Chapter 35: Carrying You Home

Chapter 35: Carrying You Home

Ronan’s POV

The forest became silent after the rogues ran.

Too silent.

My chest was still rising and falling hard. My hands were shaking. My knuckles burned. There was blood on them. I did not know if it was mine or theirs. I did not care.

All I cared about was her.

Maltida.

She was still in my arms. Small. Shaking. Breathing fast.

Her fingers were clutching my shirt like she was afraid I would disappear again.

“I’m here,” I whispered. My voice was no longer loud. No longer Alpha. Just a man. “I’m here.”

She tried to step away from me.

Her legs almost gave out.

My heart stopped.

I caught her quickly, holding her tighter.

“You can’t walk,” I said.

“I… I can,” she whispered. But her voice was weak. Too weak.

She tried again.

She almost fell again.

Something inside me broke.

I turned my back to her and lowered myself slowly.

“Get on,” I said quietly.

She was silent.

“I can walk,” she repeated softly.

I closed my eyes for a second. The guilt was crushing me.

“No,” I said gently. “You can’t.”

She hesitated.

Then slowly, carefully, she placed her hands on my shoulders.

I felt how light she was.

Too light.

She climbed onto my back.

I held her legs firmly, standing up slowly so I wouldn’t hurt her.

She wrapped her arms around my neck.

Her head rested against my shoulder.

And we began walking home.

The forest felt different now.

Quieter.

Colder.

Each step I took felt heavy. Not because she was heavy. She wasn’t.

Because of what I almost lost.

Because of what I did not protect.

Because I left her.

I swallowed hard.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

She did not answer.

I didn’t expect her to.

“I should have stayed,” I continued. “If I had known… if I had known they would treat you like this… I would never have gone.”

My throat tightened.

“I should have taken you with me.”

The words hurt coming out.

She shifted slightly on my back.

Her fingers tightened around my shirt.

I felt something warm on my neck.

Tears.

She was crying quietly.

And that hurt more than anything.

“I thought…” she whispered softly.

My heart skipped.

“Thought what?” I asked carefully.

She was quiet again.

Then she spoke in a voice so small it almost disappeared into the wind.

“I thought you agreed.”

My steps slowed.

“What?”

“They said… they said you wanted me gone.”

Everything inside me went cold.

My grip on her tightened. Not enough to hurt her. Just enough to keep her close.

“I would never,” I said immediately. My voice was low. Firm. Shaking. “Never.”

She didn’t answer.

But I felt her cry harder.

For two days…

She believed I did not want her.

She walked out of my territory thinking I rejected her.

I almost stopped walking. The guilt was too much.

“I am so sorry,” I whispered again. “You should have never doubted that.”

She rested her cheek against my shoulder.

And I kept walking.

The closer we got to the territory, the tighter my chest felt.

Because I knew what was waiting there.

Questions.

Eyes.

Silence.

We reached the gates.

The guards saw us.

They froze.

Their Alpha.

Dirty.

Bruised.

Carrying the woman they ignored.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

Good.

I didn’t want words.

I walked straight through.

Every warrior stepped aside.

Every maid lowered their eyes.

The air was thick with shame.

They knew.

They all knew.

I did not say anything.

I did not shout.

I did not growl.

I did not need to.

The message was clear.

She is mine.

And I will carry her if I have to.

Inside the pack house, I did not stop.

I walked straight to her room.

Our room.

I pushed the door open with my foot.

I walked inside.

And slowly, carefully, I lowered her onto the bed.

She looked so small against the sheets.

Too pale. Too tired.

I knelt in front of her.

My hands rested on her knees.

“I will never let them hurt you again,” I said quietly.

She looked at me.

Her eyes were red from crying.

But there was something else there.

Hope.

“You came,” she whispered.

Those two words destroyed me.

Of course I came.

I would always come.

“I will always come,” I answered.

She reached out and touched my face.

Her hand was cold.

I covered it with mine.

“I thought I was alone,” she said softly.

“You are not,” I replied. “Not while I am alive.”

Silence filled the room.

Peaceful.

But heavy.

I sat beside her on the bed.

I did not leave.

I would not leave.

She slowly leaned into me.

Her head resting against my chest.

I wrapped my arms around her gently.

Carefully.

Protectively.

I could feel her breathing.

I could feel her heartbeat.

And I realized something.

I almost lost this.

I almost lost her.

And if I had…

I would never forgive myself.

Never.

I pressed my lips softly against her hair.

“I will fix this,” I whispered into the quiet room.

Not loudly.

Not in anger.

But in promise.

Outside the door, the pack was silent.

Waiting.

Watching.

And somewhere in this house…

Calyra was listening.

But for now…

I did not care.

Right now, the only thing that mattered was the woman in my arms.

And I made a quiet vow in my heart:

If anyone tries to separate us again…

I will not shout.

I will not warn.

I will simply act.

And this time…

I will not be gentle.