Chapter 69 — Aria's POV “Come on,” I muttered, staring at my reflection in the white wall. “Someone answer me.”Nothing. No wolf growling at the edges of my mind, no vampire strength humming under my skin, no witch power tingling in my fingertips, no demon fire burning in my core. Just silence where my aspects used to be.The emptiness hurt worse than any physical pain, like losing a limb or five.Mom's head rested in my lap, her breathing shallow and irregular. The corruption marks had spread further in the past few hours, turning more of her silver scars that sickly black color. Dark veins spread from each corrupted mark like poison through her system. Time was running out.“Please,” I tried again, reaching for that place inside where my aspects lived. The hollow space where they should be. “I need you. She needs you.”Silence answered. Again.I'd been trying for hours. Days, maybe. Hard to tell in this stupid white box with its endless artificial light and sterile walls. Every tim
Chapter 70 — Zane's POV The maps were starting to blur together. I'd been staring at them for so long, the marked locations had stopped making sense. My fingers traced the same paths over and over, like somehow I'd find something new this time.“Zane.” Kane's voice broke through my focus. I hadn't even heard him enter the war room. “Victor found something.”I stood up from the chair so fast my vision swam. Lack of sleep was really starting to mess with me. “What?”Kane spread out a new set of documents — blueprints, security protocols, guard rotations. “Three facilities matching the energy signatures from where we lost her trail.”Hope flared in my chest for the first time in days. It hurt. Everything hurts since Aria disappeared.“Show me.”Liora was already there, analyzing the blueprints with that laser focus that made her our best strategist. “The security patterns are similar to other Azrael operations we've tracked. Look at these power grid connections.”Victor pointed to speci
Chapter 71 — Kane's POV The moment I felt Zane's pain explode through our bonds, I knew something had gone terribly wrong. His anguish hit me like a physical blow, nearly bringing me to my knees. Only Victor's quick reflexes kept both of us standing as the vampire hauled us to our feet.The pack bonds were screaming. Every wolf connected to me felt it – that sudden, devastating emptiness where Aria's presence should be. It was as if someone had ripped out a piece of our collective soul.“She's not dead,” Victor said firmly, his pale features set with determination. Being the oldest vampire in our alliance sometimes gave him insights we missed. “Think about it. Azrael wanted her powers. Her potential. He wouldn't just kill her.”I watched my twin struggle to form words, his face twisted in agony. “The bond…” That was all Zane could manage before his voice broke. The mating bond between us and Aria was new, still strengthening. To have it suddenly severed like this… I feel the pain he
Chapter 72 —Aria's POV Consciousness came back weird. Like swimming up through layers of thick fog.The first thing I noticed was the softness underneath me instead of that cold cell floor. Then scents hit — antiseptic, healing herbs, and something that sparked a memory. Victor's special healing paste. I was in the pack infirmary.Someone was holding my hands. Both of them. The warmth felt familiar.My eyes felt like they were glued shut, but I managed to crack them open after a few tries. The dim lighting was a blessing after that harsh white cell.Kane was on my right, Zane on my left. Both passed out in chairs but still gripping my hands like they were afraid I'd disappear. They looked awful — dark circles under their eyes, clothes rumpled like they'd been wearing them for days.My opalescent scars pulsed gently, reflecting off the monitoring equipment surrounding the bed. Victor had set up his full healing array — IV drips, magical monitors, the works.I tried to say something,
Chapter 73 —Aria's POV Sunlight tickled my face. My eyes fluttered open to the peaceful infirmary, taking in the morning glow through the windows. For a moment, I just lay there, letting the warmth seep into my skin. After that cold cell, even simple sunlight felt like a miracle.Kane's head rested on my bed, his dark hair messy from sleep. A few strands fell across his face, moving slightly with each breath. His hand still held mine, just like he hadn't let go once in the past two weeks. The thought made my heart squeeze.Across the room, Zane was arranging what looked like hundreds of get-well cards on the windowsill, his movements careful and quiet. He'd changed clothes since yesterday — or was it still the same day? Time felt fuzzy around the edges.“You're staring,” Zane said without turning around, a smile in his voice.“Can you blame me?” My voice came out stronger today. “The view's not bad.”Kane stirred at the sound, probably sensing I was awake through our mate bond. His e
Chapter 74 — Aria's POV “Aria.” Zane's voice pulled me from sleep, gentle but urgent. “Wake up.”I blinked, taking in the early morning light filtering through the infirmary windows. Zane stood beside my bed, his expression a mix of excitement and concern that instantly had me alert. His dark hair was mussed like he'd been running his hands through it — something he only did when big things were happening.Through our mate bond, I felt his emotions before he could speak — joy, worry, hope all tangled together. “What is it?” My heart picked up speed. “Is everything okay?”Zane's lips curved into a soft smile, his eyes bright. “Your mother's awake.”Five seconds. That's how long it took for those words to sink in. Then I was pushing myself up, ignoring the weakness in my limbs and the way the room spun slightly.“Careful.” Zane steadied me as I swayed, his hands warm and strong. “You're still recovering.”“I don't care.” I gripped his arm, probably too tight. “Take me to her. Now.”He
