~002: Darko not there

Ronan

Hazel eyes, wavy dark hair rolled up into a tangled ponytail... A nerd in the cheer squad? It’s a first. I can’t even lie, she stands out like a paper cut on silk.

“Babe, I’ll be leaving now. I got to meet the girls,” Sasha says, pressing a French kiss to my lips like she’s already claiming territory. I let her do it. No point fighting what I can’t escape for now.

I don’t watch her leave. Don’t need to. Her scent fades before she hits the corner.

My boots echo against the tiled hallway as I head to my locker. The team's loud banter booms from the gym, but I’m not in the mood to join in. I yank open my locker and lean against it, ignoring the football pads shoved up in the top shelf.

*Darko?* I call out through the silence in my head.

Nothing.

A deep blankness where my wolf used to be.

It’s been a month since I last heard him. But just minutes ago, something shifted. A flicker—like he tried to reach out. Faint. Weak. But it was something. Now... nothing again.

*Casen. I’m coming to the pack house now. I’m getting worried not feeling Darko at all.* I mindlink my Beta, dragging off my gym clothes and throwing on a black hoodie over my bare chest. The denim shorts are a little low on my waist but I don’t care. My headset goes in—mostly to shut the world out.

*Thank goodness, man.* Casen’s voice comes in too casual.

*For what exactly? Not feeling my damn wolf? Are you okay?* My jaw tightens, and I almost growl aloud.

*Jeez, calm down. I was about to call you when you mindlinked. There’s a council meeting today, and this one’s not the type I can cover for you... So thank fuck you’re coming.*

I roll my tongue against my cheek, then reach for my headphones and plug them in.

I slide through the back door that leads to the university’s restricted zone. To any human, it’s just dense forest, thick and useless. They can walk in there all day and never find shit. Ancient magic cloaks our borders. It’s always been that way. You either belong here or you don’t.

I tighten my hoodie over my head and keep my hands in my pocket, walking fast.

*Let me guess,* I say with a dry edge to my thoughts. *They’re still stuck on the whole “make Sasha your Luna” thing.*

*Yep.* Casen sighs. *And I don’t think you’ll like what they’re pushing this time.*

*Send the driver to the school border now,* I cut in, not even giving him room to explain. I cut the mindlink right after.

I can’t shift anymore. My body tenses at the thought. I’ve tried three times this week alone. But Darko... he’s slipping further away. I don’t know how much longer I can bluff my way through this. Every full moon, it gets worse. This damn curse, Caius's wolf was born dead, only mine lived but now he's slowly losing his life.

By the time I make it past the edge of the barrier, the black SUV is waiting with two guards at the side. They both bow quickly, heads low.

“Alpha,” they say in unison.

I nod, motioning for the driver to hand me my change of clothes. He offers a navy-blue striped suit. I yank off the hoodie and shirt, throwing them in the trunk, then fixing my hair in the tinted glass window. Casen knows not to ever send anything flashy, Just enough to look put together.

The drive is short, quiet except for the hum of the engine and the chaos in my own mind. If Darko dies before I find my mate...

No. I won’t even finish that thought.

The pack house looms ahead, three stories of stone and dark glass tucked into the edge of the woods. A symbol of power. Legacy. And lately? A cage.

Casen’s already waiting on the steps when we pull up, pacing like the anxious mess he is.

“Alpha, we have to go to the council meeting now. You’re just ten minutes late,” he says, pushing the heavy door open for me.

I grunt in response. My presence is enough.

The council chamber is already full when we step in. All of them rise when I enter. “Alpha,” they say in near-unison before sitting again.

Caius, my older brother, sits on the right. His face is unreadable. Always is. Beside him is Elder Nathan, then Anderson. Elder Bridget is to the left, stiff and silent. Behind her, my uncle Gerald, and four others from the elder council.

I drop into the Alpha chair, elbow on the armrest, leg crossed over the other. Casen sits beside me. My gaze scans the room.

“Let’s start,” I say, voice flat.

Nathan clears his throat, face tight. “Alpha, we are going into the third year without a Luna. We can’t allow another full moon to pass with the seat empty.”

Here we go.

“We are aware of Sasha—your Beta’s cousin. She’s from a noble line. A good home,” Anderson adds with that annoying know-it-all smile. “It’s not a bad idea to have both important seats held by the Raynes.”

I stare at him, lips twitching in amusement. The audacity.

“She’s not my mate,” I say simply.

“She doesn’t have to be, Alpha,” Bridget cuts in, finally speaking. “Your wolf is strong enough to survive the bond without the matebond. There have been cases—”

“The fuck?” I interrupt. “You want me to gamble with Darko’s life on a theory?”

They were suddenly all quiet.

Caius leans forward. “You’re not being honest,” he says, voice calm but cold. “We all know something’s wrong. You barely shift anymore. You’ve been avoiding runs. Your wolf isn’t... stable.”

Everyone turns.

Casen flinches in his seat... *Hey, you have to hide it as much as you can* he whispers in my head through the mindlink.

“Is that true?” My uncle Gerald frowns.

I look at Casen without blinking. He stares at the table.

“Darko is fine,” I lie, smoothly. “He’s resting. The only issue we have is this obsession with rushing me into a Luna bond.”

“There’s no time to wait anymore, Ronan,” Bridget says again, softer this time. “You’re the only Alpha heir who wasn’t born with a dead wolf. Caius couldn’t lead. We lost three years waiting on your mate. And you've led just fine, it means we don't have to worry about your mate...”

My hands tighten into fists on the armrest.

They don’t understand. If I mark Sasha, it’s over for Darko. He’ll fade. The bond will rot.

“I’ll decide when and who I choose as Luna,” I say, standing up slowly. “And until I find my mate, this conversation is over.”

“Ronan,” Caius starts, but I throw him a glare that stops the words in his throat.

“I said it’s over.”

I walk out, Casen scrambling to follow behind.

“What the fuck am I going to do now?” I say lowly once we’re outside the council hall.

“We should probably consult the healer, I mean she's your aunt she should keep your secret” he mutters, clutching the tab in his hands to his chest.

“That's clearly shooting myself in the foot, I can't let this matter be known to another person Casen, it's too risky... You know my uncle is clearly waiting for such good news before he makes a move.”

He doesn’t argue.

As we step into the hallway, Sasha rounds the corner, heels clicking and face lit up.

“Babe! How was the meeting?”

I walk past her without a word.

She blinks. “Uh... okay?”

Casen gives her an apologetic smile and follows me toward the private wing.

Inside my room, I yank the collar of the suit loose, letting it fall to the floor. My chest feels tight internally.

Darko... please. Just say something. Growl. Whisper. Breathe. But there was still nothing.

I sink into the leather couch, head tilted back.

I’m running out of time, and I've not even found a trace of her...