Aria couldn’t feel the ground beneath her anymore.
She couldn’t feel the cold night air.
She couldn’t hear the warriors shouting.
Everything had disappeared beneath the thunderous roar inside her head.
Wake up, Princess.
The voice came again.
Closer this time.
Almost like a whisper against her ear.
Wake up.
Aria gasped.
Her body jerked violently.
Silver light burst from her fingertips.
The trees surrounding her bent beneath an invisible force.
Several warriors stumbled backward.
One of them fell to his knees.
“What is happening?”
“Stay back!” Kael ordered.
His voice cut through the chaos.
The warriors immediately obeyed.
Kael remained where he was, his crimson eyes fixed on Aria.
But something had changed in his expression.
The confidence was gone.
For the first time, Aria saw something she never expected to see in the eyes of a king.
Fear.
“Kael…”
Her voice sounded unfamiliar.
Almost distorted.
He stepped toward her.
“Don’t move.”
Aria tried to answer, but another wave of pain ripped through her body.
She screamed.
The forest shook.
A ring of silver energy exploded from beneath her feet.
Kael raised one hand.
A dark barrier formed around him and the warriors.
The force struck it.
BOOM!
Trees snapped.
Leaves flew into the air.
The warriors covered their faces.
Kael remained standing.
But his eyes never left Aria.
“She’s losing control.”
One of the warriors spoke nervously.
“Your Majesty, we should leave.”
“No.”
Kael’s answer was immediate.
“If we leave now, she will destroy everything within a mile.”
Aria heard him.
She wanted to tell him she wasn’t dangerous.
She wanted to tell him she wasn’t a monster.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Something else was moving inside her.
Something ancient.
Something angry.
Memories flashed through her mind.
A woman running through a burning village.
A baby crying.
Blood covering the snow.
A silver crown.
A black wolf.
And a man kneeling before the woman who looked exactly like her.
Aria gasped.
“Mother…”
The vision disappeared.
She fell forward.
Kael caught her before she hit the ground.
The moment his arms wrapped around her, the silver energy vanished.
Silence returned to the forest.
Aria’s body went limp.
Kael looked down at her unconscious face.
Her silver eyes slowly closed.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then one of his warriors approached.
“Your Majesty…”
Kael looked up.
“Speak.”
“Should we take her to the palace?”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“No.”
The warrior looked surprised.
“No?”
“Not yet.”
Kael carefully lifted Aria into his arms.
“Prepare the western estate.”
“Your Majesty, if the Council discovers—”
“They won’t.”
“But the prophecy—”
Kael’s eyes flashed.
“Do not mention the prophecy again.”
The warrior immediately bowed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Kael looked down at Aria.
The silver pendant that had once hung around her neck was now lying broken on the ground.
He stared at the pieces.
His expression darkened.
He remembered the last time he’d seen that pendant.
Twenty years ago.
The night Elena Nightshade had stood before him with a newborn child in her arms.
If anything happens to me, protect her.
Kael had promised.
He had failed.
Until now.
His fingers curled into a fist.
“Elena…”
A painful memory surfaced.
A promise.
A betrayal.
And a secret that should have remained buried.
He looked at Aria again.
She had no idea what she was.
No idea why the Moon Goddess had hidden her bloodline.
No idea why every ancient clan would soon come hunting for her.
And most importantly…
She didn’t know who her father was.
Kael’s jaw tightened.
That truth could destroy everything.
Aria woke to the smell of lavender.
Her eyes opened slowly.
A white ceiling greeted her.
She blinked.
Where was she?
She tried to sit up.
Pain shot through her head.
“Ah…”
A woman rushed toward her.
“Don’t move!”
Aria looked at her.
The woman was dressed in a dark green uniform.
She appeared to be in her thirties.
Her hair was tied into a neat bun, and a silver crescent symbol rested around her neck.
“Where am I?”
“You’re safe.”
Aria frowned.
“That’s not what I asked.”
The woman smiled faintly.
“You have quite the temper for someone who nearly destroyed half a forest.”
Aria’s eyes widened.
“I did what?”
“You don’t remember?”
Aria shook her head.
The woman studied her carefully.
“You transformed.”
“I don’t have a wolf.”
The woman laughed softly.
“That’s what you believe.”
Aria stared at her.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Mira.”
“Mira…”
“And you’re in the western estate of the Lycan Kingdom.”
Aria immediately sat up.
“The Lycan Kingdom?”
Mira nodded.
Aria’s heart began racing.
“Where is Kael?”
Mira’s expression became amused.
“You’re asking for the king?”
“I need answers.”
“Everyone who meets him wants answers.”
“I mean it.”
Mira sighed.
“He’s in the council chamber.”
Aria pushed the blanket aside.
“I need to see him.”
“You need to rest.”
“I’ve rested enough.”
She stood.
Her legs immediately gave way.
