Aria awoke to the scent of pine and leather, her body tangled in silken sheets softer than anything she'd ever known. For a moment, she lay perfectly still, unwilling to open her eyes, as if doing so would shatter the fragile peace of this moment. But the memories came rushing back — the rogue attack, the mark, Kael.
Kael.
Just thinking his name sent a ripple of heat through her core. It wasn't just desire — it was something deeper, more primal. A yearning not born from logic but from instinct. From something ancient and wild buried deep in her blood.
She sat up slowly, pushing the thick fur blankets aside. The room she was in was both opulent and rustic. Carved from the heart of the mountain, its stone walls were lined with furs, weapons, and intricate carvings that told stories of old battles and bloodlines. The hearth crackled quietly in one corner, casting golden light that danced across the walls. A massive bed dominated the center, its wooden frame carved with runes that pulsed faintly with magic.
On the far wall, a silver crest was etched into the stone — a stylized wolf's head surrounded by thorns and flame. The mark of the Alpha.
And now… her mark too.
She glanced down at her wrist. The silver pattern etched into her skin glowed softly, like moonlight beneath her flesh. It hadn't faded since the moment Kael had touched her, since his blood had mingled with hers under the full moon. It pulsed now in rhythm with her heartbeat.
Was this what it meant to be Luna? To feel another soul's presence inside your own?
She didn't have long to ponder. A soft knock on the heavy wooden door snapped her back to the present.
Before she could answer, the door creaked open. Kael stepped in, and the very air in the room shifted.
He was a storm wrapped in skin — tall, broad, and commanding. His dark hair was still damp, as if he'd just come from training, and his black shirt clung to his torso, unbuttoned low enough to reveal the edge of a deep scar that trailed down his chest. His amber eyes met hers, and the intensity in them made her breath catch.
"You're awake," he said, his voice low and rough — like gravel soaked in honey.
Aria nodded, brushing her tangled hair back. "Barely. I had… dreams."
Kael's brows lifted slightly as he closed the door behind him. "Dreams?"
She hesitated. "Not just dreams. Visions. You were in them. And wolves. Fire. Blood."
He exhaled sharply and stepped closer. "The bond is deepening. Our souls are aligning. Dreams are the first sign. Your senses will sharpen next. You'll start feeling things — emotions, pain, pleasure — not just your own, but mine too."
Her heart pounded. "That sounds… overwhelming."
"It is," he admitted, his gaze softening. "But it's also powerful. No Alpha is truly whole without his Luna. You don't just strengthen me, Aria. You become a part of me."
She swallowed hard. "And what if I'm not ready for that?"
Kael stepped close enough for her to feel the heat of him. "Then the Council will tear us apart."
Her eyes widened. "The Council?"
"They govern the packs. Old, ruthless, and bound by tradition. They've ruled through fear for centuries, maintaining order with iron fists. They don't like unclaimed Lunas. They see you as a threat. And threats are eliminated."
Aria's stomach twisted. "So what happens now?"
"There's a claiming ritual," Kael said, his voice dropping. "It seals the bond in the eyes of the Council. Once it's done, no one can challenge our connection. But until then, they have every right to test you… or kill you."
Fear surged through her, but something else rose too — defiance. She had been hunted, nearly killed, dragged into a world she didn't choose. But now that she was here, she wouldn't back down.
She squared her shoulders. "Then let's do the ritual. Tonight."
Kael's eyes darkened. "You don't know what you're saying. This ritual isn't just a ceremony. It's sacred. Intimate. Once I claim you, you'll feel me inside your mind. You'll crave me. Need me. Even when I'm not near."
Her breath hitched. "I already do."
For a long moment, neither moved. Then Kael stepped forward, slowly, deliberately. He reached out and cupped her jaw with one hand, his thumb brushing her cheek. The touch was gentle, reverent, like she was something precious.
His voice was a whisper. "If I take you now… I won't stop. I won't be able to."
"Then don't," she breathed.
His lips crashed onto hers with a hunger that stole her breath. Heat surged between them, her body pressing against his instinctively. His hands tangled in her hair, pulling her closer, and she clung to him like a lifeline. The kiss deepened, dark and consuming, and she lost herself in it.
Kael lifted her easily, carrying her to the bed. He laid her down gently, his mouth trailing fire along her neck, her collarbone, lower. His hands mapped her body like he was learning every curve by memory.
She arched beneath him, lost in the firestorm of sensation.
But just as his hand brushed the hem of her nightdress, a sharp knock shattered the moment.
Kael froze, his body tense above hers. A low growl rumbled in his throat.
"Alpha," came Riven's voice from beyond the door. "The Council is here. They demand an audience with the Luna. Now."
Kael swore under his breath and pulled away, chest heaving.
"This isn't over," he said, brushing his thumb across her lips. "But you need to be ready. They will test you in ways I can't protect you from."
Aria nodded, still breathless, her body aching from the loss of him. "I'm not afraid."
He stared at her for a beat, then nodded. "Good. Then don't let them see weakness."
As Kael left to prepare for the Council, Aria stood slowly and began to dress. Her hands trembled, not from fear, but from adrenaline. From the bond that had nearly completed itself. From the war she knew was coming.
She glanced once more at the glowing mark on her wrist.
She wasn't just Kael's mate.
She was Luna.
And she would rise.