The Cost Of Saving Her

Chapter Twelve: The Cost of Saving Her

Ronan’s POV

We rode under the shadow of night.

Lucien was beside me, silent, his face hard with focus. We wore black from head to toe, the kind that didn’t catch moonlight. Over our heads—hoods made of ash-dusted fabric. Our faces were marked with dirt and wolf-blood paint. We looked like two of Kael’s men. We needed to.

Because tonight wasn’t a war of numbers.

It was a war of minds.

Every step forward made my blood boil.

Every breath I took carried her name.

Selene.

Kael had her.

And the only thing that stopped me from tearing into his den like a mad beast was the need to be smart. Strategic. One wrong move, and she could vanish again. Or worse—be broken beyond repair.

Lucien glanced at me as we neared the perimeter of Kael’s hidden camp.

“Stay sharp,” I whispered.

We moved quietly, slipping through the ranks of Kael’s outer guard like shadows. I knew his men. I had trained half of them before Kael ever dared call himself Alpha. That’s what made this possible. That’s what gave us the edge.

They thought we belonged.

But inside me, there was nothing calm.

Every heartbeat was thunder. Every thought was of her—her eyes, her cry, her pain the moment they took her.

I had come back to the grave where we’d trained together only to find it empty. Her scent had been there—but mixed with blood. Blood on the stones. On the grass. A sign of struggle. A sign of violence.

And I knew then.

Kael had taken her.

Lucien had said we could track him. I said no. Kael was cruel, but he wasn’t stupid. He’d know we’d come. And he’d plan for it.

So we waited. We watched. We disguised.

And now we were here—inside his walls.

The compound was louder than I expected. Laughter. Music. Celebration. My jaw tightened.

He was already pretending she was his. Again.

I wanted to tear his heart out.

But I moved quietly. Silently. Just like Lucien. We passed two guards playing dice and nodded. They didn’t blink.

My chest was a storm of pain.

Then… I saw her window.

It was barely a crack in the stone, lit from the inside by a flickering oil lamp. I recognized the scent. Selene.

We moved faster now, ducking behind crates, slipping through shadows. We reached the side of the holding building. A weak stone wall. Lucien stood guard. I broke the lock.

And then I saw her.

Selene.

She was chained by the wrists to a wall. Her silver hair tangled. Her skin bruised. But her eyes—when they met mine—they still burned with fire.

I ran to her, pulling my dagger, slicing through the metal cuffs. She fell into my arms, weak, but alive.

“Ronan…” she whispered.

My hands trembled. I cupped her face. “I’ve got you,” I whispered.

I didn’t care if the whole world heard.

I’d found her.

I was about to lift her into my arms when the door behind us slammed open.

Kael.

With twenty guards behind him.

My body froze. I shifted, pushing Selene behind me. My claws itched to form. My wolf wanted blood.

“Well, well,” Kael sneered, walking forward.

The guards surrounded us. Lucien stepped in, but they formed a circle. There was no escape.

Kael’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Selene. “Even now,” he said. “Even after everything… you still run to him.”

I said nothing.

I was watching. Calculating. Ready to strike.

Kael’s voice dropped. “Do you really think you can fight me and win, Ronan? You against all of us?”

I stepped forward.

“You took her.”

Kael smirked. “She was mine first.”

“You betrayed her. You broke her.”

He raised his chin. “She’s mine by blood. By bond.”

“She is not yours,” I growled. “You lost that right when you chose power over love.”

He laughed. “Then come take her. If you can.”

Selene tugged my arm. “No—he wants you to fight. You’re outnumbered. Don’t.”

But I couldn’t walk away.

This was about more than just taking her back.

This was about ending it.

I turned to her, brushed a hand down her cheek. “Even if I die tonight… you’ll be free.”

And then I shifted.

Bones cracked. Skin stretched. My body grew. Fur burst across my skin like fire. My fangs bared.

The wolf in me—unleashed.

Kael shifted too. His wolf was darker. Meaner. But not stronger.

I lunged.

We collided like thunder, claws slicing, teeth snapping. Blood sprayed the walls. Roars filled the air.

I don’t remember how many times I was struck.

I just remember the pain.

White-hot pain down my shoulder. A bite to my thigh. My ribs cracked under his weight.

But I fought harder.

For her.

Selene screamed my name.

Kael struck again. I fell, rolled, then used my last strength to tackle him through the wall.

It broke.

We landed outside, in the open. The crowd saw. Some gasped. Some cheered.

But I didn’t care. I bit down on his throat and ripped through the flesh.

Kael screamed.

But still—he wouldn’t let her go.

I couldn’t breathe. My legs barely held me.

And then… Lucien leapt into the fight.

He fought like a madman. Swords in both hands. Slicing down guards. Breaking their formation.

I staggered back to my feet.

Kael lunged again—but Lucien caught him mid-air.

And with one clean strike—he brought him down.

Lucien grabbed Selene. She fought to reach me.

But I couldn’t move.

My knees buckled.

My breath came in gasps.

But as she ran back toward me, I whispered:

“Go…”

She shook her head.

Tears streaked her cheeks.

“Please,” I whispered. “Live.”

Lucien carried her away, back into the woods.

And I collapsed.

The stars above blurred.

The pain consumed me.

But my heart—my heart was light.

Because I had saved her.

Even if I died here…

Selene would live.

And that was enough.