Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

K endra

I woke slowly, the warmth of Rowan’s body pressed against mine, his arm still wrapped protectively around my waist. For a moment, I didn’t move. I didn’t want to. I just lay there, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back, listening to the quiet rhythm of his breathing. For the moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.

The events of yesterday and last night before were a blur, but one thing stood out—the way he’d held me, the way he’d whispered something just before I fell asleep.

Had he said… I love you ?

I wasn’t sure. It had been so soft, barely audible, like he hadn’t meant for me to hear it at all. But the thought of it sent a flutter of warmth through me, my heart beating just a little faster at the possibility that he might feel for me in that way.

I shifted slightly in his arms, trying to get a better look at him without waking him. His face was relaxed, peaceful, the hard edges of his features softened by sleep. He looked so different like this—calm, almost vulnerable. I couldn’t help but smile as I reached up, my fingers lightly brushing his cheek, tracing the line of his jaw. He stirred at my touch, his hold on me tightening just a little, and I felt a surge of affection for him, something that made my chest ache with its intensity.

I didn’t understand it.

As I lay there in Rowan’s arms, the warmth of his body surrounding me, I couldn’t help but feel lighter, freer than I had in days. The stinging soreness from the switching he’d given me still lingered, but instead of pain, it brought me a strange sense of relief. I was thankful—thankful that he had taken care of me in his own way. He hadn’t let my stubbornness or fear push him away; he’d met it head-on, and in doing so, he’d freed me from the weight of my own guilt. Rowan had held me accountable, and in that, he’d given me back the trust and safety I craved.

In a way, it was really quite beautiful.

Rowan’s eyes fluttered open slowly, and when he saw me looking up at him, a soft smile curved his lips.

“Morning,” he murmured, his voice low and rough with sleep.

“Morning,” I whispered back, smiling as I felt his hand slide up my side, his fingers brushing over my ribs and sending a shiver straight through me.

For a long moment, we just looked at each other. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, but there was something else there too—something soft, something I hadn’t seen in him before. And as I looked at him, as I felt the warmth of his body against mine, I couldn’t help but think about those words, those quiet, almost-forgotten words that had drifted through the air last night.

Did he really say it?

But I didn’t ask. Not yet. Instead, I leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, feeling the way his hand slid down to my hip, cupping my still very sore welted bottom and pulling me closer. His lips were warm and soft, and the slow, lazy way he kissed me back made my heart skip a beat. Everything about this moment—waking up in his arms, the feel of him beside me—felt like something out of a dream.

“I could get used to this,” I whispered against his lips, my hand resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm.

He chuckled softly, his hand sliding up to cup the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair.

“I was hoping you would,” he murmured, his breath warm on my skin as he pressed a kiss to my forehead, the touch of his lips lingering there long after he pulled away.

I let out a soft sigh, my eyes closing as I melted into him, the warmth of his body surrounding me, grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Last night…” I began softly, my voice trailing off as I debated whether or not to bring it up. My heart fluttered in my chest as I remembered the way he’d held me, the way his lips had brushed against my hair, and that soft, almost inaudible whisper that I wasn’t sure was real. “I thought I heard you say something.”

Rowan’s hand paused on my back, and for a moment, I thought he might ask what I meant, but instead, he pulled me closer, pressing his forehead to mine.

“I said that I love you,” he said, his voice low and full of meaning.

My breath caught, and I felt a rush of warmth spread through me again, my chest tightening with something I hadn’t been ready to acknowledge until now.

He’d said it.

And he’d meant it.

“I love you too,” I whispered, my heart beating faster, and his eyes lit up with warm emotion, making my head spin.

I pressed another kiss to his lips, slower this time, deeper, letting the warmth between us grow as his hands roamed over my body, drawing me closer until there was no space left between us.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathless, I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady thud of his heartbeat. I could feel his hand stroking my back, the feel of it lulling me into a sense of calm that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“I’m happy you were the one that came through that door the first time back at the compound,” I said, my voice barely audible.

Rowan pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his hand resting on the small of my back. “Me too, my sweet mate,” he murmured.

