Chapter 24: You Brought This Upon Us.

AUREN'S POV

"Seal the eastern trail," Ronan ordered. "Double the patrol on the north ridge. No one goes into the eastern woods alone until I say otherwise."

"Yes, Alpha!"

The warriors scattered at once, no one questioned him or hesitated.

The training grounds that had been filled with laughter only moments ago suddenly became a storm of movement. Wooden staffs were returned to their racks, the swords replaced training weapons. Armor was pulled over sweat-soaked shirts.

Maelis rested a hand on my shoulder.

"Go inside."

I looked at the scout still kneeling in the dirt.

"Shouldn't I help him?"

"The healers already are."

Two women hurried toward the scout with herbs and clean cloth. One pressed a folded bandage against his arm while the other checked the wound on his shoulder.

Maelis gently turned me around.

"Come."

I followed her, but I couldn't stop looking back.

The horse still trembled, the scout hadn't stopped shaking.

Whatever he had seen, it followed him all the way home.

***

By midday, Emberfall no longer sounded like the pack I had come to know, the forge still rang with metal.

The kitchens still smelled of fresh bread, children still ran across the square.

But something had changed, people stopped talking whenever I walked past, I felt it before I understood it.

Two women carrying baskets lowered their voices the moment they saw me, a blacksmith looked away before I could smile.

A mother pulled her little boy closer as I passed. The child looked back at me.

"Is she the one?" he whispered.

His mother tightened her grip on his hand.

"Don't ask questions." They hurried away.

My steps slowed. “What is going on?”

Maybe, I was imagining things, I kept walking. Near the well, two warriors spoke in low voices.

"I heard the patrols disappeared near the eastern woods."

"They've never lost such amount of men before."

"It started after she came."

"Keep your voice down."

"I'm only saying what everyone is thinking. It's the truth."

They lifted their eyes and they saw me.

Silence.

One of them rubbed the back of his neck, the other looked toward the ground.

Neither apologized or greeted me. I turned before they could see my face.

The walk back to the Alpha's house suddenly felt much longer. I staggered through the walk way, trying to keep my balance.

***

Inside the hall, servants hurried from room to room carrying blankets, oil lamps and baskets filled with dried herbs.

One young servant almost bumped into me.

"Oh!"

She caught the basket before it fell.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright."

She nodded quickly and disappeared down the corridor.

Another servant leaned close to her. I heard my name, then both of them glanced toward me before lowering their heads.

The knot in my stomach tightened.

***

I stepped outside again, hoping the fresh air would quiet the noise inside my head.

Instead, I heard voices drifting from the Alpha's chambers.

The doors weren't fully closed. I hadn't meant to stop.

But then I heard—

"...the Moon Seers all said the same thing."

My feet froze.

An elder's voice answered.

"They pointed to Emberfall."

Another voice followed immediately. "They didn't know her name, they don’t have to, we already know who."

Silence filled the room.

Then someone spoke again.

"The Last Daughter is here."

My heart skipped.

I took one slow step toward the doorway.

The crack between the doors was barely wide enough to see through.

Inside, every elder sat around the long wooden table. Ronan stood at the head, no one looked relaxed.

An elder with silver hair leaned forward.

"Alpha, we all attended the summit."

"So did I," Ronan replied calmly.

"The Moon Seers confirmed an ancient presence has awakened."

"And so?"

"And they pointed toward Emberfall."

"Hmmm"

The elder spread both hands.

"Then why are we pretending this isn't connected?"

Another elder struck his palm against the table.

"Finn nearly died."

"But he didn't" Ronan answered.

"That isn't the point. Alpha"

"Then what is?."

The room fell quiet again, a third elder cleared his throat.

"The patrols."

He looked around the room before meeting Ronan's eyes.

"We have never lost so many patrols in one season."

Another elder nodded.

"The attacks began after the girl arrived."

The words hit harder than I expected. My fingers tightened around the edge of the wall.

The first elder spoke again.

"We showed her kindness. No one questions that, but our people are frightened."

Another gestured on his seat. "They deserve answers and protection."

Ronan remained still.

"So does she."

One elder exhaled sharply.

"Alpha, with respect—"

"No."

The single word cut through the room, nobody spoke, the elder swallowed.

"You saw her when she arrived," Ronan continued with a firm voice.

"She came here broken, she came here hunted."

Silence stretched for a moment, an elder finally spoke.

"And now every family in Emberfall may pay for it?"

The room stiffened. Ronan stepped away from the table, every elder immediately lowered his head.

Even before he spoke, I felt the shift of authority settling over the room like stone.

"Let every member of this council hear me clearly."

Nobody moved.

"The Moon Goddess led us to her."

His voice remained calm.

"It was not an accident."

An elder opened his mouth, Ronan lifted one hand, the elder immediately fell silent.

"I will not send an innocent woman back into the hands of her hunters."

He looked around the room.

"If danger is coming..."

He paused.

"...then we face it together."

Another elder frowned.

"Our duty is to Emberfall."

"It is."

"And she is under Emberfall's protection, no one will force her to leave."

Another long pause followed. Then subtle murmurs filled the room

"Until she is ready..." His eyes swept across the room. "...she is my responsibility."

Nobody challenged him, the meeting ended without another argument, chairs scraped against the floor.

I stumbled backward before anyone opened the doors.

I hurried down the corridor, my heartbeat pounding so loudly I barely heard my own footsteps.

***

By the time I reached my room, my hands wouldn't stop shaking.

I closed the door quietly, locked it, then leaned against it. The room blurred.

I slid slowly onto the floor, a tear landed on my hand, then another.

I buried my face against my knees.They were right, Finn almost died, the patrols were gone.

People were afraid. And every one of them believed I had brought disaster into their home.

A sob caught in my throat.

Why… Why would Ronan still choose to protect me?

He barely knew me, Yet he had stood against his own elders, against his own council. For me.

I pressed my trembling hand against my collarbone.

"I don't want anyone else getting hurt because of me..."

Warmth spread beneath my palm. I frowned, my breath caught, the warmth grew stronger.

I slowly lifted my head, something beneath my skin pulsed once, then again.

My fingers trembled over the mark.

"What…?"

The warmth answered with another slow pulse and this time...it felt stronger than ever before.