The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the sound of rushing paws barely audible over the wind. Aria's heartbeat pounded in her ears, her wolf pushing faster, dodging low branches and leaping over fallen logs. Kian ran beside her, his dark fur blending into the shadows of the dense forest. Their breath came in heavy, desperate bursts, their bodies moving as one. Behind them, distant howls pierced the night. Cedric and his patrols were still hunting them. We can't stop, Aria thought, pushing herself Kian's wolf glanced at her, his emerald eyes glowing with determination. There! Aria followed his gaze. Through the thick trees ahead, she spotted a break in the landscape-a narrow waterfall cascading over a rocky ledge. The water shimmered under the moonlight, mist rising from where it crashed against the rocks below. Behind it, hidden in the cliffside, a dark hollow formed a natural cave. Perfect. Without hesitation, they veered toward it, their paws kick
The first light of dawn cast a pale glow over the pack’s territory, the sky shifting from deep blue to streaks of soft orange. The patrols trudged back through the gates, their faces drawn with exhaustion and frustration. They had searched through the night, their wolves tracking every scent, every possible lead—but Aria and Kian had vanished like shadows into the forest.Cedric rode at the head of the returning patrol, his jaw clenched and his body rigid with frustration. His wolf snarled inside him, seething at their failure. They had come so close. He had come so close. But once again, Kian had slipped through his fingers, and this time, he had taken her with him.When they reached the main clearing, Cedric marched toward the Alpha’s quarters, his mind already racing with what he would say.The guards at the entrance barely had time to react before Cedric pushed past them, storming into the large wooden hall where Alpha Darius sat at the head of a long table, speaking with a few of
Kian woke to the gentle sound of water cascading down the rocks, the morning light filtering softly through the veil of the waterfall. The air inside the cave was cool and damp, carrying the faint, earthy scent of moss and wet stone.Beside him, Aria slept soundly, her head resting on his chest and her silver hair spread like moonlight over his bare skin. Kian’s heart swelled as he watched the slow, rhythmic rise and fall of her breathing. The lines of worry and defiance that usually marked her face were gone, replaced by a serene expression that made her look almost ethereal.He reached out, careful not to wake her, and brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek. His fingers lingered, tracing the curve of her jaw, the delicate slope of her nose, the soft parting of her lips.She’s mine, his wolf rumbled, a possessive warmth spreading through him.Ours, Kian corrected gently, though the sentiment was the same. His wolf had accepted Aria from the start, recognizing in her a fierce str
Cedric moved swiftly through the dense forest, his steps controlled, his mind sharper than ever. The morning air was crisp, carrying the fresh scent of damp earth and pine, but beneath it was something more vital—them.Aria. Kian.They had run, thinking they could escape the inevitable. But Cedric knew better. The pack had order for a reason, and those who defied it only weakened their future.His patrol followed close behind, silent and disciplined. They understood the weight of this mission, even if they didn’t yet see the full picture. Soon, they would. Soon, they would understand why some choices had to be made for the good of everyone.A rustling in the trees ahead caught Cedric’s attention. Marek, his most trusted scout, emerged from the brush. “Their trail is fresh,” he reported, voice steady.Cedric nodded, his golden eyes narrowing. “Where?”Marek gestured ahead, leading the way through the thickening underbrush. As they moved, the distant rush of water grew louder, until the
Darkness swirled in Alpha Darius’s mind as he slept, thick as a storm cloud. Then, through the void, a vision took shape.Aria stood before him, her silvery golden hair cascading down her back, her presence radiant yet unshaken. She was not the defiant child who had fled, but something more—a leader, a force meant to shape the future.But she was not alone.By her side, a man stood tall, his presence commanding, his face obscured by shadow. Though Darius could not see him clearly, there was an unmistakable power in his stance, an Alpha’s presence—one that rivaled Darius’s own.Around them, the great Alphas of the other packs watched in silence, their eyes fixed on Aria and the mysterious figure beside her. Not with judgment. Not with resistance. But with respect.A chill rippled through Darius’s dream.She was not just standing with this unknown Alpha—she was bonded to him.The realization struck him like a thunderclap.Aria was meant to unite them.But with who?Before he could step
Aria adjusted the hood of her cloak, tugging it lower to shield her face from prying eyes. The town bustled around her—merchants calling out their wares, the scent of fresh bread mingling with the acrid tang of burning wood. Humans weaved through the streets, their laughter and conversation masking the tension coiling in her stomach.Beside her, Kian walked with practiced ease, his posture relaxed but his sharp gaze scanning every face, every alleyway. He was alert, just as she was.They both knew they were being hunted.A hand brushed her lower back—a reassuring touch. She glanced up at him, meeting his dark, knowing eyes. “We can’t stay long,” he murmured, voice low enough that only she could hear.She nodded. “We just need supplies and information. Then we move on.”Kian exhaled, his hand lingering against her for just a second longer before dropping away. He had barely left her side since they’d fled, his presence a constant source of strength.But she wasn’t naïve. Their stolen m
