I had always welcomed war, but battle was something else entirely. It stirred something primal within me, a passion I couldn't control. The grizzly's roar reverberated through the forest, the sound almost a challenge to my dominance. Its hot, fetid breath reached my nostrils, igniting the bloodlust that surged through my veins. Behind me, I could hear the girl's ragged breaths, uneven and shallow. The sound made my claws dig into the earth, anchoring me to the fight.

The bear lunged forward, and I snarled, meeting its challenge head-on. My lips peeled back from my fangs, daring it to try to get past me. What am I doing? I risked a glance back at her, and my pulse raced. Blood oozed from deep gashes in her thigh, pooling beneath her and soaking the dirt. Her shirt was ripped open, exposing angry red slashes across her chest. Her hands trembled as she pressed weakly against her leg, trying in vain to stem the bleeding.

I growled low in my throat, a sound that vibrated through my entire body. Every instinct told me to defend her, to protect what was mine—even though she wasn't mine. Not yet. Not ever, if I had any shred of self-control left.

The grizzly reared back on its hind legs, towering over me, its massive claws glinting in the dim light. I crouched low, muscles coiling as I prepared to strike. Behind me, the girl moaned in pain, the sound so fragile it nearly undid me.

Regina! Ruby's voice sliced through my thoughts, sharp and urgent. A flash of russet fur streaked through the trees as she joined the fray. Her lithe form darted around the grizzly, tearing into its unprotected flank. The bear let out a furious roar and dropped back onto all fours, swinging its massive head toward her. Ruby dodged its claws with ease, her movements fluid and precise as she baited it away from me.

The bear lunged at her, but she was too fast, her smaller frame weaving through the trees like a shadow. With each swipe of the grizzly's powerful arms, she danced just out of reach, taunting it with quick, deliberate bites. Her cleverness bought me the opening I needed. When the bear turned its back to me, I leapt forward, sinking my teeth into its hind leg and tearing through muscle.

The grizzly spun to face me, its bloodied eyes wide with rage and pain. Ruby and I circled it in unspoken unison, a deadly dance that tightened with every step. The scent of the bear's blood filled the air, hot and metallic, making my mouth burn. My claws itched to finish the job, but I held back, waiting for the right moment.

The bear faltered, its breaths coming in heaving gasps. Its eyes darted between us, filled with rising fear. I let out a short, sharp bark, a warning that sent a ripple of hesitation through the creature. With one last snort, it turned and lumbered away into the forest, its massive form disappearing into the shadows.

I raised my muzzle and howled, the sound echoing through the trees. Triumph surged through me, but it was fleeting. A soft moan brought me crashing back to reality.

I turned sharply to find her, the human girl, staring at me with wide, disbelieving eyes. Her breaths were shallow, her skin pale and slick with sweat. The coppery scent of her blood overwhelmed me, intoxicating and dangerous. For a moment, I couldn't move, caught between the primal urge to protect her and the forbidden hunger that churned in my chest.

Regina, Ruby's voice came again, her tone sharp with worry. She emerged from the shadows, her fur streaked with blood but her eyes clear. What are you doing?

I ignored her, moving slowly toward the girl. Her eyes followed me, wide and glassy, filled with both fear and something else—something that made my stomach twist. She tried to push herself upright, but her body collapsed under its own weight, her arms trembling from the effort.

"Go," I growled to Ruby, baring my teeth at her. "This isn't your fight."

She hesitated, her blue eyes narrowing in concern. She's a human, Regina. This isn't worth it.

"She is," I snapped, my voice raw and desperate. "Now go."

Ruby let out a soft whine, but she obeyed, slinking back into the shadows of the trees. I turned my attention back to the girl, who was barely clinging to consciousness. Her breathing was shallow, each exhale a painful rattle that tore through my chest.

I crouched beside her, my claws sinking into the earth as I studied her face. She was young, maybe a year or two younger than me, with hair the color of golden straw clinging to her sweat-soaked skin. Her features were sharp and defiant, even in pain, but her eyes—those brilliant green eyes—were what held me captive. They were filled with a quiet strength that made my heart ache.

What are you doing, Regina? The voice in my mind wasn't Ruby's this time—it was my own, a whisper of reason I couldn't afford to heed.

"You're going to die," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to her. "And it's my fault."

She blinked slowly, her lips parting as if to speak, but no sound came out. Her hand twitched weakly, reaching toward me, and my chest tightened with something I didn't dare name.

Before I could think better of it, I shifted, the fur melting away from my skin as I returned to my human form. The girl's eyes widened, her gaze flickering over me as if trying to comprehend what she was seeing. I knelt beside her, pressing a hand to her blood-soaked thigh, trying in vain to stem the bleeding.