I smiled, my eyes drifting shut again as I let myself relax against him, my body fitting perfectly into the curve of his. It was like we were made for each other, like every piece of me was meant to fit with him. And as I lay there, wrapped up in his warmth, I knew one thing for certain—I wasn’t just falling for Rowan.

I was already his, completely.

The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy above, casting dappled light on the forest floor as we walked. It had been a quiet few hours, the only sounds coming from the occasional crack of a twig beneath Rowan’s boots or the rustle of the underbrush as we made our way through the thickening trees. His hand was always close, sometimes resting on the small of my back, sometimes brushing against mine as if to remind me he was still there.

I loved it.

I couldn’t help but let my mind wander, thinking of the past few days, of the bond we’d formed so quickly. His presence had become so familiar, so grounding, that the thought of being away from him now felt impossible. But as we walked deeper into the forest, I realized there was still so much I didn’t know about him.

“Rowan,” I said softly, breaking the silence. His head turned toward me, his blue eyes steady and curious.

“Yeah?” he replied, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the stillness around us.

I hesitated for a moment before asking, “What was it like? The first time you… shifted into a wolf?”

He raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk playing on his lips, but the look in his eyes told me he knew what I was asking.

“It wasn’t what you’d expect,” he said after a pause, his tone softening as if the memory had tugged at something deeper inside him. “It wasn’t like this powerful, controlled thing you might imagine it would be. In reality, it was terrifying.”

I stopped walking, turning to face him as he spoke, intrigued. I could see in his eyes that the memory was vivid even after all this time.

“I was young,” Rowan continued, stepping closer to me. “It was just after the virus had spread. No one really knew what it was at the time, just that it made people sick—or worse. I remember feeling… off. My senses were keener. My body didn’t feel like my own.” He paused, glancing toward the trees as though the memory still lurked somewhere in the shadows. “Then one night, I felt this pressure building inside me, like I was being ripped apart from the inside out. And before I knew it, I wasn’t… me anymore.”

I swallowed hard, trying to imagine what that must have been like, to feel your body shift into something unrecognizable.

“Were you scared?”

“Scared doesn’t even begin to cover it.” He shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. “I was terrified. I didn’t know what was happening. My bones were cracking, my muscles stretching in ways that weren’t possible. I thought I was dying. I could feel the wolf inside me fighting to take control, but I didn’t understand it, didn’t know how to control it. All I could think was that I was becoming a monster.”

I stepped closer, resting a hand on his arm. “But you learned to control it eventually.”

He nodded slowly. “Over time, yeah. At first, it was just chaos. When I shifted, I lost all sense of who I was. The wolf took over completely, and I’d wake up in the middle of the woods with no memory of what I’d done or where I’d been.” He met my eyes, his gaze intense. “It was like being trapped in your own body, knowing you were capable of things you couldn’t control.”

I shuddered at the thought. “How did you… how did you learn to handle it?”

Rowan smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Time, mostly. And a lot of trial and error. The traits I have as a wolf—they’re heightened. Strength, speed, senses. Over time, I started to get used to them, started to figure out how to harness them. But it wasn’t easy. Even now, sometimes the wolf can take over when I’m not careful.”

“Like when you marked me?” I asked softly.

His eyes flickered with something unreadable for a moment before he nodded. “Exactly like that. The wolf recognized you as my mate, and I couldn’t stop the instinct. It’s primal. Overwhelming.” He paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. “But I don’t regret it.”

I felt heat rise to my cheeks, my pulse quickening at his words. He was so unapologetic, so sure of what he wanted. But there was a tenderness beneath his words, a softness that made my heart ache in a way I hadn’t expected.

“Does it… does it feel different?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. “When you’re in your wolf form?”

Rowan smiled again, this time with more warmth.

“Everything feels more… intense. My senses are sharper, my instincts stronger. But it’s also freeing, in a way. The wolf doesn’t think the same way we do. It just is. It knows what it wants, what it needs, and it takes it.”

I couldn’t help but shiver at his words, a strange mix of fear and fascination curling inside me. “And what does your wolf want now?”

His eyes darkened slightly, and he stepped closer, his hand brushing against my cheek. “Right now, all it wants is you.”