Aria's pulse roared in her ears as she locked eyes with Cedric. His golden gaze was unreadable, but she knew better than to trust the stillness in his stance. Behind him, her father's men blocked the alley's only exit. Kian, run!The thought screamed through her mind, but when she glanced at him, she knew he wouldn't. His body was already angled in front of hers, muscles taut with the promise of a fight. "Aria," Cedric repeated, stepping forward. "You shouldn't have run."Her hands curled into fists. "I had no choice." His lips pressed into a thin line, but there was no anger--only something colder. Calculated "There is always a choice." His eyes flicked to Kian, assessing, measuring. "And you made the wrong one." Kian let out a slow, deliberate breath. "You don't want to do this," he said. "We walk away now, and no one gets hurt." Cedric huffed a humorless laugh. "You think this ends with you walking away?" He tilted his head slightly, studying Kian with a curiosity that
The town blurred around them as Aria and Kian ran, weaving through narrow streets and back alleys. The scent of sweat, smoke, and fresh bread filled the air, but behind it—behind them—was the unmistakable scent of pursuit. Cedric’s men were coming. Kian’s grip on her hand was tight, grounding her, keeping her focused. She wanted to look back, to gauge how much distance they’d gained, but she couldn’t risk slowing down. They tore through the marketplace, shoving past merchants and townspeople who shouted in protest. A cart toppled behind them, spilling apples across the cobbled street. Aria didn’t hesitate—she jumped over it, keeping pace with Kian as they sprinted toward the outskirts of town. “We need to lose them,” Kian panted, his voice edged with urgency. Aria’s mind raced. “The forest,” she gasped. “If we shift, we can—” An arrow whistled past her ear. Shit. They weren’t just chasing them anymore. They were hunting them. Kian’s grip on her tightened. “Faster!” Adr
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the dense forest that bordered the pack's territory. In the quiet isolation of his quarters, Cedric paced back and forth, his mind a storm of resentment and ambition. He had spent years proving his loyalty to Alpha Darius, rising through the ranks with unwavering dedication. Yet now, with the alpha hesitating over the fate of Aria and Kian, Cedric saw an opportunity—a chance to claim the power he believed was rightfully his. He paused by the window, watching the patrols move through the trees like silent wraiths. Their vigilance had doubled since Aria's capture, and Cedric couldn't help but sneer. "All this for a girl blinded by rogue love," he muttered under his breath. He clenched his fists, the claws barely restrained beneath his skin. If Darius continued to waver, the pack would need a leader who could act decisively—someone like him. Cedric turned from the window and sat at his desk, spreading out a worn map of the
Kian woke with a start, the remnants of the dream still clinging to his senses like morning mist. Aria’s touch, her whispered promises, and the warmth of her embrace felt too real to dismiss as fantasy. He sat up, running a hand through his disheveled hair, heart pounding in his chest.Across the holding chamber, the dull light filtering through the narrow window barely illuminated the stark walls. The meal tray from the previous evening sat untouched on the small table—he had been too restless to eat. Kian’s wolf stirred within him, restless and eager, as though sensing that the dream was more than mere imagination.“She’s real,” Kian muttered to himself, voice hoarse. “That was real.”Before he could sink further into contemplation, the heavy iron door creaked open, and Beta Lorne stepped inside, his expression guarded. “The Alpha wants to see you. Now.”Kian nodded, pushing to his feet. There was no point in resisting—not that he intended to. His mind was already racing, formulatin
Aria sat frozen on the edge of the cot, heart pounding as her father closed the door behind him. Alpha Darius stood there for a moment, silent, as if weighing the words he was about to speak. His broad shoulders slumped ever so slightly—a rare crack in the unyielding facade she had known her entire life. “We need to talk,” he repeated, his voice firm but lacking its usual sharpness. Aria swallowed hard and nodded, forcing herself to meet his gaze. She had faced countless challenges—training, diplomacy, and the expectations of being an Alpha’s daughter—but nothing had prepared her for this moment. For the first time, it felt like father and daughter stood on opposite sides of an uncrossable chasm. Darius stepped forward, the soft creak of leather boots against the wooden floor filling the silence. He pulled a chair from the corner and sat down across from her, elbows resting on his knees. The stern lines of his face softened as he studied her, and Aria couldn’t help but notice how
