The moment the stranger raised his sword, the entire room seemed to freeze.
Aria stared at him.
She didn’t know his name.
She didn’t know why his face appeared in the strange memories that had invaded her mind.
But something inside her recognized him.
Not as a friend.
Not as family.
As an enemy.
A deep growl echoed from somewhere within her chest.
The stranger’s smile widened.
“There she is.”
Aria’s brows furrowed.
“Who are you?”
He laughed softly.
“You really don’t remember.”
“No.”
“Of course you don’t.”
His gaze shifted toward the silver glow beginning to form around her hands.
“Elena made certain of that.”
Kael stepped between them.
“Enough.”
The stranger’s smile disappeared.
“Kael Draven.”
His voice was filled with contempt.
“Still protecting what doesn’t belong to you.”
Kael’s sword flashed beneath the moonlight.
“Leave.”
The man laughed.
“You know I can’t do that.”
Behind him, more warriors appeared through the broken doorway.
There were at least twenty.
All dressed in black.
All carrying weapons.
And every one of them had the same black crescent burned into their skin.
The Blood Moon Clan.
Aria had heard the name before.
It was usually spoken in whispers.
A ruthless clan that had been declared enemies of the Lycan Kingdom centuries ago.
But why were they here?
Why were they after her?
Kael lifted his sword.
“Take Aria to the underground chamber.”
Mira immediately grabbed Aria’s arm.
“Come.”
Aria resisted.
“No.”
Mira looked at her.
“What?”
“I’m not running.”
“You can’t fight them.”
“I don’t know that.”
Mira’s eyes widened.
“You nearly destroyed a forest less than an hour ago.”
“And maybe I can do it again.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”
Before Aria could respond, a Blood Moon warrior charged.
Kael moved.
He was so fast that Aria barely saw him.
One moment he stood beside her.
The next, he was in front of the attacker.
His sword struck.
The warrior was thrown across the room.
He crashed through the wall.
Aria stared.
Kael didn’t even look back.
“Now.”
Mira pulled her toward the corridor.
Aria followed reluctantly.
Behind them, the battle erupted.
Steel clashed against steel.
Growls filled the estate.
The scent of blood spread through the air.
Aria looked back.
Kael was surrounded.
Three warriors attacked him simultaneously.
He moved like a shadow.
One fell.
Then another.
The third barely managed to escape his blade.
Aria’s heart raced.
The stories had been true.
The Lycan King wasn’t feared because of his title.
He was feared because he was powerful.
Too powerful.
A loud crash pulled her attention forward.
A Blood Moon warrior landed in the corridor.
Mira pushed Aria behind her.
“Stay back.”
The warrior grinned.
“Give us the princess.”
“Never.”
He lunged.
Mira shifted.
Bones cracked.
Fur erupted across her body.
Within seconds, a large gray wolf stood where the woman had been.
She attacked.
The two wolves collided.
Aria backed against the wall.
Her heart pounded.
She couldn’t fight.
She didn’t know how.
She didn’t even know how to summon the creature living inside her.
Another warrior appeared behind Mira.
He raised his sword.
Aria saw it.
“Mira!”
The warrior swung.
Mira turned too late.
Aria didn’t think.
She reached out.
A silver blast erupted from her palm.
The warrior flew backward.
He slammed against the stone wall.
Silence.
Mira stared at Aria.
Aria stared at her own hand.
The silver glow faded.
“I…”
Her breathing became unsteady.
“I didn’t mean to…”
Mira shifted back into human form.
Her eyes were wide.
“You just used your power.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Neither do I.”
A howl echoed from the courtyard.
Then another.
Mira’s expression changed.
“We have to go.”
“Where?”
“The underground chamber.”
They ran.
Aria had never seen anything like it.
Ancient symbols covered every surface.
Some glowed faintly as she passed.
Mira stopped before a large metal door.
She placed her hand against it.
The door opened.
Aria stepped inside.
The chamber was enormous.
Weapons lined the walls.
Ancient books filled wooden shelves.
And in the center stood a circular stone platform.
“What is this place?”
“The King’s sanctuary.”
“Why does he need a sanctuary?”
Mira looked at her.
“Because there are things even a king needs protection from.”
Aria didn’t understand.
Before she could ask, a deep roar shook the chamber.
Mira’s face went pale.
“What?”
“The barrier.”
“What about it?”
“It’s weakening.”
Aria heard another explosion above them.
“They’re coming.”
Mira nodded.
“We don’t have much time.”
Aria looked around.
“Where is Kael?”
“Fighting.”
“Will he be okay?”
Mira gave her a strange look.
“You’re worried about him.”
Aria frowned.
“He’s protecting me.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Aria looked away.
“I barely know him.”
Mira smiled.
“Of course.”
Aria rolled her eyes.
“This isn’t funny.”
“I know.”
Mira’s smile disappeared.
“There’s something you need to understand.”
“What?”
“Your awakening wasn’t supposed to happen tonight.”
Aria’s expression tightened.
“Why?”
“Because someone triggered it.”
Aria’s heart stopped.
“What?”
Mira stepped closer.
“The rejection.”
Aria stared at her.
“The rejection triggered my power?”
“Partially.”
“Then Damon…”
“May have known more than you think.”
Aria felt sick.
“No.”
“He rejected you publicly.”
“Because he didn’t want me.”
“Maybe.”
Mira lowered her voice.
“Or maybe he was trying to prevent something.”