My heart skipped a beat at the raw intensity in his voice, but before I could respond, Rowan let out a soft chuckle, breaking the tension between us. “But I think we’ve still got a bit of walking to do before we can rest.”

I smiled, feeling lighter as we resumed our journey. The forest was peaceful, the air crisp and clean, and for the first time in days, I felt a sense of calm settle over me.

“What was your life like before the Collapse?” I asked softly, glancing over at him as we moved through the underbrush.

He didn’t answer right away, his eyes fixed on the path ahead, but I could see the way his jaw tightened, the way his shoulders tensed slightly at the question. For a moment, I wondered if I’d overstepped, if I should have waited for him to tell me on his own terms. But then, after a long silence, he sighed, running a hand through his hair as he spoke.

“It was different,” he said, his voice quiet, thoughtful. “It wasn’t… this. I mean, the world wasn’t easy then either, but it was normal. I had a job, friends… a fiancée.” He paused, and I saw the flicker of something in his eyes, something painful. “I was going to get married, start a family. That was the plan, at least.”

I felt a pang in my chest as I heard him mention his fiancée, the weight of the past heavy in his words. I hadn’t expected him to say that, hadn’t imagined Rowan as someone who had been so close to a normal, settled life before the world turned upside down.

“What was her name?” I asked gently, sensing that there was more to the story than he had told me so far.

“Eva,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “She was… everything back then. Strong, smart, stubborn as hell. She was the only person who could keep up with me. The only one who could challenge me. We were supposed to be married right before everything fell apart. But when the Collapse happened, all of that just… well, it didn’t go like it was supposed to.”

I swallowed, feeling the weight of his loss settle between us, thick and heavy. “What happened to her?”

Rowan’s face darkened, and I could see the pain etched into his features, the memories he was clearly trying to push down. But after a moment, he let out a slow breath and continued.

“She died during one of the uprisings. We were fighting back against the wolves—before anyone really understood what they were. There were these packs, groups of people trying to defend themselves. We joined one of them, thinking it was our only chance.”

He clenched his fists, the anger and regret in his voice unmistakable.

“But it wasn’t enough. The wolves… they were stronger, faster than any of us.” He paused, his jaw tight. “I found her. She’d been attacked by one of them. I couldn’t save her. I couldn’t protect her.”

I felt my heart twist in my chest, a knot forming in my throat at the thought of Rowan finding Eva like that, of losing someone he loved so deeply in such a brutal way. I couldn’t imagine the pain of it, the guilt he must have carried all this time. “I’m so sorry, Rowan,” I whispered, reaching out to rest a hand on his arm.

He looked down at my hand, then back at me, his expression softening just a fraction. “It’s been a long time,” he said quietly. “But the memory never fades.”

We walked in silence for a few moments. I couldn’t shake the sadness I felt for him, for the life he’d lost. The man beside me wasn’t the same man he had been before the Collapse, and I was beginning to understand just how much the world had changed him.

“There’s something else I’ve been meaning to ask,” I said after a while, glancing up at him. He turned his head slightly, his eyes curious as he waited for me to continue. “Why me, Rowan? Why did you choose me? Why mark me as your mate?”

His eyes darkened at the question, and I felt a faint shiver run through me as his gaze locked onto mine, intense and unwavering. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if he would answer, if he would brush off the question like it didn’t matter. But then, with a sigh, he stopped walking, turning to face me fully.

“It wasn’t a choice,” he said, his voice low, rough with something I couldn’t quite place. “It was instinct. The moment I saw you… the wolf inside me knew. It recognized something in you that I couldn’t ignore. I tried to fight it, tried to resist the pull, but it was stronger than anything I’ve ever felt before.”

I stared up at him, my heart racing at his words, trying to make sense of what he was telling me. “But… why?” I asked again, my voice barely a whisper. “Why me?”

Rowan stepped closer, his hand cupping my face gently as he looked down at me, his expression softening. “Because you’re different, Kendra. You’re strong, brave. You’ve survived in a world that wants to tear you apart, and you haven’t given in. You’re not afraid to fight for the people you care about. And the wolf inside me saw that, felt that. It knew, before I did, that you were the one. My one true mate.”

