Aria's POV
Three days? I can't breathe. I'm dying in three days?
Darius's face is tight with pain. The rejected bond is poisoning you from the inside. Your body thinks part of it is missing. It's shutting down.
Then we fix it, Zane says, his voice hard. Now.
It's not that simple, Darius argues. To heal a rejected bond, we need
A howl cuts through the night. Then another. And another.
More Covenant wolves, Cael curses. They're calling reinforcements.
How many? Zane demands.
Darius's eyes go distant, seeing futures. His face goes pale. Too many. Fifty, maybe sixty. They're surrounding us.
My legs give out. Zane catches me before I hit the ground.
We need to run, Cael says urgently. Get Aria out of here
I can't run, I gasp. Pain lances through my chest the broken bond flaring like fire in my veins. Something's wrong. I can't
Black spots dance across my vision. My heart is beating wrong, skipping and stuttering.
She's going into bond shock, Darius says, checking my pulse. His hands are shaking. The stress from the fight triggered it. She needs a healer. Now.
The nearest healer is two hours away, Cael says.
She doesn't have two hours, Darius snaps.
Zane scoops me up in his arms like I weigh nothing. Then we fight our way out.
Against sixty Covenant assassins? Cael shakes his head. Even we can't
I don't care, Zane snarls. She's not dying. I just found her. She's not dying.
The desperation in his voice makes my chest hurt worse. These men don't know me. We met twenty minutes ago. But they're willing to die for me.
Put me down, I whisper.
Not happening, Zane says.
Please. I push weakly against his chest. I can't let you die for me. Just... just go. Save yourselves.
All three men look at me like I've lost my mind.
Not a chance, Cael says.
We're mates, Darius adds. We don't abandon each other.
But we just met
Doesn't matter, Zane interrupts? You're ours. That's all that matters.
The howls are getting closer. I can see glowing eyes in the darkness, circling us.
I have an idea, Darius says suddenly. It's risky. But it might work.
I don't like that look on your face, Cael mutters.
The bond is killing her because it's incomplete, Darius explains quickly. Her body is looking for her mate. If we start forming our bonds with her just the beginning, not the full mate bond it might stabilize her enough to survive.
That's insane, Cael says. Partial bonds are unstable. They could make things worse
Or they could save her life, Zane finishes. He looks down at me. Your choice, Aria. Do you trust us?
I should say no. I don't know these men. Don't understand what's happening. My whole world turned upside down in one night.
But when I look at them, something in my chest pulls tight. Like recognizing something I've been missing my whole life.
Yes, I whisper. I trust you.
Zane sets me down gently. The three Alphas form a circle around me, each placing one hand on my shoulder.
Power floods through the touch. I gasp as golden threads spring to life, connecting my heart to each of theirs.
It's nothing like the bond with Kade. That was silver and cold and wrong.
This is warmth. This is right. This is coming home.
The pain in my chest eases. My heart steadies. I can breathe again.
It's working, Darius says, relief flooding his face.
The Covenant wolves burst into the clearing.
There are so many of them. Dozens of massive wolves, their eyes glowing red with dark magic. Behind them walks a man in a black cloak, his face hidden.
The True Luna, the man says, his voice like oil. And three Alphas who think they can protect her. How touching.
Back off, Zane warns, his body already shifting.
Or what? The man laughs. You'll fight us all? Even you aren't that strong, Blackthorn.
Want to bet? Zane's voice drops to a growl that shakes the ground.
Actually, a new voice calls out, they won't be fighting alone.
Lyra steps out of the forest, and she's not alone. Behind her are twenty wolves, all wearing the neutral territory mark.
Lyra? I breathe.
You think I'd let you face this alone? She grins, but her eyes are scared. I called in every favor I had. These wolves owe me. They'll fight for you.
This doesn't change anything, the cloaked man says. We still outnumber you. The Covenant will have the True Luna. Dead or alive.
Then come try to take her, Cael says, his voice deadly calm. But I promise you'll regret it.
The man raises his hand. The Covenant wolves tense, ready to attack.
I feel power building inside me. The partial mate bonds are glowing, feeding me strength from my three Alphas.
Wait, I say, stepping forward.
Aria, don't Zane starts.
I'm tired of running, I interrupt. Tired of being afraid. Tired of being weak.
I close my eyes and reach for that ancient power sleeping in my blood. The power that commanded enemy wolves during the last fight.
This time, I pull harder.
My eyes snap open, glowing pure silver.
I am Aria Thorne, I say, and my voice echoes with ancient authority. True Luna. Daughter of the Primordial. And I'm done being hunted.
Power explodes from my body in a wave that knocks everyone back. The silver runes on my skin burn like stars.
Every wolf enemy and ally drops to their knees. Even my three Alphas struggle against the force of my command.
Only the cloaked man remains standing, protected by dark magic.
Impressive, he says. But raw power won't save you from what's coming.
He snaps his fingers. The ground beneath me cracks open.
I fall, screaming, into darkness.
The last thing I hear is Zane roaring my name as I'm swallowed by the earth.
Three Minutes Earlier - Unknown POV
I watch from the shadows as the True Luna's power awakens.
Perfect. Even better than we hoped.
My phone buzzes. I answer without looking away from the scene.
Is she ready? the voice on the other end asks.
Almost. The partial bonds will make her stronger. Easier to harvest.
And the three Alphas?
I smile. They'll follow her anywhere. Even into our trap.
Good. Proceed with phase two.
I hang up and signal my team. They activate the portal spell, hidden in the earth beneath the True Luna's feet.
She falls right on schedule.
The three Alphas dive after her, just like we knew they would.
Hook, line, and sinker, I murmur.
My partner steps beside me. You really think this will work? Using her own mates as bait?
They're not her mates yet. Just three desperate Alphas who think they can save her. I turn away from the chaos. And that desperation will lead them right where we want them.
What if she's stronger than we think?
Then we'll break her. I pull off my hood, revealing my face. After all, I've had practice breaking Thornes.
Aurora's smile is cold and satisfied.
Time to finish what Father started.