Her voice was barely a whisper. "Who… are you?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I raised my arm to my mouth, biting down hard until the taste of iron filled my mouth. My blood welled up, hot and thick, and I pressed my forearm against her lips.

"Drink," I said, my voice low but firm. "It's the only way."

Her lips parted weakly, her eyes filled with hesitation, but she obeyed. The moment her mouth touched my skin, something shifted inside me. A spark of electricity coursed through my veins, searing and undeniable. Her touch was fire, burning away every doubt I had left.

I held her close as my blood flowed into her, binding her to me in ways I couldn't yet understand. And in that moment, I knew I had just broken every law I'd ever sworn to uphold.

And I didn't care.

Ruby didn't say anything right away. She stood a few paces back, her crimson cloak catching the faint light of the setting sun filtering through the trees. Her dark eyes held mine, calm but searching, as if waiting for me to untangle my own mess before speaking.

I dragged my claws lightly along the tree bark, the rough texture grounding me, even as the scent of Emma—her blood, her fear, her strength—clung to me like a curse. It was maddening, how she lingered in my mind. I had thought saving her would be the end of it, but it was only the beginning of something far more dangerous.

"She wasn't supposed to be there," I said finally, my voice low and sharp.

Ruby tilted her head, her arms crossed loosely over her chest. "And yet, she was."

I shot her a glare, but she didn't flinch. She never did. Ruby was the only one who could face me without fear. That was what made her such an infuriating, invaluable ally.

"She was dying," I muttered, turning away. The words felt hollow as I said them, even to my own ears.

Ruby stepped closer, her boots crunching softly against the underbrush. "And since when do we risk everything for a human?" Her voice wasn't accusing—if anything, it was laced with concern. "Regina, what were you thinking?"

I spun back toward her, my anger flaring. "I wasn't thinking, Ruby! I just… I couldn't let her die." My chest heaved as I tried to calm the storm raging inside me. The look Ruby gave me then was more unsettling than her words. She wasn't judging me. She was worried. For me.

"That's not like you," Ruby said softly, stepping even closer. "You've always followed the rules, even when they hurt. You've always been the one who kept us in line, who put the pack first. Why break the laws now, for her?"

I turned away again, unable to meet her eyes. My hands clenched at my sides. "I don't know."

But that was a lie, and Ruby knew it. Her silence spoke volumes. I could feel her gaze boring into me, patient and unyielding, waiting for me to admit what we both already understood.

"She was dying," I repeated, quieter this time. My voice cracked. "I couldn't just stand there and let her bleed out, Ruby. Not her."

There it was. The truth I had been trying to deny. Something about her was different. It wasn't just her scent, though that alone was enough to drive me mad. It was the way she had looked at me—fearful, yes, but also defiant. There had been something in her eyes, something that reached deep into me and refused to let go.

Ruby stepped into my line of sight, her expression softer now. "You're bonded to her."

The words hit me like a blow. I stumbled back a step, shaking my head. "No. That's not possible."

Ruby didn't argue. She just raised an eyebrow, her silence more damning than anything she could have said. I wanted to deny it, to fight it, but the truth was already clawing its way to the surface. I had felt it the moment my blood flowed into her veins, the spark of something ancient and unbreakable binding us together.

"She's human," I whispered, the words barely audible. "How could that happen?"

Ruby sighed, her gaze softening. "The same way it happens to any of us. You don't get to choose the bond, Regina. It chooses you."

I let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through my hair. "And what am I supposed to do now? Pretend it didn't happen? Ignore it?"

Ruby frowned, her usual confidence faltering. "I don't know," she admitted. "But if the pack finds out… if the Keepers find out…"

"They won't," I snapped, my voice harder than I intended. "No one will know. Not you, not the pack. No one."

Ruby hesitated, her concern plain on her face, but she nodded. "Alright. Your secret is safe with me."

I met her gaze, searching for any trace of doubt. There was none. Ruby's loyalty was unshakable, even when it went against her better judgment. I felt a pang of guilt for dragging her into this, but there was no turning back now.

"I'll figure it out," I said, more to myself than to her. "I have to."

Ruby gave me a small, sad smile. "Just… be careful, Regina. Bonds like this are dangerous. They don't just go away."

I nodded, though her words did little to ease the knot in my chest. As she disappeared into the shadows, I leaned back against the tree, letting out a long, shaky breath.

Emma's face lingered in my mind, her green eyes burning like fire. Dangerous, Ruby had said. She was right. This bond was a danger to everything I had built, everything I had sworn to protect.

But as much as I wanted to deny it, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was already too late.