Aria stood surrounded—her breath steady, eyes sharp, heart racing. Nox was unconscious, a dart protruding from his neck. Riven crouched beside him, fangs bared and ready to defend.
Down below, Selena stood with arms crossed, flanked by rogue wolves and a pale, regal vampire whose red eyes glowed with ancient power.
"Well," Selena purred, her voice slithering through the air like poison. "The mighty Luna of the Lycan King comes crawling through the ruins of the pack that birthed her humiliation."
Aria stepped forward, her chin held high despite the overwhelming odds. "I didn't crawl. I came to end this."
Selena laughed. "You think you're the one writing the end of this story? Oh no, dear. You're just the tragedy."
With a signal, her rogues closed in. Aria barely had time to react as two wolves lunged from the left. She ducked low, sweeping her leg beneath one and slashing at the other with her claws. The silver crescent on her wrist shimmered as her inner power surged.
Riven, lightning-quick, flanked her and dragged Nox to cover behind a fallen pillar, then launched himself at a third attacker.
"Go!" he barked. "I'll hold them!"
But Aria refused to run. "Not yet."
She called upon the power of her bond with Lucien, feeling a jolt of warmth deep in her chest, as if his spirit reached for her across the distance. Strength surged into her limbs—her Luna magic awakening like a sleeping giant.
Aria's voice rang out, thick with command. "Enough!"
The ground trembled slightly, a ripple of power pushing outward. The weaker rogues hesitated, snarling in confusion. One fell to his knees, groaning.
Selena's smile faltered. "She's unlocking it," the vampire beside her whispered.
Aria pointed at Selena, her voice steady. "You're not the queen of this kingdom. You're a parasite clinging to the past."
"And you're a broken girl who was thrown away like garbage," Selena spat back. "You're nothing without him!"
Aria stepped forward. "Then why are you so afraid of me?"
Selena's face twisted in fury. "KILL HER!"
Four more rogues leapt from the shadows. Riven intercepted two, claws ripping into flesh. The third reached Aria, swiping at her shoulder. She stumbled, but didn't fall. The fourth slashed at her thigh, drawing blood.
She growled and retaliated—channeling pure energy through her palms. Silver light erupted from her fingers, burning into the rogue's chest. He collapsed with a scream.
Selena's eyes widened in disbelief. "That power… it's not possible."
"You don't understand the bond we share," Aria said through gritted teeth. "You never could."
The vampire stepped forward at last, his voice cold and ancient. "She is more than a Luna. She is a threat."
He raised a dark crystal and muttered something in a forgotten tongue.
Suddenly, pain tore through Aria's head. Her knees buckled. A magical force clawed at her bond with Lucien—trying to sever it.
Riven shouted her name.
Selena smirked. "You feel that? He can't reach you now. No more strength. No more connection."
Aria gasped, vision blurring. For a terrifying moment, she felt utterly alone—cut off from Lucien, from her pack, from her power.
But deep inside… her wolf refused to surrender.
"You are not alone. I'm still here."
The voice came not from Lucien—but from herself.
Her inner strength.
The Luna that had clawed her way out of rejection and into royalty.
Aria let out a piercing howl—pure, defiant, and full of fury.
Silver light exploded from her chest, shattering the vampire's crystal. The spell broke.
Far away, Lucien felt the bond pulse with force and staggered mid-step in the war room. "She's in danger," he growled. "Aria…"
Back in the ruins, the vampire collapsed to one knee, bleeding from his ears.
Selena cursed and retreated with her remaining warriors, dragging the vampire with her. "This isn't over!"
"You're right," Aria called after her, panting. "It's just begun."
Later, after the battle had ended and the rogues had scattered, Riven helped Aria bandage her leg. Nox stirred groggily, mumbling apologies.
Aria touched his shoulder. "You did well. Rest."
They lit a small fire, hidden deep in the ruins, under the cover of darkness. The ruins were quiet now—silent witnesses to another chapter of war.
Riven glanced at her across the flames. "That magic… it wasn't just from your bond. It was yours."
Aria nodded. "I've been afraid of it for too long. But now I see—this isn't just about Lucien or the kingdom. This is my fight too."
She gazed up at the moon.
"Selena thinks I'm nothing without him. But soon, she'll learn who I really am."