Ronan pov
I left before dawn.
Elyse was still asleep, silver hair spilled across the pillow like moonlight. I kissed her forehead, felt the bond hum between us, and forced myself to leave.
*We should stay,* Edward whined. *Protect our mate.*
“She’s safe with Seraphina. The pack needs us.”
*The pack has managed before.*
“Not like this. Not with everything changing.”
The run back to the pack lands cleared my head. The familiar scent of pine and earth. The feeling of home territory under my feet.
But something felt off.
I couldn’t place it. Just an itch between my shoulder blades. A sense that something was wrong.
*Danger,* Edward growled. *Smell that?*
I stopped. Sniffed the air.
Perfume. Expensive. Familiar.
No.
I shifted and ran faster.
-----
Juliet was sitting in my mothe