Mira caught her.
“Clearly not.”
Aria glared at her.
“I can walk.”
“Of course you can.”
Mira helped her back onto the bed.
“After you nearly blew up a forest.”
Aria looked down at her hands.
They looked normal.
No silver light.
No strange energy.
Nothing.
“Was that really me?”
Mira’s expression softened.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then who does?”
Mira hesitated.
“The king.”
Aria’s frustration grew.
“Then take me to him.”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because the king is dealing with an emergency.”
“What emergency?”
Mira’s face became serious.
“You.”
Aria froze.
Before she could ask another question, the door opened.
Kael entered.
Everyone in the room immediately bowed.
Aria remained standing.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Kael looked at her carefully.
“You’re awake.”
“I have questions.”
“I know.”
“You knew my mother.”
Kael’s expression changed slightly.
“Yes.”
“How?”
He walked toward the window.
“I knew her before you were born.”
“Why didn’t she tell me about you?”
“Because she was protecting you.”
“From what?”
Kael turned.
“From people who would kill you if they knew you existed.”
Aria’s stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Because of your blood.”
“My blood?”
Kael nodded.
“You aren’t an ordinary werewolf.”
“I already figured that out.”
“You’re not a werewolf at all.”
Aria stared at him.
“What?”
Kael stepped closer.
“The blood running through your veins is older than the werewolf clans.”
Aria shook her head.
“No.”
“It’s the blood of the first Lycans.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“Then why don’t I have a wolf?”
“You do.”
“Where?”
Kael’s eyes darkened.
“Inside you.”
Aria waited.
“Then why haven’t I seen it?”
“Because your wolf is different.”
“How?”
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out an ancient black book.
He placed it on the table.
Aria approached cautiously.
The cover was decorated with the same silver crescent symbol she had seen around Mira’s neck.
“What is this?”
“The history of the first Lycan bloodline.”
He opened the book.
Several pages were filled with ancient symbols.
Then he stopped.
Aria’s breath caught.
There was a drawing.
A woman stood beneath a full moon.
Silver eyes.
Long dark hair.
A crown resting on her head.
And beside her stood a black wolf with crimson eyes.
Aria stared.
“Who is she?”
Kael didn’t answer.
She looked at him.
“Who?”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“The last Lycan Queen.”
Aria looked back at the drawing.
Something about the woman felt familiar.
Her heart began pounding.
“Why does she look like me?”
Kael’s expression became unreadable.
“Because she was your ancestor.”
Aria swallowed.
“How far back?”
Kael closed the book.
“Three thousand years.”
She stared at him.
“That’s impossible.”
“So is what happened in the forest.”
Aria didn’t know what to say.
Kael moved toward the door.
“Get some rest.”
She turned sharply.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“I have one more question.”
“What?”
“Why did you look afraid when I transformed?”
Kael remained silent.
That silence told her everything.
“You were afraid of me.”
“No.”
“You were.”
He looked over his shoulder.
“I’m afraid of what will happen when everyone discovers who you are.”
Aria’s heart sank.
“Who am I?”
Kael’s gaze met hers.
Before he could answer, a violent explosion shook the entire estate.
The windows shattered.
Mira screamed.
Kael immediately drew his sword.
“Stay here.”
Aria stepped toward him.
“What happened?”
Another explosion rocked the building.
This time, the walls trembled.
Then a terrifying howl echoed across the kingdom.
Kael’s face changed.
“Rogues.”
Mira looked terrified.
“No…”
Kael opened the door.
Dozens of black shadows moved across the courtyard.
But they weren’t ordinary rogues.
Their eyes glowed red.
And every one of them wore the same symbol.
A black crescent burned into their skin.
Kael’s grip tightened around his sword.
“They found her.”
Aria’s blood ran cold.
“Who?”
Kael looked back at her.
“The Blood Moon Clan.”
A distant voice echoed through the estate.
“We have come for the princess.”
Aria froze.
Princess.
The word sent a strange chill through her body.
Kael stepped in front of her.
His crimson eyes burned brighter.
“No one touches her.”
The voice outside laughed.
“You cannot hide her forever, King.”
Kael’s expression became deadly.
“Then come and try.”
The doors exploded inward.
And the first enemy stepped into the room.
Aria recognized him.
She had seen his face before.
In the memories of her awakening.
He was the man standing beside her mother.
The man who had been kneeling before the silver crown.
The man who had whispered something to Elena before the vision ended.
Aria’s breath caught.
“That’s…”
She couldn’t finish.
Kael looked at her.
“You know him?”
Aria shook her head.
“No.”
The stranger smiled.
“You may not remember me, little princess.”
His eyes shifted toward Kael.
“But your mother certainly did.”
He raised his sword.
“Tonight, the last Nightshade dies.”
Aria’s silver eyes began to glow.
And somewhere deep inside her…
Her wolf opened its eyes.