Chapter 75 — Zane's POVI watched Aria's face carefully as the young warrior delivered his message about Jaxon. Through our mate bond, I could feel her heart rate spike, a mix of anxiety and old hurt coloring her emotions. The morning light streaming through the infirmary windows cast shadows across her face, highlighting the faint traces of exhaustion still lingering there.“Bring him here,” I ordered the warrior, keeping my voice steady despite my tension. “We'll meet him in the infirmary.” My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, protective instincts warring with the need to maintain control.The young warrior nodded quickly, his anxiety evident in the way his fur rippled briefly across his skin before he got himself under control. “Yes, Alpha.” He disappeared down the hallway, footsteps echoing against the tile floors.Kane moved closer to Aria's bed, his protective instincts evident in the way he positioned himself. Our shared bond thrummed with his readiness to defend if need
Chapter 76 — Kane's POV Selene's words kept echoing in my head as I paced the command center. “He's coming.” Over and over, like a broken record. The maps spread across the table blurred together as my wolf prowled restlessly beneath my skin. Every instinct screamed to act, to fight, to protect.“Kane.” Zane's voice cut through my thoughts. My twin stood in the doorway, battle maps clutched in his hands. I felt his tension matching mine. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he'd gotten as little sleep as I had. “The pack's gathering.”I nodded, squaring my shoulders. Time to be the Alpha they needed. “Let's do this.”The walk to the hall felt longer than usual. Pack members we passed straightened instinctively, responding to the Alpha energy rolling off both of us. Their faces showed a mix of fear and determination – they knew something big was coming.The hall filled quickly, faces both familiar and new turning toward us as we entered. Elder wolves took their traditional positions
Chapter 95 — EpilogueFive years passed faster than a witch's broom on a moonlit night. Standing on the newly built observation deck, I barely recognized our territories anymore — in the best possible way. The celebration for our fifth peace anniversary had transformed the grounds into a festival of supernatural proportions.“Mama! Mama! Watch this!” Luna's voice carried across the courtyard. My five-year-old daughter stood in the center of a circle of young supernaturals, her silver hair glowing with combined witch-wolf power. Blue sparks danced between her fingers as she created intricate patterns in the air.Not to be outdone, her twin brother Ash had somehow managed to scale the academy walls — again. His dark hair contrasted sharply against the white stone as he moved with inherited vampire speed.“Ash Alexander!” Kane's authoritative voice boomed across the grounds. “What did we say about using vampire abilities without supervision?”Our son's face scrunched up in that particula
Chapter 94 — Aria's POVSunlight streamed through our bedroom windows, and for once, I woke up exactly where I wanted to be — sandwiched between Kane and Zane. A month had passed since the Luna ceremony, and life had settled into a new kind of normal. Well, as normal as life could be when you're mated to two alphas and running a supernatural melting pot.“Morning baby,” Mom called from the doorway, already dressed and holding two steaming coffee mugs. “Your boys have already left for patrol. Something about checking the new boundary markers.”I untangled myself from the sheets, accepting the coffee gratefully. “You're a lifesaver.”“That's what moms are for.” She settled into the window seat, her presence still sometimes surprising me. After years of separation, having her back felt like a dream. “Want to grab breakfast and visit your father?” We made a grave for him in the pack house.An hour later, we stood before Dad's grave. The memorial garden had grown, now incorporating plants
Chapter 93 — Zane's POVThe full moon hung low over our pack grounds as I watched Kane spin Aria around the dance floor. Her white dress caught the light of floating witch orbs, making her look almost ethereal. After everything we'd been through — the fights, the near-death experiences, the world-ending threats — seeing her smile like that made every secret planning session worth it.“She looks happy,” Kane said, materializing beside me with two glasses of the blood wine the vampires had brought. Its dark red contents sparkled with unnatural luminescence. I accepted the glass, remembering our late-night scheming. “Speaking of outdoing ourselves, remember when you nearly got caught by that witch patrol while sneaking in fabric samples?”Kane snorted, his usual serious expression cracking. “Worth it. Though next time we plan secret ceremonies, maybe we skip the full moon timing. Do you know how hard it is to be stealthy when everyone's senses are heightened?”“At least the witches boug