I placed my hand over his, leaning into his touch, my heart swelling with a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite make out.

“I’m glad it was you,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m glad you found me.”

He smiled, cupping my face a bit tighter, his thumb tracing across my cheek, before we continued walking. The sun started to sink lower in the sky. Rowan walked beside me, his hand occasionally brushing against mine, and though the silence between us was comfortable, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything he’d just shared. There were still so many questions swirling in my mind, things I wanted to know but wasn’t sure how to ask.

But eventually, my curiosity got the better of me.

“Do you ever wish things had turned out differently?” I asked, glancing over at him. “You know… before the Collapse? Do you ever wish you could go back?”

Rowan was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed ahead as if he was thinking carefully about how to answer. The silence stretched between us, and I wondered if I’d overstepped, but then he let out a long breath and spoke.

“Sometimes,” he admitted, his voice low. “I think about what my life could have been if the world hadn’t fallen apart. What it would have been like to marry Eva, have the family we’d dreamed of. It’s hard not to think about it—what I lost.”

I nodded, understanding. There were things I missed too—things I wished had never been taken from me. “Do you regret joining the fight back then? Trying to resist the wolves?”

He shook his head. “No. I couldn’t just stand by and watch everything fall apart without doing something. Even if it cost me everything. But…” He paused, his eyes darkening. “There are nights when I wonder if it would have been better if I hadn’t survived. If maybe I wasn’t meant to make it through the Collapse.”

I swallowed hard, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. I couldn’t imagine a world without Rowan now, without his strength, his presence beside me.

“But you did survive,” I said softly, reaching out to brush my fingers against his arm. “And I’m glad you did.”

His eyes flicked down to meet mine, and I could see the raw emotion there—the vulnerability he so rarely showed. He nodded, his jaw tightening slightly.

“Yeah,” he murmured, his voice rough. “I guess I’m starting to think maybe I was meant to survive. So I could find you.”

A warmth spread through me at his words, and for a moment, all I could do was walk beside him, letting the weight of everything settle between us. The Collapse had taken so much from him—more than I’d ever realized—and yet, he was still here, still fighting.

As the light began to fade and the shadows grew longer, the forest around us opened up into a wide valley, the ground sloping down toward a river that cut through the middle of it. The water glistened in the fading light, the soft rush of it echoing through the valley, and I could see that this would be a good place to stop for the night.

“We should rest here,” Rowan said, breaking through my thoughts. “It’s sheltered enough, and we’ll have water.”

I nodded, feeling the exhaustion from the day’s travel settling into my bones. My legs ached, and the thought of curling up beside the river and letting the steady rhythm of the water lull me to sleep was more tempting than I cared to admit.

“Sounds perfect,” I said with a small smile, following him down the slope toward the water’s edge.

As we walked, another question bubbled up inside me, one I had been thinking about since he told me about his first shift.

“Rowan,” I began, glancing over at him, “how do you know when the wolf is in control? Like, can you feel it happening, or does it just… take over?”

He looked over at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but he didn’t hesitate to answer. “It’s a bit of both,” he said, his voice thoughtful. “I can feel it creeping in sometimes, especially when I’m angry or when I feel threatened. It’s like this pressure building inside me, and I know if I don’t keep it in check, the wolf will take over. But sometimes… it just happens. Especially in moments of extreme emotion.”

I nodded, trying to imagine what that must feel like—the constant struggle to maintain control. “That must be hard,” I said quietly. “Always having to fight that part of yourself.”

Rowan shrugged, though I could see the tension in his shoulders. “It’s not easy. But it’s who I am now. I’ve learned to live with it.”

We reached the riverbank, and Rowan set down his pack, looking around the valley with a careful eye. The area was quiet, peaceful, and I felt a sense of calm settle over me as the sound of the water filled the air. He busied himself gathering some wood for a fire while I sat on a large rock by the river, dipping my fingers into the cool water.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, Rowan returned to our small camp with an armful of wood. I watched as he knelt down to arrange the logs, his movements efficient and calm.

I smiled to myself, feeling a lightness in my chest as the day’s tension finally began to melt away.

