Night fell quickly, the sky darkening into a blue-black dome filled with starfire.
Training ended.
The tribes dispersed to set up their temporary camps—wolves to the east, dragons to the cliffs, elves under the glowing roots, leopards high in the branches.
Owain stayed glued to Kanah's side, refusing to leave her even when Yllas suggested taking turns keeping watch.
Kanah insisted she was fine.
Owain insisted she was wrong.
Helion snickered.
"You two fight like mated elders already."
Kanah flicked a twig at him.
Owain muttered under his breath, "I am not old."
Gerrin sat nearby, writing notes on Kanah's resonance pulse.
The guardian curled around the entire group like a living wall.
Everyone looked tired, but safe.
Finally—
finally—
Kanah exhaled, letting her heartbeat slow.
The pup from earlier slept on her lap, soft warmth humming through her hands.
She stroked its ears.
"You're the cutest thing I've ever seen."
Owain huffed.
"Excuse me?"
Kanah laughed.
"You're a massive wolf, Owain. Not exactly small and adorable."
He lifted a brow.
"Are you calling me ugly?"
Kanah kissed his cheek.
"Never."
Helion gagged dramatically.
Gerrin smiled.
Yllas looked quietly pleased.
It was… peaceful.
For the first time in weeks, Kanah felt something like normal.
Until the forest wind shifted.
Softly.
Wrongly.
Too cold.
The pup jolted awake and hid beneath Kanah's thigh.
"Owain?" she whispered.
Owain stiffened instantly.
His head lifted, nostrils flaring.
His voice dropped into a low, lethal growl.
"He's here."
Her brother.
In the trees.
Watching.
Helion stood up, claws out.
Yllas summoned slow coils of flame.
Gerrin hid Kanah behind his arm.
The guardian rose with a hissing snarl.
Then—
A voice drifted from the shadows.
"Human sister."
Kanah's pulse spiked.
Owain snarled so hard the leaves shook.
"SHOW YOURSELF."
The shadows parted.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Her brother stepped into the moonlight.
He looked different from earlier—
less composed,
less certain,
circles under his eyes.
Kanah swallowed.
"You're… alone."
"Yes."
"Why?"
His voice was quiet.
"Because I wanted to speak.
To you.
Only you."
Owain stepped in front of Kanah so fast everything blurred.
Kanah put her hand on his arm.
"Owain. It's okay."
"It is NOT."
Her brother tilted his head.
"You have too many protectors.
Let them rest."
Owain bared his teeth.
"No one rests while you breathe."
Her brother ignored him.
"Kana. Walk with me."
Owain's growl deepened.
"That is not happening."
Kanah looked at her mates—
then at her brother.
And she made a decision.
"I'll go."
"ABSOLUTELY—"
"NO."
"Kanah—wait—"
"Kana!"
"Little one—"
Owain grabbed her wrist.
"Kana. He wants you isolated."
She squeezed his fingers.
"I know."
"You can't go alone."
"I won't be alone. I'm not leaving the clearing."
Owain hesitated.
Pain flashing behind his eyes.
Yllas stepped forward.
"She is safer here than anywhere else. Let her speak."
Helion nodded reluctantly.
Gerrin whispered, "We need information."
Owain's hand trembled.
Kanah touched his chin, lifting it gently.
"Owain. Trust me."
His breath left him shakily.
He released her.
"Not one step out of my sight."
"Of course."
Kanah walked to the tree line, stopping where the moonlight still touched the ground.
Her brother approached, silent as dusk.
"You spoke to a pup today."
Kanah blinked.
"That's what you came to say?"
"You soothed him."
She hesitated.
"…Yes."
"That should be impossible."
Kanah stiffened.
"Why?"
"Because Devourer blood corrupts.
It cannot soothe."
Kanah lifted her chin.
"I'm still human."
Her brother stared.
"For now."
Kanah frowned.
"What does that mean?"
He took a slow breath.
And spoke the truth he had come to give:
"Your father is accelerating your seed."
