Chapter 96: The Hidden RitualLucas’s POVAs I combed through the jumbled documents, the lighting flickered, and each page spoke about a history I was only starting to comprehend. Though the stillness in the room was oppressive, thoughts of Aria and Veyron's impending danger were always in my head. We were getting closer to the ceremony that would cut off our ties, our strength, and maybe even our lives, and time was running out.I was always aware of the dangers of the mate connection. However, I was unaware of how deeply ingrained its roots were until recently. The weight of centuries-old secrets made the ink hardly readable, and my fingers shook as I turned the fragile pages. What had I been oblivious to for all these years, I wondered?The mysterious texts I had discovered were rife with cautions about the terrible repercussions of the curse that bonded mates together. The curse might be broken, however, with a ceremony or a spell. Put an end to Veyron.My pulse started pounding a
Chapter 97: The Willing SacrificeAria’s POVNever before has the air in Veyron's lair felt so heavy. There was an overpowering sensation of power and horror in the air around me, like if the Moon Goddess' magic was humming under my skin. An icy terror encircled my chest as I saw the stone glowing in Veyron's grasp. The earth was trembling, and I could feel the weight of something far bigger than me bearing down on me. The ceremony was almost finished, but there was a problem.I had to realize what was really at risk before I could leave this place. The previous time I'd tried to use my magic, I'd barely made it, but this—this was different. Veyron wasn't the only one causing the pressure in the air; it seemed as if the Moon Goddess herself was there, observing, and anticipating something. Awaiting my arrival.But what did this power cost?Veyron was talking again, approaching with a deep growl in his voice. Aria, you'll never understand. It will be too late before you realize the rea
Chapter 98: The Message of DoomVeyron’s POVUnder my skin, the power surged, tantalizing and unforgiving. Although the ceremony had been stopped for the time being, I could tell by the smoldering energy in the air that it was still ongoing. It would never end. I had been the one to figure out why the Moon Goddess had sent Aria back. I would be the one to change her universe to fit my vision, and I had discovered her secrets.Even though the ritual's power had almost overtaken me, I could still feel it lingering, like a tide that is simply waiting to devour everything in its path. For the time being, Aria was out of my reach, but that didn't stop me. No, she would eventually realize that the link that bound her to the alphas was only a chain, and she would voluntarily bow before me. One that might be cut, shattered, and replaced with something much more powerful.It wasn't just her, however. It was time to convey a message to the packs, who were all pieces in this big game. They neede
Chapter 99: Harnessing the StormAria’s POVAs if the ground itself were getting ready for a storm, the wind howled through the trees, rattling the limbs. The ground felt cold on my skin as I stood in the clearing with my feet firmly planted in the ground. The raw, uncontrolled pulse of magic was palpable inside me. It appeared to become stronger every day, bridging the gap created by the broken connection that had previously held me in place.I couldn't get rid of the uneasiness that accompanied that strength, however. I had changed from who I had been. Someone more careful, someone who saw the fine line between power and disaster, had taken the place of the Aria who had previously walked with her heart open and her trust unshaken. I was afraid because I didn't know who I was becoming anymore.I knew one thing, however, as the echo of the ceremony continued to vibrate within me: I needed to learn how to handle this power. It wasn't for me alone. It was for everyone. Veyron's armies w
Chapter 100: Shattered BondsDarius's POVThe world whirled in frantic bursts of black and crimson. I was unable to grip onto the earth underneath me as it seemed to be sliding away and moving through my fingers like sand. A wave of anguish swept through me as my legs gave way and I fell to one knee. I had been hit by another cursed artifact, its evil energy spreading like wildfire through my veins. I tried to combat the pain by gritting my teeth and attempting to breathe, but it didn't help. The curse never let up."Darius!" Before I could see her, I heard Aria's voice, which was raw with desperation. My heart jumped, and I struggled to see through the black mist. She was present. She must be. Even when everything else appeared to crumble, she was always there.However, my body disobeyed, the poison in my blood becoming thicker and colder. I felt as like I was disintegrating from the inside out, as though my own soul was being sucked away. Everything was sliding as I sought out for a