“So,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us, “what did you used to do for fun? You know, before… all this.”

Rowan glanced up at me, one eyebrow raised in amusement as he stoked the fire. “Fun?” he echoed, as if the word was foreign to him. “What do you mean?”

I laughed softly. “You know, like… hobbies? Things you’d do when you weren’t busy fighting off wolves or surviving the Collapse. Did you ever do anything just because it made you happy?”

He leaned back, propping himself up on his hands as he thought about it for a long moment before he grinned and met my gaze.

“I guess I did have hobbies once. I used to go hiking a lot. I liked being out in the woods—before the woods turned into a hunting ground, of course.” He smiled, a faint glimmer of nostalgia in his eyes. “I was always drawn to nature. It was my way of getting away from everything.”

I nodded, imagining him wandering through the mountains, breathing in the fresh air, free from all the chaos of the world.

“That sounds peaceful,” I said softly. “I always loved being outside too, but I didn’t get the chance much. I was usually too busy sneaking around with Mariah and Lia, trying to find some trouble to get into.”

Rowan chuckled, his eyes lighting up at the thought. “Sneaking around, huh? What kind of trouble?”

I grinned, leaning forward a little. “Well, there was this old movie theater on the edge of our sector. It was technically off limits, but it still got electricity sometimes, and there were a few old films they kept on a projector reel. So, we’d sneak in late at night, and watch whatever movie was left behind.”

Rowan looked at me with genuine curiosity. “Movies?” he asked. “What kind of movies did you watch?”

“Anything they had,” I said, laughing at the memory. “Sometimes it was action films from before the Collapse. Other times it was old romances, the kind that were super cheesy but made us laugh. The projector would flicker, the sound was usually terrible, but it was the best part of our week.”

Rowan’s smile widened, a soft laugh escaping him. “That sounds… nice,” he admitted. “I never thought about sneaking into a movie theater. I guess I missed out.”

I nudged him playfully with my foot. “You totally did. There’s something about sitting in a dark, quiet room, just getting lost in someone else’s story for a couple of hours, and for a little while, we could forget everything.”

He leaned closer, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I’m starting to think I would’ve liked hanging out with you and your friends.”

I grinned. “You definitely would’ve. We’d have dragged you along for every crazy adventure we had.”

Rowan shook his head, still smiling. “Well, you’ll have to teach me how to sneak into a theater if we ever find one.”

“I think I can manage that,” I teased, reaching out to poke him in the side. “And I’ll make sure that the movie that plays is the cheesiest romance of all.”

We both laughed, the sound echoing softly in the quiet valley, and for a moment, everything felt normal. It was strange how something as simple as talking about old memories, about sneaking into theaters and watching old movies, could make the world feel a little less broken.

As the fire crackled and stars began to appear overhead, Rowan stretched out beside me, his hand finding mine as we settled in for the night. The cool air brushed my skin, but with him beside me, I didn’t feel the cold.

“You know,” he said after a few moments, his voice soft but filled with warmth, “I didn’t do much sneaking around before the Collapse. I was pretty straitlaced. Always following the rules, sticking to my routines. But if I’d known you back then…” He paused, grinning. “I think you might’ve changed that.”

I laughed, the sound soft and genuine. “I’m pretty sure I would’ve. It would’ve been impossible to resist dragging you along for a little fun.”

He squeezed my hand gently, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “I like this side of you. The part that finds joy in the little things.”

I looked over at him, our faces close in the fading light, and felt my heart warm at the sincerity in his voice. “I like this side of you too, Rowan.”

I yawned sleepily, and Rowan chuckled.

“Come here. It’s time to get some sleep,” he said softly. I curled up against him and he draped his arm over me as I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep in mere moments, protected and safe in my mate’s arms.

I woke with a start, the shrill snap of a twig breaking through the silence. My eyes flew open, and for a moment, I didn’t understand what was happening. It was still dark, the fire reduced to glowing coals, and the moon hung low in the sky. I could feel Rowan stir beside me, but something wasn’t right.

I stiffened when I heard muffled voices, low and hurried, speaking just beyond the edge of the camp. I blinked, trying to make sense of it. Shapes moved in the shadows, figures slipping through the trees, silent but not entirely hidden. My pulse quickened, and I felt Rowan tense beside me.