Aria shook her head.
“Damon called me weak.”
“He may have been lying.”
Aria’s eyes filled with tears.
“Why would he do that?”
“To protect you.”
Aria laughed bitterly.
“Protect me?”
“He destroyed my life.”
Mira didn’t answer.
Aria walked away.
She couldn’t accept it.
Damon had looked her in the eyes and rejected her.
He had allowed the entire pack to humiliate her.
If that was protection…
She didn’t want it.
Suddenly, a strange warmth spread through her chest.
Aria froze.
The silver glow returned.
But this time, it was different.
She heard breathing.
Not her own.
Another presence.
Inside her.
Finally.
Aria’s eyes widened.
“Who are you?”
The voice answered.
I have been waiting.
“Where are you?”
Within you.
Aria closed her eyes.
A vision appeared.
She stood in a vast field beneath a blood-red moon.
A giant silver wolf approached her.
Its fur shimmered like moonlight.
Its eyes were the same silver as hers.
Aria couldn’t move.
The wolf lowered its head.
You are not broken.
Tears slipped down Aria’s cheeks.
You were never wolfless.
The wolf stepped closer.
You were sealed.
“Why?”
Because your power frightened them.
“Who?”
The wolf’s eyes flashed.
Everyone.
The vision disappeared.
Aria opened her eyes.
Mira was staring at her.
“What happened?”
Aria whispered.
“I saw my wolf.”
Mira’s face went pale.
“What did she look like?”
“Silver.”
Mira took a step backward.
“Silver?”
Aria nodded.
“Her eyes were like mine.”
Mira whispered something Aria couldn’t understand.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
Before Mira could answer, the entire chamber shook.
A crack appeared across the ceiling.
Mira looked upward.
Aria’s heart pounded.
“Who?”
The metal door exploded.
Mira grabbed Aria and pushed her backward.
Smoke filled the chamber.
Through the smoke came the stranger from above.
He stepped over the broken door.
“Found you.”
Mira shifted.
The stranger smiled.
“Move aside.”
“No.”
He raised his sword.
“You can’t stop me.”
Mira growled.
“I don’t have to.”
She lunged.
The stranger blocked her attack effortlessly.
He struck her across the chest.
Mira crashed against the wall.
“Mira!”
Aria ran toward her.
The stranger grabbed Aria’s wrist.
The moment his fingers touched her skin, a violent silver explosion erupted.
He screamed and released her.
Aria stared at him.
A strange symbol had appeared on his palm.
It was burning.
“You…”
He stared at her in horror.
“What are you?”
Aria didn’t know.
But something inside her did.
Her wolf growled.
The stranger backed away.
“No.”
For the first time, he looked genuinely frightened.
“The Queen’s mark…”
Aria looked down.
A silver crescent had appeared on her wrist.
“What does that mean?”
The stranger didn’t answer.
He turned toward the door.
“Retreat!”
His warriors immediately began withdrawing.
Aria stared after him.
“Why are they running?”
Mira slowly stood.
“Because they just realized something.”
“What?”
Mira looked at the mark on Aria’s wrist.
“The Blood Moon Clan wasn’t prepared to fight you.”
“They were prepared to kill a helpless girl.”
Aria’s stomach tightened.
“What’s the difference?”
Mira looked into her eyes.
“They thought you were the last Nightshade.”
A pause.
“Now they know you’re the last Lycan Queen.”
Before Aria could respond, footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Kael entered the chamber.
His clothes were torn.
Blood covered one side of his face.
But his crimson eyes remained focused.
“Are you hurt?”
Aria shook her head.
“No.”
His gaze dropped to her wrist.
He froze.
The silver crescent glowed brightly against her skin.
Kael’s expression became unreadable.
“Who did this?”
Aria looked at him.
“The Blood Moon leader.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“Did he touch you?”
“Yes.”
Kael’s eyes flashed with murderous rage.
“He shouldn’t have.”
Aria stared at him.
“Why?”
Kael didn’t answer.
Instead, he walked toward her.
He gently took her wrist.
The moment his fingers touched the mark, both of them froze.
A surge of energy passed between them.
Aria gasped.
Kael’s eyes widened.
For one brief second, they both saw the same vision.
A throne.
A silver crown.
Two wolves standing side by side.
And a woman whispering:
When the King finds his Queen, the old blood will rise again.
The vision vanished.
Aria pulled her hand away.
She stared at Kael.
“What was that?”
Kael said nothing.
“Kael.”
His expression was colder than ever.
“Nothing.”
“That wasn’t nothing.”
He turned away.
“Get some rest.”
Aria’s frustration exploded.
“Stop telling me to rest!”
Kael stopped.
“I want answers.”
“You aren’t ready.”
“I’ll decide that.”
He turned slowly.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, the room was silent.
Then Kael said something that made Aria’s blood run cold.
“The problem isn’t that you don’t know who you are.”
He stepped closer.
“The problem is that I do.”
Aria’s heart pounded.
“And you’re afraid to tell me.”
Kael’s gaze darkened.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked toward the broken doorway.
“Because if I tell you the truth…”
His voice lowered.
“…you may hate me more than you hate the Alpha who rejected you.”
Aria froze.
“What did you do?”
Kael walked away.
“I broke a promise to your mother.”
And before Aria could stop him, he disappeared into the darkness.
Leaving her with one terrifying question.
What had the Lycan King done to her mother?