Chapter 101: The Key Within the BondAria’s POVMy whole universe appeared to twist on its axis as Darius fell. Our relationship, which was already brittle due to the curse and the constant assaults, waned like a dying candle. His normally powerful presence seemed weak, like an echo vanishing into nothingness, and his breathing was feeble.I tried to urge him to remain with me by pressing my shaking palms on his chest. Although faint and erratic, his pulse was present. He was being dismantled piece by piece by the curse."You can't do this, Darius," I said angrily. "We're very close. You dare not abandon me just yet.However, he didn't answer. His jaw was loose, his face was pale, and I realized for the first time how serious the situation was.I was filled with rage—at Veyron for his actions, at the mate bond system for being so susceptible to manipulation, and at myself for not seeing the extent of the wounds sooner.I felt a tug in my chest as the small silver light shimmered in th
Chapter 102: Breaking All BondsKillian’s POVAs Aria moved away from Darius, her face a mask of anguish, the tension in the air was palpable. Her quiet was deafening, even though she hadn't spoken since Veyron's retreat. She walked with hesitation at every step, as if the choices she had made were weighing heavily on her chest.I took a few steps back and observed her, examining her posture. I hated that I couldn't lighten her load, but she was breaking. However, I had realized something. I had to perform the most difficult thing I had ever done if I really cared for her and loved her as much as I said I did.Release her."Aria," I whispered.She first kept her eyes on the horizon rather than me. She briefly resembled the goddess we all knew she was destined to be as the evening's waning light gave her an ethereal radiance.She turned at last, her silver eyes locking with me. "Killian..."She spoke in a soft, almost frail voice, and I could see that whatever happened next would influ
Chapter 103: The War BeginsVeyron’s POVThe battlefield stretched before me, a sea of shifting shadows and flickering flames. The rogues I had amassed stood restless at the forest’s edge, their eyes glowing with feral hunger. They were more than soldiers—they were weapons, each one forged in the fires of desperation and loyalty to me.My gaze swept over them, but my mind was elsewhere. Tonight was the culmination of years of planning. The mate bond system, the packs’ sacred traditions, their fragile unity—it would all crumble beneath my will.“Is everything in place?” I asked coldly, not bothering to turn to the lieutenant at my side.“Yes, my lord,” he replied, his voice trembling slightly. “The ambush squads are positioned, and the explosives are ready to disrupt their defenses.”I smirked, satisfaction curling in my chest. “Good. The packs will be too preoccupied with their alliances to notice the cracks in their armor until it’s too late.”Tonight wasn’t just about power. It was
Chapter 200: A New DawnAria’s POVThe woodland was filled with the aroma of wildflowers and pine as the wind blew through the trees. The Golden Claw pack's domain was illuminated by silver light from the brilliant moon overhead. Even though I had always turned to the moon for direction, something seemed different today. Or maybe it was me that had changed.I felt whole for the first time in my life—not because of a connection, a title, or other people's expectations, but because I had created my own identity. I had reconstructed a universe from the ashes of the past, fought gods, and disobeyed old customs. I had come to this point because of every scar, decision, and sacrifice.Looking out over the peaceful landscape that extended to the horizon, I stood at the edge of the clearing. This was my heritage, my people, and my home. More than that, however, it was a blank canvas—a future that only I could influence.---Freedom's Weightliberty.I had struggled, bled, and clung to that wo
Chapter 199: The Leader I’ve Become Aria’s POV The dawn broke over the camp, painting the horizon in hues of gold and crimson. I stood at the edge of the clearing, staring into the woods that had become both my refuge and my battlefield. The past few days had been relentless—a swirl of revelations, battles, and choices that had irrevocably shaped me into someone I barely recognized. And yet, I felt stronger than I ever had before. The mate bond was gone, and with it, the tether that had once dictated my choices and emotions. It was a strange kind of freedom, one that I still wasn’t entirely sure how to wield. But as I looked around at the camp bustling with activity, I knew one thing for certain: I was no longer just a survivor. I was a leader. The packs were scattered, but not broken. They were looking to me now, not as a savior or some mythical figure, but as a symbol of what we could become—a society built on choice, trust, and unity rather than ancient, unyielding traditions.