Kian jolted awake, his chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. His heart pounded like a war drum, the echoes of Aria’s touch still lingering on his skin, her scent—wildflowers and moonlight—still fresh in his mind. He clenched his fists, grounding himself in the present, trying to hold on to the dream for just a moment longer.But the cold, damp walls of his holding cell were nothing like the moonlit fields where he had held her. The dream was slipping away, the warmth of her body replaced by the unyielding chill of reality.He cursed under his breath.It felt real. Too real.He pressed his hands against his face, inhaling sharply. The dream wasn’t just a fantasy—it was something more. It had to be. The moon realm was whispered about in old werewolf lore, a place where fated mates could find each other across any distance.Did she dream of me too?The thought filled him with equal parts hope and desperation. If she had, it meant their bond was real. It meant she was thinking of hi
The world shimmered like liquid silver, vast and endless beneath a sky filled with stars too bright, too close. The air was thick with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and something more—something familiar.Kian stood at the edge of a still, glowing lake, his bare feet sinking into soft, warm grass. The reflection of the moon rippled across the water, impossibly large, impossibly radiant.Where am I?A whisper of wind carried a sound—soft, hesitant footsteps.And then, he saw her.Aria.She was walking toward him, her long hair cascading down her back in waves of moonlight, her bare feet silent against the grass. She wore a simple dress, light and flowing, the fabric shimmering like the stars above them.His breath hitched."Aria?"Her eyes widened, filling with the same disbelief and wonder that was gripping him. "Kian…"The moment their eyes met, a force—something primal, something ancient—pulled them toward each other. His pulse thundered in his ears as he stepped forward, closi
Cedric paced in his quarters, his mind a battlefield of strategy and ambition. The flames in the hearth cast flickering shadows across the stone walls, mirroring the turmoil within him. The pack was waiting. Watching. And Alpha Darius was failing them.Too much time had passed. The Alpha should have acted swiftly—condemned Kian, put Aria in her place, and moved forward. Instead, he hesitated. And that hesitation was a weakness Cedric intended to exploit.He clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms. A true leader does not hesitate. A true leader commands.And soon, he would be that leader.He strode to the window, looking out over the village below. The pack had been restless ever since Aria had returned. The whispers had already begun. People wanted answers. They wanted justice.It was time to give them something to believe in.Cedric had always known power wasn’t simply taken—it was built. Strength alone didn’t make an Alpha. The people had to want to follow. They had to b
Aria stepped aside, allowing her father to enter the chamber. He moved with the same commanding presence he always had, but there was a tension in his shoulders she had never seen before.The door shut behind him with a quiet thud, leaving them alone in the dimly lit room. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, filling the silence between them.Darius glanced around, his gaze lingering on the untouched food, the unruffled blankets. His sharp eyes flicked back to her, taking in the way she stood with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her stance defensive.“You haven’t eaten,” he observed.Aria’s jaw tightened. “I wasn’t hungry.”His lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing. Instead, he moved toward the wooden chair by the fireplace and sat down, resting his elbows on his knees. He looked at her then—really looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time.For a long moment, neither spoke.Finally, Darius broke the silence. “You’ve put me in a difficult position.”Ar
Aria sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the soft glow of the lantern flickering against the stone walls. The chamber was not a prison—not truly. The thick wooden door wasn’t locked, but she knew better than to think she was free. Guards stood outside, ensuring she remained here until her fate was decided.The room itself was comfortable, almost too much so. A large bed covered in thick furs sat against the far wall, and a small fireplace crackled in the corner, warming the otherwise cool air. A wooden table with a tray of untouched food sat nearby. It was isolation, but not suffering.Her father wasn’t being cruel.But he was keeping her contained.She sighed, curling her legs up to her chest as her mind drifted through the past few days. Everything had unraveled so quickly. One moment, she had been certain of her place in the world, and the next, she was running through the woods with Kian, hunted by her own people.And now Kian was locked away, alone.Her stomach twisted at the
Darius' POV The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across Alpha Darius’ office as he finished the last of his daily tasks. The room was quiet now, save for the crackling of the hearth and the occasional rustle of parchment beneath his hands. But even as he signed off on trade agreements and reviewed border patrol reports, his mind remained elsewhere. On her. Aria. He hadn’t spoken to her since that fateful meeting in the grand hall, since she had stood beside the rogue and defied everything she had been raised to believe. He had given the order for her to be placed in holding—not as a prisoner, but as a precaution. Her accommodations were comfortable, but she was still isolated. The question gnawed at him: Should I go to her? Should he face his daughter now, or should he wait for the legal proceedings to unfold? If he saw her, what would he say? Would she even listen? A deep sigh escaped him as he leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his graying hai