“Kendra,” he whispered, his voice rough, his body already shifting as he began to sit up. “Stay close to me.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. I pressed myself closer to him, my heart racing as I peered into the darkness, trying to make out the shapes that seemed to be closing in around us. Then, out of the shadows, figures emerged—ten, maybe more. They moved with practiced precision, surrounding us on all sides.

Rowan stood slowly, pulling me to my feet with him, his eyes scanning the figures. They were human, I realized, their faces grim and hard in the dim light. Their clothes were worn, patched together with bits of leather and old military gear, and they carried weapons—rifles slung over their shoulders, knives glinting at their belts. I didn’t recognize any of their symbols, but something about them made my skin prickle with unease.

One of them stepped forward, a tall man with dark eyes and a scar running down his cheek. His gaze flicked over Rowan, then to me, and there was a coldness in his expression that sent a chill down my spine.

I didn’t like it one bit.

“You’re surrounded,” the man said, his voice low and gravelly. “Don’t try anything.”

Rowan tensed beside me, his eyes narrowing. “Who are you?” he growled, his voice biting.

The man ignored the question, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he looked Rowan up and down.

“A wolf and a human,” he muttered, loud enough for the others to hear. “Interesting combination.”

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The tension in the air thickened, and I could feel Rowan’s muscles coil beside me, ready to spring into action if needed. But I could also see the odds—there were too many of them. We were trapped.

“We’re not here to cause trouble,” I said quickly, trying to defuse the situation. “We were just passing through. We didn’t even know?—”

“You didn’t know?” the man interrupted, his voice cold, skeptical. “Didn’t know what? That we’d be watching? That the Resistance doesn’t take kindly to wolves or their little spies?”

The word Resistance echoed in my mind, and I felt a sudden chill sweep through me. I’d heard rumors—whispers of a group of humans who hated wolves, who fought against them wherever they could. But I never thought they were real. And certainly not out here, in the middle of nowhere in the forest.

“We’re not spies,” Rowan said, his voice steady but dangerous. “We’re not with them.”

The man sneered, stepping closer. “You expect us to believe that? A wolf traveling with a human? What, are you keeping her as a pet?”

Rowan’s eyes darkened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. I could feel the tension radiating off him, the barely contained fury. “She’s not my pet,” he growled. “She’s my mate.”

A ripple of murmurs spread through the group, and I saw the man’s face twist in disgust.

“A wolf mating with a human,” he spat. “Even worse than I thought. Wolves don’t take humans as mates unless they have an agenda. You’re spies, both of you.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, the man raised his hand. “Enough,” he barked. “We’re taking you both in. We’ll deal with the wolf first, then decide what to do with the girl.”

“No!” I shouted, panic surging through me as the group started closing in on us. “You don’t understand; we’re not with them!”

But my words fell on deaf ears. The man nodded to one of the figures, and I saw a glint of metal—a syringe. Before either Rowan or I could react, one of the Resistance members darted forward, jabbing it into Rowan’s neck.

“Rowan!” I screamed, reaching for him as he staggered, his hand flying to the spot where the needle had pierced his skin. His eyes widened, and I saw the fight leave him in an instant. He swayed on his feet, his body growing heavy, his movements sluggish.

“Kendra…” he gasped, his voice thick and strained as his knees buckled beneath him.

I rushed to his side, trying to catch him, but he was too heavy, and he collapsed to the ground. His breathing was labored, his eyes half-lidded, and I could see the drug taking hold, pulling him under.

“No, please!” I cried, kneeling beside him, my hands shaking as I pressed them to his chest. “He’s not dangerous! You don’t have to do this!”

The man from the Resistance sneered again, motioning for the others to grab us. “Take them both.”

Rough hands grabbed me, pulling me away from Rowan, and I struggled against them, my heart racing. They dragged Rowan’s limp body across the ground, binding his hands behind his back as if he were still a threat.

“Rowan!” I screamed again, thrashing in their grip, but it was no use. They hauled me to my feet, dragging me and Rowan deeper into the forest, and there was nothing I could do about it.