Chapter 198: Parting Words Killian’s POV The camp was quiet in the early morning, the stillness heavy with the aftermath of the latest revelation. The glowing fissure, the figure cloaked in shadow—it was a warning that none of us could ignore. Yet, as the chaos settled into a wary calm, I knew my time here was coming to an end. I watched from a distance as Aria stood at the center of the camp, her presence commanding despite her exhaustion. She gave orders with a steady voice, her pack looking to her for guidance. She’d grown into a leader far beyond what anyone could have imagined—certainly more than I had ever expected. It was why I couldn’t stay. I turned away, heading toward the edge of the camp where my warriors waited. They were restless, eager to return to the Moonshine Pack’s territory and rebuild what we’d lost. But there was something else simmering beneath their surface: doubt. The mate bond’s dissolution had left a void, one that no amount of speeches or alliances cou
Chapter 197: Whispers of Tomorrow Aria's POV The sun had fully risen by the time I returned to the main camp. The celebration from the night before had left the field littered with remnants of shared meals and extinguished fires. Wolves were already moving about, cleaning and preparing to return to their packs. Yet, despite the bustle, an air of unease lingered, as if the earth itself remembered the tremors I’d felt in the forest. I brushed off my sleepless night as I moved through the camp, nodding to warriors and pack leaders. Their gratitude warmed me, but it was clear that the weight of leadership—and of what came next—was not solely mine to bear. “Aria.” I turned at the sound of my name. Darius stood a few feet away, his gaze steady. He was dressed simply, but the way he carried himself spoke volumes of the warrior he was. He gestured toward the forest. “Walk with me?” I hesitated, glancing at the chaos of the camp. But the look in his eyes was sincere, not demanding. “Alrig
Chapter 196: The Weight of Victory Aria’s POV The night sky was alight with celebration. Bonfires crackled and danced, illuminating the open field where wolves from every pack gathered, their voices raised in song and laughter. Victory had united them, if only temporarily, and for the first time in what felt like forever, hope seemed within reach. I should have been happy. I should have been standing among them, sharing in their joy. Instead, I found myself on the outskirts of the gathering, leaning against a gnarled tree as the noise of the celebration faded into the background. The relics were destroyed, and the rogue faction was defeated. Yet the voice from the temple—the cryptic warnings of the “shattered moon”—lingered in my mind like a dark cloud. “Why aren’t you celebrating?” Selena’s voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see her approaching, her dark hair glowing softly in the firelight. She carried a plate of food in one hand and a goblet in the other. “I could a
Chapter 195: Breaking the Chains Aria’s POV The night was unnervingly quiet, a stillness that felt heavy, foreboding. It was the kind of silence that carried the weight of something unseen, a predator’s pause before the pounce. I stood on the ridge overlooking the rogue faction’s encampment, my heart steady, my purpose clear. Beside me, Killian and Darius waited, their expressions a mix of tension and resolve. It wasn’t the first time we had stood side by side against a common enemy, but this time felt different. This wasn’t just a battle for survival—it was a battle for the future. “I’ll go in alone,” I said, my voice firm. Killian’s brow furrowed. “Aria, that’s reckless. You don’t even know how strong their defenses are.” “That’s exactly why I have to go,” I countered. “This isn’t just about brute force. It’s about dismantling the very thing that gives them power. And I’m the only one who can do that.” Darius stepped closer, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. “We’re stronger
Chapter 194: The Serpent’s Shadow Veyron’s POV Darkness. It had been my companion long before I embraced its power, and now, even in death, it clung to me like an eternal cloak. This wasn’t oblivion—I had escaped that fate by sheer will and cunning. No, I existed in the in-between, where shadows whispered and time bent like warped glass. The rogue leader knelt before me, his head bowed low, his body trembling with the weight of my presence. His name was Silas, a name that once held no meaning. But now, he was my tool, a carefully placed pawn in the grand design. “You’ve failed,” I said, my voice cold and echoing, a sharp blade cutting through the still air. Silas flinched but did not dare look up. “The packs were stronger than expected, my lord. Aria—she—” I slammed my hand onto the obsidian table before me, the ripple of power making the shadows dance around the room. “Do not speak her name so lightly. She may be the key, but she is not your concern. Your concern is doing what I
Chapter 193: Bonds Forged in Fire Darius's POV The battlefield was chaos. Screams of rage and pain tore through the air, mingling with the clash of steel and the snarls of wolves in their primal form. Blood slicked the earth beneath my boots, and the coppery scent of it burned my nostrils. But amidst the carnage, my focus was unshakable: Aria. She stood at the center of it all, a beacon of strength and defiance. Her golden blade caught the light of the setting sun, each swing carving a path through the shadowed beasts that Silas had unleashed. She fought like she had been born for this moment, her movements fluid and unrelenting. Killian was to her left, his powerful frame a blur as he shifted between his wolf and human forms, tearing through the rogue forces. His fighting style was brutal but precise, a testament to years of training and instinct. And I was at her right, guarding her flank, ensuring no threat got close enough to harm her. We didn’t need words to coordinate; every
Chapter 192: The Rising Flame Aria's POV The shadows pressed in from all sides, their cold tendrils coiling around me like a living vice. Silas's laughter echoed through the darkness, a haunting melody of triumph. For a fleeting moment, doubt crept into my heart. Was this it? Was I truly out of my depth? But then, a warmth began to stir within me, faint but steady. It was the same energy I had felt in the ancient temple—the power that had surged through me when the mate bond system broke. The Moon Goddess’s rival might have sought to manipulate that moment, but the strength that pulsed in my veins now was entirely my own. I closed my eyes, blocking out Silas’s voice and the suffocating weight of the darkness. Instead, I focused inward, drawing on the fire that burned in my core. It grew hotter and brighter until it was no longer something I controlled but something I unleashed. With a cry, I released the energy, and the shadows around me exploded into shards of light. I fell to on