Chapter 5: The Alpha in the Storm

Aria’s POV

“Where… where am I?” My voice cracked, raw and hoarse, as I finally stirred awake.

The first thing that struck me was the smell. Blood. Ash. And something else…an acrid, bitter tang that burned the back of my throat.

I blinked hard, trying to force my eyes to adjust to the murky dark. The walls flickered faintly in the glow of crooked torches, shadows stretching and curling like claws.

It’s not a room.

But a cell.

My chest tightened as realization sank in. My body felt heavy and when I tried to sit up, a sharp, stabbing current shot through my veins. I froze, causing my breath to hitch.

“She promised us power.”

My heart stuttered.

Voices. Deep and guttural, rumbling with hunger.

“Don’t worry,” another rasped, the sound was more of a growl than a speech.

“We will eat her after. After all, she carries power she hasn’t even discovered. She’s only ever been a tail to that Alpha.”

Their laughter scraped against my skin.

I looked down, and my stomach dropped. Cold iron shackles locked tight around my wrists. Strange, glowing symbols snaked along the metal, pulsing faintly with an eerie light.

“No. No, no, no…” I whispered, tugging desperately. The runes burned hotter, biting into my flesh until I cried out. “Let me go!”

The nightstalkers outside laughed again, low and cruel.

Then—

A slow, deliberate strike of heels against stone echoed closer.

My whole body went cold.

Perfume drifted in, sweet and suffocating, clashing with the damp rot of the dungeon. A laugh followed, soft, almost playful, before it cut sharp enough to slice through me.

Someone stepped inside.

That perfume… it smelled familiar.

“Finally, you’re awake.”

Her eyes gleamed with something dark, something hungry.

“I thought you’d be dead by now. Poison, silver, shackles… honestly, I was curious how long you’d last.”

No… this can’t be… how… how is this even possible?

“O-Olivia…? You’re behind this?!”

She leaned down, eyes cold and cruel, a wicked smirk curling her lips. “Surprise… little Luna?”

My breath caught, fury rising despite the fear choking me.

“You—why? Why are you doing this to me? Were you the one who struck me earlier? And did you also send someone to kill me before Aiden brought you to the healer?!”

She tilted her head, smiling as if my question amused her.

“Maybe? Maybe not.” Her smile widened.

“There are plenty of stories. But for you, little Luna, only one matters.”

She glided forward, each step deliberate, until she was crouched right in front of me. Her cold fingers pinched my chin, forcing my gaze to meet hers. Her face was close enough that I could feel the brush of her breath.

“To reclaim the title,” she whispered, voice dripping with ice, “I need your bloodline. And your unborn twins. They’re the key to my coronation at the lunar convergence.”

My whole body went rigid.

“W-What do you mean?!” I snapped.

Olivia only laughed.

She reached into her cloak, drawing out a bundle bound in black thread. Bitter smoke stung my nose as she held it up, the smell clawing at my memory.

My heart stuttered. I knew that scent.

“Those herbs…” I whispered. My mouth went dry. “No… those are witch herbs!”

She looked down at them with mock pride. “Clever girl.”

The pieces crashed together in my head. The herbs, the runes…

“Y-You’re a witch,” I said, my voice nearly breaking.

Her smile was my confirmation.

I barely had time to process before she pulled out something else.

A blade.

My breath hitched.

She leaned close and, without warning, dragged the tip across my cheek.

“Ahhh!”

The sting ripped a cry from my lips as warm blood slid down my face, trailing into the rune-carved bowl she had placed between us. The second the drop hit, the runes flared alive, glowing red, pulsing like a heartbeat.

I stared in horror, every nerve screaming.

“Aiden will find out about this!” I clutched my stomach, pressing my palms protectively over my twins. “No! You can’t—”

Olivia smirked, wiping the knife clean with unhurried grace.

“Your blood is mine now,” she said smoothly, turning away as though I were already beaten.

The nightstalkers shifted in the shadows outside the cell, as their glowing eyes fixed on me, waiting.

Just before she stepped through the doorway, Olivia leaned her head back toward me, her voice soft, mocking, and lethal.

