The Claim

The library fell silent.

Students who had been whispering only moments ago now stared in confusion at the two strangers standing several feet apart.

Aurora tightened her grip on the ancient book.

Every instinct screamed at her to leave.

Yet she couldn’t move.

The man with crimson eyes remained calm, his expression unreadable.

The other…

His golden eyes burned with barely restrained fury.

“Who are you?” Aurora finally managed to ask.

Neither man answered.

Instead, they continued staring at each other.

The tension between them was so thick it felt impossible to breathe.

The dark-haired stranger spoke first.

“You’ve been hiding behind human walls for centuries, vampire.”

Lucien smiled faintly.

“And you’ve become just as impatient as your ancestors, wolf.”

Aurora blinked.

Wolf?

Before she could ask another question, Selene appeared at the end of the aisle carrying two books.

“There you are! I’ve been looking—”

She stopped mid-sentence.

Her eyes darted between Lucien and the stranger.

Something flickered across her face.

Fear.

Not confusion.

Recognition.

“Aurora,” Selene said quietly, “we need to leave.”

Now.

Aurora had never heard her best friend sound so serious.

She nodded and took a step backward.

The moment she did, the dark-haired man reached for her wrist.

“Wait.”

Instinctively, Lucien caught Aurora’s other hand.

The instant both men touched her—

A blinding silver light exploded through the library.

Books flew from the shelves.

Windows shattered.

A powerful wave of energy surged outward, knocking everyone to the floor.

Students screamed.

The lights burst one after another.

When the light finally faded, Aurora was standing in the center of a glowing silver circle etched into the marble floor.

Ancient symbols spiraled around her feet.

Lucien stared at the mark in disbelief.

Kael looked equally stunned.

“No…”

Lucien whispered.

“It can’t be.”

Kael slowly released Aurora’s wrist.

“The bond…”

His voice was barely audible.

“It’s complete.”

Aurora looked down at the glowing circle surrounding her.

“What bond?”

Neither answered.

Instead…

They looked at each other.

For the first time, there was no anger in their eyes.

Only shock.

Because they had both felt it.

The unmistakable pull of the Mate Bond.

Not one.

Two.

⸻

Outside the Library

The silver burst shot into the sky like a beacon.

Miles away, hidden deep within the mountains, an elderly woman in flowing white robes opened her eyes.

“The Moon’s Daughter…”

She looked toward Ashwood.

“So… the prophecy has begun.”

Elsewhere, in the ruins of an abandoned cathedral, a hooded woman smiled as dark magic coiled around her fingertips.

Her violet eyes gleamed with anticipation.

“At last.”

Morgana Nightshade stepped out of the shadows.

“I’ve waited six hundred years for you.”

⸻

Back at the University

The glowing symbols disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared.

Students slowly stood, dazed and frightened.

None of them seemed to understand what had happened.

Some believed it had been an electrical explosion.

Others hurried out of the library in panic.

Only four people knew the truth.

Aurora.

Lucien.

Kael.

Selene.

Selene grabbed Aurora’s arm.

“We’re leaving.”

Aurora didn’t argue.

Her heart was racing too fast to think.

As they hurried toward the exit, Kael stepped in front of them.

“You can’t protect her.”

Selene narrowed her eyes.

“You don’t know what I can do.”

Lucien walked forward, his voice calm but commanding.

“Enough.”

His crimson eyes settled on Aurora.

“There are things you deserve to know.”

Aurora shook her head.

“No.”

Her voice trembled.

“I don’t know who either of you are. I don’t know why strange things keep happening around me, and I definitely don’t understand why everyone keeps looking at me like I’m some kind of…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence.

Lucien answered for her.

“Because you are.”

Kael’s gaze softened.

“You’ve never been ordinary, Aurora.”

“You are the Moon’s Daughter.”

“And whether you accept it or not…”

Lucien took a single step closer.

“The supernatural world has already begun hunting you.”

Aurora felt her blood run cold.

Hunting her?

Before she could ask what he meant—

A deafening howl echoed across the campus.

Then another.

Then a terrifying scream.

Students scattered in every direction.

A massive shadow leaped onto the roof of the library.

Its glowing red eyes fixed on Aurora.

It wasn’t a wolf.

It wasn’t a vampire.

It was something far worse.

Something twisted.

Something unnatural.

Lucien’s expression darkened.

“Morgana has found you.”

Kael stepped protectively in front of Aurora, his golden eyes flashing.

“Stay behind us.”

The creature opened its jaws and let out a roar that shook the entire campus.

Aurora had no idea why monsters were suddenly trying to kill her.

But one thing had become terrifyingly clear.

Her ordinary life…

…was over.