Chapter Five: The Breaking Point

Caleb couldn't breathe.

The scent of blood wrapped around him like smoke, thick and intoxicating. His body screamed for it, his muscles tensed, his teeth ached. Every primal instinct in him wanted to take it.

Ronan's bleeding hand hovered between them, the crimson liquid dripping onto the forest floor. He didn't move, didn't flinch—just waited. Watching.

Waiting for Caleb to break.

"Go on."

Caleb's breath came in ragged gasps. His feet felt rooted in place, his hands clenched into fists so tightly his nails bit into his palms. His jaw locked as he fought the sudden urge to lunge.

"No. No, no, no."

He took a step back, shaking his head. "I—I'm not like that."

Ronan's lips curled into something between amusement and pity. "You still don't get it."

His voice was too calm, too sure. Caleb hated it.

"This isn't some curse you can outrun," Ronan said, wiping the blood on his jeans like it was nothing. "It's who you are."

Caleb gritted his teeth. "I didn't ask for this."

Ronan let out a short laugh. "Doesn't matter." He crossed his arms. "You think denying it makes you stronger? It doesn't. It makes you weak."

Caleb's nails dug deeper into his skin. The burning need hadn't faded. If anything, resisting made it worse.

Ronan's voice dropped lower, almost mocking. "You're starving, Caleb."

Caleb clenched his jaw harder. "Shut up."

"You smell it, don't you?"

"Shut up."

"You feel it, crawling under your skin."

Caleb turned away. "I said—"

And then Ronan moved.

Faster than Caleb could react, Ronan closed the distance between them in a blur. One second, he was standing a few feet away—the next, his hand snapped forward, grabbing the back of Caleb's neck.

A sharp jolt of something hot burned through Caleb's spine.

His vision blurred, his breath hitched, and suddenly—it was there.

The hunger. The rage. The thing inside him.

It didn't just whisper this time. It roared.

Caleb choked out a gasp, his whole body locking up.

Ronan's grip was firm, his voice a low murmur in his ear. "You want to pretend you're human? Fine. But I promise you, kid—when the next full moon rises…" His fingers pressed harder, sending another pulse of fire through Caleb's veins.

"…you won't have a choice."

Caleb shoved him away.

His breathing was wild, erratic. His hands trembled. His vision sharpened, darkened. His heart slammed against his ribs.

Ronan just smirked. "See you soon, pup."

And then he was gone.

Caleb stood there, shaking, his entire body still burning.

Because he knew, deep down—

Ronan was right.