“Farewell, little Luna. Soon you won’t belong to Aiden. You’ll belong to me. And I will be his Luna.”

“No!” I screamed, thrashing against the shackles. The runes seared hotter, branding my wrists, sending fire crawling under my skin. “Ahhh!”

It felt like something was binding me from the inside, clawing at my very soul. My body shook, teeth clenched against the pain, but I refused to let her see me shatter.

The light from the runes climbed up my arms, bright and merciless, until my vision blurred.

Olivia lifted her hand in a dismissive little wave.

“See you soon, Aria. Don’t miss me too much. I’ll be busy keeping your Alpha company.”

The door slammed shut.

Days had passed since they dragged me into this place. Two days of chains burning into my wrists, poison still crawling through my blood, and whispers of nightstalkers waiting for their chance to devour me.

I didn’t know how much longer I could endure.

A bang rattled the door, making me flinch.

“Here’s your food!” a guard barked.

Scraps slid under the door. It was barely food, just bones and scraps off their plates. I had to crawl for it, chains clinking, while they jeered. They loved seeing me like this.

That night, as a storm broke outside. Thunder shook the air. Rain hammered the roof. And over it all came the shouts.

“You piece of shit!”

“Fight! Fight!”

They’re fighting each other, chaos echoing through the compound.

The drunk guard stumbled near my cell, slumping against the wall.

Then he collapsed.

Something rolled from his pocket.

My eyes widened.

The key!

My pulse thundered in my ears as I stretched my foot out. My toes slipped again and again. My ankle cramped. But I gritted my teeth and reached farther.

Finally, I caught it!

My hands shook violently as I dragged it up and fumbled with the lock. Once. Twice. On the third try it clicked.

The shackles fell.

I staggered to my feet and threw open the cell door.

“Run!” my wolf sneered.

I bolted into the storm, the cold night air slapping against my skin. My lungs burned, my vision blurred, but I didn’t stop. I tried to shift into my wolf, but it was no use.

Until something blocked my path.

I froze with chest heaving.

A presence loomed from the shadows. It was immense and commanding. A growl ripped through the storm, low and guttural, making the air itself vibrate.

Then he stepped forward.

He was massive. Larger than any wolf I had ever seen. His shoulders are broad, fur black as midnight, eyes burning silver like molten fire.

“W-What are you?” I choked, stumbling back, clutching my belly as though my arms could shield my children.

He moved with calm precision, like a predator who knew I had nowhere to run. His gaze flicked to my hands, where I cradled my stomach. His voice was thunder, low and lethal.

“What are you doing here? So close to my borders?”

“P-Please,” I whispered, “Have mercy. I’m pregnant. They’re chasing me!”

He didn’t move. Didn’t answer. His silence was worse than fury.

And then, in a blur, he raised his claws.

My heart stopped.

“No!” I screamed, stumbling back. I shut my eyes, bracing myself for his attack.

Instead, he lunged past me, colliding with the rogue behind.

The forest exploded with snarls and screams.

The battle was a massacre. He ripped into them with feral precision, snapping their bones, shredding their flesh, and tossing their bodies aside like they were nothing.

His strength was monstrous. Blood soaked the mud. The nightstalkers fell one by one, until the last survivors stumbled back, eyes wide with terror.

“Run,” the giant wolf snarled. His voice thundered. “Before I kill you.”

They obeyed, tails tucked, scattering into the storm.

Silence fell, broken only by my ragged breaths and the pounding rain.

And then he shifted.

Fur melted into skin. Claws became hands. In his place stood a man. He was half naked, his dark pants clinging to him, and his body slick with rain and blood that wasn’t his. His chest heaved, every muscle taut with power.

He was beautiful in the most dangerous way. With sharp jaw, chiseled features, eyes still glowing faint silver. A predator disguised as a man.

Lightning split the sky, illuminating him in stark white light. For a moment, he didn’t look real.

I swallowed hard, trembling, torn between fear and awe.

He took a step forward, closer to me

“W-What are you doing-”

He spoke.

“They’ve marked you with blood magic.”

He looked down at me. “If you don’t break it soon, you’ll belong to her.”