak. "You were too busy seeking answers."

I rolled my eyes at that but kept working, doing my best not to think about how hot his skin was beneath my fingers.

His golden gaze stared unflinchingly at me, the questions that were left unsaid, and the thoughts I could never begin to decipher, all written on his face.

"What?" I muttered.

He tilted his head slightly. "You are not as afraid as you should be."

I swallowed. "I might not have time to be scared."

Ronan's smirk faded, and there was a shift in his face. Something heavier.

"Good," he murmured. "Because it's just going to continue getting worse."

I pressed the piece of cloth firmly against his wound, trying to focus. "If Kael wanted me, why didn't Kael just take me.

Ronan tensed. "He doesn't want you just. His voice was low. "He wants to use you."

"For what?"

He hesitated. "You truly don't know, do you?

I shook my head.

Ronan exhaled sharply. "You're different, Arden. I don't know how yet (I will), but Kael does. That's why he's after you."

My stomach twisted. "But I am not — I mean, I don't have powers or … or what, you know.

"Not yet."

I stared at him. "That's not helping."

Ronan sighed, a hand scrubbing over his face. "Look, I don't have all the answers. But I know Kael. And if he thinks you're important, you are."

I said, my heart racing, taking this in.

"I don't want to be important," I said, gently.

Ronan made a small, bitter laugh. "Neither did I."

The manner in which he said so constricted my chest.

For a brief moment, neither of us spoke. All we could hear was the sound of the fire crackling and us breathing.

Ronan then said gently: "You need to get some rest.

I frowned. "I'm not tired."

His smirk returned. "Liar."

I crossed my arms; I would not concede that he was correct. But I was aching and heavy-eyed.

I took a breath, surveying the small room. "I don't know where I'm going to be able to lay my head."

Ronan was sprawled on the bed, completely unbothered. "Take the bed."

I raised an eyebrow. "And where're you going to be staying?"

His smirk grew. "You ask a lot of questions."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Just wake me if we're attacked or something."

Ronan's smile faded, and he nodded. "I will."

I rolled over onto the bed, tucking in with my back toward him. The flame danced in the wind, casting shadows flitting up and down the sides of the house.

The exhaustion of the day outweighed everything else, but my mind was still spinning from everything that had happened.

Sleep overcame me when Ronan slow breath was the last thing my ears interfaced with, and the cracking of the fire pit, the steady crackle of logs and ash and heat.

I finally felt safe — for the first time in hours.

More tension (chemistry?) between Arden and Ronan

Fast-paced, dialogue-heavy

Arden asserting herself somewhat but allowing herself to be open

Dangerous Bond

I woke up to warmth.

It could still hear the crackling of a fire, but this time it was of a glowing warmth in its cabin. My body was heavy, and for a moment I didn't know where I was.

Then I remembered everything.

The fight. The wolves. Ronan.

I sat up too quickly, and my head spun. A deep voice pierced the fog.

"You're awake."

Ronan.

He lounged in a chair by the fire, eyeballing me with those golden eyes. He stood there arms crossed, his expression inscrutable.

I ran a hand through my hair. "How long was I out?"

"A few hours."

I frowned. "And you? Did you sleep?"

Ronan smirked. "Didn't need to."

I gave him a look. "That's not how sleep works."

"For humans, maybe."

Right. Werewolf.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and scrutinized him. He looked… exhausted. Even if he wouldn't admit it. His face was gray, his jaw tight.

"How's your arm?" I asked.

He glanced at it. The scar was still there, but it looked better. "Healing."

I exhaled, rubbing my temples. "Okay. Now that I'm not half dead, can you tell me what is going on?"

Ronan leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything." I spread my hands. "Why is Kael after me? What I am. What you are. Why the hell I went into the woods like some stupid horror movie girl."

Ronan's smile fell, but it was brief. He sighed and rubbed his palms together. "The short version? You're not just human. You have a link to the moon in some way. Kael believes you're special, and that means naturally you are."

I stared at him. "That's your short version?"

He shrugged. "I told you. I don't have all the answers.

Oh God," I moaned, hiding my face with my hand. "Great. So I could be some kind of — what? Moon goddess? Witch? What?"

Ronan tilted his head, eyeing me. "You don't feel it, do you?"

"Feel what?"

His golden eyes darkened. "The pull."

The way he said it made my stomach curl.

I shook my head. "No."

"Liar."

I swallowed. "Even if there was something, that doesn't matter."

Ronan stood up slowly. He stood there silently, stepping closer. My breath hitched.

I should have moved. I shouldn't have let him come near.

But I didn't.

The gulfs between us vanished.

As he reached up, his fingers brushed my wrist. And then I felt it, a kind of shiver running through me.

Heat. Electricity. As if this were some moment I'd been waiting for — internally.

I sucked in a sharp breath. "What"

"This," Ronan murmured. "This is why Kael wants you."

I jerk my hand back, heart crashing into my ribs." "No. That—That was just—"

Ronan's cracked knuckles, cracked his knuckles. But not all at once. Darker. More dangerous. "Keep telling yourself that."

I glared at him. "You're enjoying this."

His smirk widened. "A little."

I exhaled sharply, trying to ignore how my skin continued to tingle at the spot he had touched. "So what now?"

Ronan's expression hardened. "Now, we get ready."

I frowned. "For what?"

His jaw tightened. "Kael's not done. And when he comes back, he won't come back alone."

My stomach sank. "You think he'll find us?"

Ronan nodded. "It's only a matter of time."

I balled my fists, stifling the jolt of fear threading in. "Then we fight."

Ronan arched an eyebrow. You're that ready for that?"

"No," I admitted. "But I don't have a choice, right?"

A strange emotion crossed Ronan's face something like pride.

"No," he said softly. "You don't."

I straightened my shoulders and forced myself to breathe. Kael would have to compete for me if he wanted me.

And I was not going down without a fight.