Aria didn’t sleep.
How could she?
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same things.
The silver wolf.
The blood-red moon.
The mysterious woman wearing a crown.
And Kael.
Most of all, Kael.
I broke a promise to your mother.
His words wouldn’t leave her mind.
What promise?
What had he done?
And why had he looked at her as though he had been carrying the weight of her existence for eighteen years?
Aria sat beside the large window in her room, staring at the moon.
The Lycan Kingdom looked different from the estate.
From her window, she could see the distant towers of the capital glowing beneath the night sky.
Thousands of lights shimmered between enormous black buildings.
It was beautiful.
Almost peaceful.
But she knew better now.
Something was coming.
The Blood Moon Clan had found her.
And whoever that man was, he knew her mother.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
Aria turned.
Mira entered carrying a tray of food.
“You haven’t eaten.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“That isn’t an option.”
Mira placed the tray on the table.
Aria looked at her.
“How long have you known Kael?”
Mira hesitated.
“Long enough.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one I’m giving.”
Aria sighed.
“Everyone here keeps secrets.”
Mira smiled faintly.
“Welcome to the Lycan Kingdom.”
Aria looked down at the food.
“Tell me about my mother.”
Mira’s smile disappeared.
“I don’t know much.”
“You knew her.”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
Mira pulled out the chair opposite her.
“Your mother was different.”
“Different how?”
“She wasn’t afraid of anyone.”
Aria smiled sadly.
“That sounds like her.”
Mira studied her.
“You have her eyes.”
Aria looked up.
“My eyes are brown.”
“Normally.”
Mira glanced at the silver mark on Aria’s wrist.
“But not anymore.”
Aria covered it.
“Why did my mother hide everything from me?”
“Because she believed the less you knew, the safer you’d be.”
“Clearly it didn’t work.”
Mira lowered her gaze.
“No.”
Aria waited.
After a moment, Mira continued.
“Your mother once told the king that she would rather let you hate her than let the world find you.”
Aria frowned.
“Why?”
“Because your existence could start a war.”
Aria’s heart sank.
“Over me?”
“Not you.”
Mira looked toward the window.
“Your blood.”
Aria remained silent.
Mira stood.
“You should eat.”
“Wait.”
Mira turned.
“Do you know who my father is?”
The question changed everything.
Mira’s face became tense.
“No.”
Aria immediately noticed.
“You do know.”
“I don’t.”
“You’re lying.”
Mira looked away.
Aria stood.
“Who is he?”
Mira’s voice was quiet.
“Some truths are better discovered when you’re ready.”
Aria laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
She walked toward the window.
“I’m eighteen.
I was rejected by my mate, thrown out of my home, attacked by a clan I’ve never heard of, and apparently I’m some ancient princess.”
She turned around.
“I think I’m ready.”
Mira opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, the door opened.
Kael entered.
His expression was stern.
“Mira.”
She bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
“Leave us.”
Mira hesitated.
Kael’s gaze sharpened.
“Now.”
Mira left.
The door closed.
Aria crossed her arms.
“What do you want?”
Kael looked at her.
“You’re leaving.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“At dawn.”
“Where?”
“The Northern Territory.”
“Why?”
“Because the Blood Moon Clan will attack again.”
“Then I’ll stay here.”
“No.”
“You don’t get to decide everything for me.”
Kael’s expression remained calm.
“I do when your life is at stake.”
“I’m not your prisoner.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“You’re much more dangerous than a prisoner.”
Aria’s eyes narrowed.
“Is that supposed to scare me?”
“It’s supposed to warn you.”
She turned away.
“I won’t run.”
“You aren’t running.”
“Then what am I doing?”
“Learning.”
Aria looked back.
“Learning what?”
“How to control your power.”
She laughed.
“I don’t know how to use it.”
“That’s why you’re going to the Northern Territory.”
“With whom?”
“Me.”
Silence.
Aria’s heart skipped.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I am the only person alive who knows what your power is.”
Aria studied him.
“You still haven’t told me what I am.”
Kael’s eyes darkened.
“You are a descendant of the first Lycan Queen.”
“I know.”
“No.”
He moved closer.
“You don’t understand.”
His voice lowered.
“The first Lycan Queen wasn’t simply a ruler.”
Aria waited.
“She was the strongest supernatural being ever born.”
Aria’s breath caught.
“Stronger than you?”
Kael smiled without humor.
“Much stronger.”
“Then why did her bloodline disappear?”
“Because the other supernatural races feared her.”
“What happened?”
“They united against her.”
Aria’s stomach tightened.
“Did they kill her?”
Kael’s eyes became distant.
“That’s what history says.”
“But?”
“But history is written by those who survive.”
Aria stared at him.
“You’re saying she’s alive?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I’m saying she didn’t die the way they claim.”
Aria didn’t understand.
Kael walked toward the table.