Kanah's blood ran cold.
Owain growled from behind her.
Her brother continued:
"He forces it open.
Forcing you to awaken fast.
Too fast."
Kanah's nails dug into her palms.
"He wants you unstable."
"I know."
"He wants the hunger to break you."
"I know."
"And if the hunger breaks you—
you will destroy everything in your path."
Kanah trembled violently.
Owain's hand burned on her back instantly.
"It won't happen," he whispered fiercely.
Her brother looked at Owain.
"And what will you do if it starts?
If she trembles?
If her hunger spikes?
If she claws at you?
If she begs for pain?"
Owain didn't blink.
"I will hold her."
Her brother's eyes narrowed.
"You are foolish."
Owain stepped forward, chest pressed against Kanah's back.
"You are wrong."
Her brother's voice softened.
"You love her.
That makes you blind."
Owain growled:
"And you fear her.
That makes you weak."
Her brother's jaw tightened.
"You don't understand Devourer inheritance."
"Then explain," Kanah said quietly.
Her brother's gaze locked with hers.
"The more you resist the seed—
the faster it grows.
Because Devourer biology binds to conflict.
Your resistance feeds it."
Kanah's heart plummeted.
"I… I'm making it worse?"
"Yes."
Kanah bit her lip until she tasted blood.
"Then what do I do?"
Her brother stepped closer.
"You must accept it."
Owain grabbed her waist sharply.
"DON'T."
Yllas shouted, "Stop—listen—"
Gerrin stepped forward urgently.
"Kana—think—"
But Kanah wasn't thinking anymore.
She was feeling.
"What happens if I accept it?"
Her brother's voice lowered to a whisper:
"You become the first stable Devourer-human hybrid in history."
Kanah inhaled sharply.
Her brother continued:
"And father cannot control you."
Owain froze.
Yllas's flame faltered.
Gerrin's eyes widened.
Helion muttered, "Ah. Shit."
Kanah's breath trembled.
"He… can't control me?"
Her brother shook his head.
"No.
If you anchor the seed yourself, he loses all hold."
Kanah's knees weakened.
Owain caught her instantly, his arms wrapping around her waist.
"Kana. Do NOT listen to him."
Her brother lifted his chin.
"I am not lying."
Owain snarled:
"You never tell the truth."
Her brother finally looked pained.
"He will force your awakening.
Soon.
Within days.
Maybe hours."
Kanah's lungs stopped working.
Her brother stepped closer.
"Kana."
She froze.
"You don't have time to resist."
Her voice cracked.
"So what do I do?"
Owain whispered hoarsely:
"You stay with us."
Her brother stared at Owain.
"You think you can hold back Devourer hunger with affection?"
Owain's eyes burned gold.
"I don't think.
I KNOW."
Silence.
The kind that hummed.
Kanah looked between them.
Her heart pulled both directions—
the fear of the seed
and the safety of the bond.
Her brother exhaled, defeated.
"I warned you."
Kanah swallowed.
"Why?"
Her brother's answer was soft.
"Because you're my sister."
Kanah's heart twisted.
He stepped backward into the forest.
"The next time we meet…
I may not be able to speak freely."
He vanished.
The forest stilled.
Owain crushed Kanah to his chest, shaking.
"Kana… Kana—look at me—breathe—"
Kanah sobbed into him.
"Owain… he said… I'm feeding the seed—"
Owain cupped her face.
"No.
Listen to me.
LOOK at me."
She did.
His voice dropped to a fierce whisper.
"You're human.
You're mine.
And we will NOT let it take you."
Behind him, Yllas nodded solemnly.
"We anchor you."
Gerrin placed a gentle hand on her back.
"We teach you."
Helion squeezed her hand.
"We stand with you."
The guardian rumbled and lowered its head to hers.
Kanah swallowed back tears.
Her voice shook.
"Then I won't be afraid."
Owain kissed her forehead.
"Good.
Because tomorrow—"
He pulled her tighter.
"Tomorrow we start fighting back."