The forest fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Aria stared into the enormous wolf’s glowing golden eyes.
Fear should have consumed her, yet the strange warmth in her chest only grew stronger.
The wolf took another slow step toward her.
He lowered his massive head, not as a predator…
But as if he were greeting someone precious.
The rogues watched in disbelief.
“Why…” one whispered.
“Why isn’t he attacking her?” The scarred rogue swallowed hard.
“Because…” His voice shook.
“That isn’t an ordinary wolf.” “It’s the Lycan King.” Panic erupted.
The rogues turned and ran in every direction.
None of them made it far.
The great black wolf lifted his head and released a thunderous howl.
The sound echoed across the mountains.
Moments later, dark shapes burst from the trees.
Lycan warriors.
They moved with terrifying speed, surrounding the fleeing rogues before they could escape.
“Leave none alive,” a deep voice commanded.
The wolf’s body shimmered.
Bones shifted.
Muscles rippled.
In seconds, the giant wolf was gone.
Standing in his place was a man unlike anyone Aria had ever seen.
He was impossibly tall, with raven-black hair that brushed his shoulders and striking golden eyes that glowed beneath the moonlight.
A black cloak rested over powerful shoulders, and every warrior around him bowed their head without hesitation.
No one spoke.
No one even dared breathe too loudly.
This man commanded respect without asking for it.
He slowly walked toward Aria.
She tried to step back.
Her legs refused to move.
“You…” she whispered.
The stranger stopped only a few feet away.
His expression softened.
“So many years…” His voice was quiet, almost filled with relief.
“I finally found you.” Aria frowned.
“Do you…
know me?” Kael’s heart tightened.
Know her?
He had dreamed of this moment for centuries.
Yet she looked at him as though they had never met.
Of course she did.
The Moon Goddess had only revealed the bond to him moments ago.
She couldn’t possibly understand.
“I know enough,” he answered gently.
“I know you’ve been hurt.” His eyes drifted to the tears staining her cheeks.
A dangerous darkness crossed his face.
“Who did this to you?” Aria lowered her gaze.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” “It matters to me.” His words were calm…
But every Lycan warrior nearby stiffened.
They knew that tone.
Their king was angry.
Very angry.
Before Aria could answer, her vision blurred.
The pain from the broken mate bond, the fear, and the exhaustion crashed over her all at once.
The world spun.
She swayed.
Strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.
Kael looked down at the unconscious woman in his embrace.
She weighed almost nothing.
His jaw clenched.
“She hasn’t eaten.” Rowan stepped closer.
“My King…” Kael carefully brushed a strand of dark hair away from Aria’s face.
His voice dropped to a whisper only she could have heard.
“No one will ever hurt you again.” He lifted her into his arms as though she were the most precious treasure in the world.
“Prepare the castle.” Rowan blinked.
“The castle, Your Majesty?” Kael’s golden eyes never left Aria.
“My Queen is coming home.” Far away, inside Blackwood Pack, Alpha Damon jolted awake from a nightmare.
His chest burned.
His wolf howled in agony.
Something felt…
Wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Then he caught it.
A scent.
Faint.
Almost gone.
Aria’s scent…
…was disappearing from the bond forever.