He placed an ancient scroll before her.
“Read this.”
Aria unrolled it.
The writing was unfamiliar.
“I can’t.”
Kael touched the first line.
The symbols changed.
Slowly, they became words she could understand.
Aria’s eyes widened.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“The words changed.”
Kael stared at the scroll.
“It’s responding to you.”
Aria read aloud.
“When the silver blood returns…”
Her voice trembled.
“…the crown shall rise.”
She continued.
“When the Queen awakens, the ancient enemy shall awaken with her.”
Her eyes moved to the final line.
“And the King who protects her shall either save the world…”
She stopped.
“What?”
Kael didn’t answer.
Aria looked at the final words.
“…or destroy it.”
Silence filled the room.
She looked at him.
“That’s you.”
Kael said nothing.
“The prophecy is talking about you.”
“It could be.”
“You’re the King.”
“Yes.”
“And I’m the Queen.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“Possibly.”
Aria’s eyes narrowed.
“Possibly?”
“You haven’t fully awakened.”
“What happens when I do?”
Kael looked at her.
“You may remember everything.”
“Everything about what?”
“Your mother.”
Aria’s heart stopped.
“What does that mean?”
Kael looked away.
“Your mother’s death wasn’t an accident.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
“What?”
“She was murdered.”
Aria’s lips parted.
“Who killed her?”
Kael remained silent.
“Kael.”
He finally looked at her.
“I don’t know.”
Aria’s voice broke.
“You knew her.”
“Yes.”
“You promised to protect her.”
“Yes.”
“Then how did she die?”
Kael’s eyes darkened with guilt.
“I wasn’t there.”
Aria stared at him.
“Where were you?”
“Where were you?”
Kael’s fists tightened.
“Fighting a war.”
“While my mother was dying?”
“Yes.”
Aria felt tears forming.
“She trusted you.”
“I know.”
“You promised her.”
“I know.”
“And you failed.”
Kael looked directly into her eyes.
“Yes.”
The honesty hurt more than an excuse would have.
Aria turned away.
“I hate you.”
Kael didn’t react.
“I know.”
She wiped her tears.
“Why didn’t you find me after she died?”
“I did.”
Aria turned sharply.
“What?”
“I searched for you.”
“Then why didn’t you find me?”
Kael’s expression changed.
“Because someone erased your scent.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re the king.”
“I know.”
“Then find them.”
His eyes hardened.
“I intend to.”
Aria took a breath.
“And Damon?”
Kael went still.
“What about him?”
“Did he know about me?”
Kael didn’t answer.
Aria immediately understood.
“He knew.”
“Not everything.”
“But he knew something.”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
Kael’s voice was quiet.
“Enough to understand that being your mate could put him in danger.”
Aria’s heart tightened.
“So he rejected me to protect himself?”
Kael’s expression remained unreadable.
“Perhaps.”
She laughed bitterly.
“He could have told me.”
“Would you have believed him?”
Aria didn’t answer.
Kael moved toward the door.
“Pack what you need.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me the whole truth.”
He stopped.
“You aren’t ready.”
“Stop saying that!”
Her voice echoed through the room.
“I’m tired of everyone deciding what I can and cannot handle.”
Kael turned.
For a moment, his expression softened.
Then he said quietly:
“Fine.”
Aria stared at him.
“Tomorrow, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Everything?”
“Everything I know about your mother.”
He opened the door.
“But you may wish I hadn’t.”
Before Aria could respond, he left.
Hours later, the palace was quiet.
Aria stood before the mirror.
She stared at her reflection.
Brown skin.
Dark hair.
Tired eyes.
She looked like the same girl who had left the Shadow Moon Pack yesterday.
But she knew she wasn’t.
She lifted her wrist.
The silver crescent glowed faintly.
Suddenly, pain shot through her head.
Aria grabbed the edge of the table.
A voice whispered.
He is lying.
She froze.
“Who?”
The King.
Aria’s heart pounded.
“What does he know?”
Silence.
Then—
Ask him who killed your father.
Aria’s blood ran cold.
“My father?”
The voice whispered again.
Ask him why he was the one holding the sword.
Aria’s eyes widened.
A vision exploded inside her mind.
Kael.
Covered in blood.
Standing over a man.
A sword in his hand.
The man’s face was hidden.
But on the ground beside him lay the same silver pendant Aria had worn her entire life.
Aria screamed.
The vision disappeared.
She fell to her knees.
“No…”
Her breathing became frantic.
Kael hadn’t told her everything.
He had lied.
And now she had a new question.
Was the Lycan King the reason her father was dead?
Outside the palace, beneath the blood-red moon…
A hooded figure watched Aria’s window.
A wicked smile slowly appeared beneath the hood.
“Good.”
“The princess has begun to remember.”
The figure turned toward the forest.
“Tell the Alpha.”
A pause.
“His rejected mate is finally awakening.”