Chapter 92 — Aria's POV I woke up to sunlight streaming through our bedroom windows and Zane's quiet cursing. Opening my eyes, I found him carefully hanging what had to be the most beautiful white dress I'd ever seen.“Shit, you're awake,” he muttered. “This was supposed to be a surprise.”“What's the dress for?” I sat up, noticing Kane's absence. “And where's our other mate?”Zane's face broke into a rare full smile. “It's for your Luna ceremony. You know, the one we never had time for between all the fighting and world-saving?”I blinked. “My what now?”“Luna ceremony. That thing where we officially recognize you as our Luna in front of the pack.” He crossed the room to sit beside me. “And before you say we don't need it — we know. But we want to do this properly.”“But-”A knock interrupted my protest. The door opened to reveal my mom, holding an ornate wooden box. Behind her, Kane wore the biggest grin I'd ever seen on his face.“Surprise?” he offered.Mom's eyes were already tea
Chapter 91 — Aria's POV The shimmering in reality solidified into a girl about my age. She had a vampire's pale skin but a witch's aura — something I'd never seen before. Her dark hair was tied back in a messy braid, and her clothes showed signs of long travel. Though she looked exhausted, her eyes burned with desperate hope.“Are you her?” Her voice shook slightly. “The one who unified all five races?”Before I could answer, Kane and Zane burst into the clearing, powers ready. The girl flinched but held her ground, hands raised to show she meant no harm.“I'm not here to fight,” she said quickly. “My name is Mira. I… I felt what happened. What you became. I had to come.”I lowered my hands, my enhanced senses detecting no deception from her. “I'm Aria. These are my mates, Kane and Zane. How did you find us?”“I followed the energy signature. I've never felt anything like it.” Mira's eyes filled with tears. “I thought I was the only one who was… different. Who didn't fit anywhere.”K
Chapter 90 — Aria's POV The walk back to pack territory felt endless. Each step reminded me how much had changed in the past few hours. My newly unified powers thrummed under my skin, while traces of purified magic from the nexus followed us like loyal puppies, creating weird light shows in the early morning air.“You're brooding,” Kane said, his hand finding mine.“I don't brood.”“You totally brood,” Zane chimed in. “We can feel it through the bond now. Very dramatic.”I rolled my eyes, but their teasing helped lighten the heavy atmosphere. Our enhanced mate bond let me feel their underlying tension though — we were all worried about what we'd find at home.The first signs of battle stopped us in our tracks. Deep claw marks scored ancient trees. The ground was scorched in patches where magical attacks had landed. The metallic scent of blood lingered in the air.Kane's grip tightened on my hand. “There was a major fight here.”Through our bond, I felt him cataloging tactical details
Chapter 89 — Aria's POV The nexus light hit us like a tidal wave, and time seemed to freeze. One second I was trying to warn Kane and Zane about what I was sensing, and the next we were all caught in some kind of shared vision. Pure magical energy coursed through our mate bond, stronger than anything I'd felt before.“Holy shit,” I whispered, watching golden threads of destiny weaving between us. Each strand pulsed with possibility, showing flashes of futures I couldn't quite grasp. “Are you guys seeing this?”Kane's grip on my hand tightened. “The threads? Yeah. What the hell is happening?”I could barely focus on his words as understanding slammed into me. My transformation hadn't just changed me — it had shifted the entire balance of supernatural power. The purified nexus beneath our feet was already acting like a beacon, calling to others who wanted unity instead of the endless fighting between races.“Aria.” Kane's voice cut through my racing thoughts. Through our bond, I felt h
Chapter 88 — Aria's POVPower surged through me in waves of colored light — all merging into an aurora that lit up the clearing like the northern lights. For the first time in my life, every part of me worked in perfect harmony. No more fighting against myself. No more holding back. Each aspect enhanced the others instead of competing for dominance.The energy radiating from my skin cast dancing shadows across the ancient stones. I could feel every pulse of power, every current of magic flowing through the area. My enhanced senses picked up things I'd never noticed before — the way the lines hummed beneath the earth, how the very air crackled with supernatural energy.“Impossible,” Azrael spat, gathering stolen power around himself like a shield. Dark magic crackled between his fingers, but I could see how it fought against his control. “Those abilities are mine now! The ritual was perfect!”I could see how sluggish my stolen powers were in his grasp, like trying to control a wild ani
Chapter 87 — Aria's POVThe first thing I noticed was Zane's arms around me, the lingering taste of his blood on my tongue. For a moment everything felt muffled, distant — like being underwater. Then my senses slammed back online with overwhelming intensity.Heartbeats thundered in my ears — not just Zane's and Kane's, but every living creature for miles. The frantic flutter of bird wings in the trees. The skittering of small animals fleeing the area. The steady thrum of ancient power beneath the earth. Everything crashed into my consciousness at once, a sensory overload that would have brought me to my knees if I wasn't already lying down.The tang of blood, sweat, and rage filled my nose. I could distinguish between them all — Kane's blood, tinged with alpha power. Zane's sweat, laced with desperation. Azrael's rage, bitter and acrid in the air. Power hummed through the ground beneath me, lines I'd never been able to perceive before now blazingly obvious, crisscrossing beneath the s