Chapter 46 

Lisa’s POV 

The River of Blood stretched wide before us. It was twisting and churning like it had a mind of its own. Its crimson surface shimmered under the dull gray sky, and the sound of rushing water filled the air like a whispering voice I couldn’t quite understand. 

We had to cross it. 

But there was no bridge. No stepping stones. No ferry. 

Just a single fallen tree. Its bark was dark and slick with moisture and it was spanning the river like a fragile thread. 

My stomach twisted into knots. 

“That?” I asked, pointing at the tree trunk. “You want us to cross… that?” 

Rylan gave me a crooked smile, but I could tell he was tense too. “It’s the only way across for miles. 

Unless you want to swim through that.” 

I glanced down at the red water again. A shiver rippled through me. 

“No,” I said quickly. “Not swimming.” 

“Didn’t think so.” He stepped closer, eyes scanning the trunk, testing its stability with his foot. It groaned slightly under his weight. “It’ll hold. We just have to go slow.” 

I swallowed hard. My palms were already sweating. 

“I….I don’t know if I can do this.” 

Rylan turned to me, his voice softening. “Hey. Look at me.” 

I looked up into his eyes. The golden flecks in his irises caught the light. 

“I’ll go first,” he said. “Then I’ll hold your hand, and we’ll take it one step at a time. I won’t let you fall, I 

promise.” 

“But what if I slip? What if I pull you down too?” 

“Then we’ll fall together. But we won’t. Because I’ve got you, Lisa. You’re stronger than you think.” 

Something about the way he said my name settled my nerves, just a little. 

I nodded. “Okay. But if I fall, you better catch me.” 

His grin returned. “You say that like it’s a challenge.” 

Rylan stepped onto the trunk first. He moved slowly, carefully, arms out slightly for balance. When he reached halfway, he turned and motioned for me. 

“Your turn” 

I took a deep breath. 

Then another. 

My legs felt like jelly, but I stepped forward anyway. One foot. Then the other. The bark was slick and cold 

beneath my shoes. My heart pounded so loud I could barely hear the river. 

“Good,” Rylan called. “You’re doing great. Just a little more.” 

He reached out his hand. I reached out mine. 

Our fingers touched. 

And then everything changed. 

The air grew colder in an instant. A heavy chill rolled over my skin, like icy fingers brushing down my spine. 

I gasped and looked down. 

Something was moving beneath the surface. There were shapes and figures. 

Wolf-like shadows swirling just below the red water. Their eyes glowed faintly like ghostly silver lights 

staring up at me. 

And then I heard it. 

A whisper. 

It was low and raspy like wind through dead leaves. 

“You should not have come…” 

My breath caught. 

“Daughter of the fallen… 

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “No…” 

“You are not welcome here…” 

I froze. 

The world tilted. 

And then…there was a sudden pull. 

Something cold and invisible latched around my ankle. I screamed as it yanked me down. My balance vanished. My hand slipped from Rylan’s. 

“LISA!” 

I hit the water hard. 

 

It was freezing, even though the air wasn’t cold. The crimson current swallowed me whole. It was thick and suffocating. It filled my mouth, my nose and my ears. 

And the whispers were louder now. 

Screaming. 

“You are not one of us…!” 

“You carry cursed blood…!” 

I thrashed, kicked nd clawed, but something held me. Ghostly wolves surrounded me. There were white bones beneath black fur. Their jaws were open in silent howls. Their hollow eyes burned into mine. 

I tried to scream, but water rushed into my throat. 

And then…. 

There was a hand. It was strong and warm. 

Rylan grabbed my arm and pulled hard. The spirits shrieked. The grip on my ankle tightened. Pain shot through my leg like fire. 

But Rylan didn’t let go. 

His eyes met mine through the water. They were fierce and full of fury. He bared his teeth and growled, dragging me upwards with all his strength. 

The surface exploded around us. 

I coughed, choking and gasping as he hauled me out of the river and onto the muddy bank. He collapsed 

beside me. He was drenched and shaking. 

“Lisa,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Lisa, are you okay?” 

I couldn’t answer. 

I was crying. 

Because I wasn’t sure if what I had seen was real. 

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight as I trembled against his chest. 

“You’re okay,” he whispered. “I’ve got you. You’re safe now.” 

I clutched his shirt. My voice was barely a whisper. “They were real. The wolves. The voices. They pulled 

me.” 

He pulled back just enough to look at me. “What do you mean?” 

“There were spirits,” I said shakily. “Wolves. Dead wolves. They spoke to me. They called me the daughter of the fallen. They said… I wasn’t welcome.” 

Rylan’s brows furrowed, his jaw clenching. “I didn’t see anything. Just you falling.” 

” didn’t fall,” I said quickly “They grabbed me. They wanted to pull me under. They wanted me dead” 

He looked down at my ankle, where faint red marks wrapped around the skin 

“Spirits,” he said slowly. “You saw spirits in the river?” 

I nodded. “Yes. I swear it.” 

He stood up and looked back at the water. His fists were clenched 

“Then this isn’t just a story,” he muttered. “The legends were true.” 

“What legends?” 

He turned back to me, his face grave. “There’s a tale. A curse. They say this river holds the souls of wolves who died unjust deaths. Betrayed warriors. Forgotten packmates. They can’t move on. They wait here, hunting for blood.” 

I shivered. “Why did they come for me?” 

“I don’t know,” he said quietly. “But they knew you. They called you the daughter of the fallen?” 

“Yes,” I whispered. 

We sat in silence for a long time, the only sound the river’s restless current behind us. 

Finally, he broke the silence. “We’re not crossing again. Ever. We’ll find another way.” 

“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I ruined everything. We should’ve crossed faster.” 

He looked at me sharply. “Don’t say that. You didn’t ruin anything. You survived something no one should’ve survived. You’re stronger than you think.” 

“But what if they come again?” I asked, my voice cracking. “What if next time, I don’t make it back?” 

“Then I’ll jump in again,” he said. “As many times as it takes.” 

I looked at him, really looked. 

His wet hair clung to his face. His shirt was soaked, clinging to his chest. But his eyes… they were steady 

and strong Full of something I didn’t dare name yet. 

“Why?” I asked. 

He blinked. “Why what?” 

“Why do you keep risking everything for me?” 

He hesitated. 

Then said, “Because when I thought I lost you…. it felt like the world ended. And I’m not ready to lose you, 

Lisa. Not now. Not ever.” 

Tears welled up in my eyes again. 

 

But this time, they weren’t from fear. 

I reached out, my hand finding his. Our fingers tangled together. 

And for the first time since I shifted… since Kael rejected me… since my world shattered…. 

I felt safe. 

But deep in my heart, I knew this was only the beginning. 

Because the river had shown me something. 

There was a truth buried in blood and whispers. 

Something was waiting. 

Something wanted me gone. 

And it wasn’t finished.