LOGINThis chapter marks the beginning of Maya discovering who she truly is.
Lucien's POVAfter everything we had endured, Maya was finally back where she belonged–in my arms.As my arms wrapped around her, her warmth seeped into my soul like sunlight after a long winter.I had missed my mate so much. The moment felt like a dream I had feared would never come true.Our foreheads touched as we gazed into each other's eyes, speaking through the bond words could never fully capture.She saw through me.I showed her everything—the torment I endured and the agony Aldric inflicted upon me.And finally, when she defeated him, I was set free and found my way back to her.I chose her over power, over freedom, over everything.I fed Aldric's arrogance, letting him believe he had broken me while Maya prepared to become his downfall."You came back to me," she whispered, as though she still feared I might disappear."I never truly left you, my love. Some bonds are stronger than death itself.” I uttered, before claiming her lips in a kiss that spoke of longing, relief, an
Maya's POV “I'm so sorry, my Luna. We might not be able to revive Alpha Garrett to full capacity. It's a 50/50 chance.”Those words shattered the fragile hope I had for my brother as I watched him lying weakly on the bed.“I know how hard this must be for you. Please be strong. We are trying our best, I just had to tell you the truth.”Rachel, the healer, continued, trying to comfort me.“Is there really nothing else you can do?”I asked, clinging desperately to hope.“His wounds are too deep. We've tried our best.”She replied softly, sorrow weighing down her voice.“Thank you.” I simply said.She nodded.“Maya…” Garett's weak voice called out.I rushed to his side.“Garrett, you're awake now. How are you holding up?”“I’m trying, my Luna.” He chuckled through the pain. “You were so brave out there. I'm glad you defeated that Monster. Now I can leave this world knowing it is safe.”“Come on brother. Don't say that. You will make it through this.” I uttered in desperation for his hea
Maya's POVThis monster of a wolf has done so much harm to my loved ones.My patience had long since burned to ash.It might come as a surprise to every wolf why Garett's pain was mine despite the rough past between us.I let the past remain in its shackles, and pictured a future of love amongst all wolves.All I had in the present now was hope, and the words of my mate.“Destroy him Maya, My love, don't let him make you believe you can't defeat him, you are stronger than that.”Lucien's words echoed in my head, loud and real.CRACK!!!My fist slammed into Aldric's gut, silver power erupting through me like molten fire unleashed from the earth.“You little girl, do you think you can defeat me?” He yelled, holding his stomach.To his shock, I was already waiting where he intended to strike, my gaze locked onto his like a blade.A faint smile tugged at the end of my lips, that punch really had an effect on him.I observed.Lunging forward, I threw another punch at him, but the cunning b
Maya's POVThe world felt colder the moment Garrett fell.His body lay half-shifted, blood soaking into the cracked earth like the ground itself was drinking him in.I couldn’t breathe properly.“Maya…don’t.”Finn’s voice was somewhere behind me, sharp and urgent, but it didn’t reach me.None of it did.Not Sophie. Not Cedric. Not Ciara holding my arm.Only Garrett, his broken form.The fact that Aldric had done it like it meant nothing.Garrett was on the ground. Blood pooling beneath him. And Aldric stood above it all like it meant nothing.Like my world had just been reduced to a joke he told himself.Something dangerous inside me cracked.Rage.Hot. Clean. Absolute.I took a step forward.Finn’s voice cut through instantly.“Maya….don’t!”Ciara grabbed my arm. “Please!”But their hands, and voices didn’t matter.Nothing mattered anymore, because Lucien’s words came back to me like fire in my bones.Strike when it matters.Now.My bond with Lucien flickered violently inside me, lik
Finn's POVThe chamber exploded with light.I stumbled backward, dragging Ciara with me as silver and black energy collided above the ancient pedestal.The female voice vanished.The symbols died. And suddenly everything was gone.The chamber. The pedestal. The ancient queen.The warning. All of it.I found myself back inside the ruins, breathing hard as if I had been underwater.Ciara grabbed my arm."Finn?"I looked down at her. Her face had gone pale."You saw it too."It wasn't a question. I nodded slowly.Moon Goddess.What I had seen changed everything.The ancient queen. Aldric standing beside her, as a guardian.The image burned inside my head.History was wrong.Or someone had made sure it became wrong."Maya."The word left my mouth immediately.I turned and sprinted through the ruins.Ciara followed close behind.The moment I found Maya, I grabbed her arm.Her eyes widened."Finn?""We need to talk."Something in my voice must have alarmed her because she immediately stood.
Finn's POVEveryone else was focused on the obvious threat.Aldric.Lucien.The trap. Coming war.But something about this place felt wrong.Danger could be fought.Old things had survived because they couldn't.I stood near the edge of the ruins, watching Maya from a distance.She sat beside a broken pillar with Ciara beside her.Their heads were close together, as they talked quietly.Ever since the confrontation with Aldric, Maya seemed different like Lucien's words had transformed her fear into purpose.That should have reassured me.Instead it worried me because Aldric wanted her here. Nothing about that sat right with me.A predator doesn't lure prey into a trap unless the trap benefits him. And Aldric Shadowmane wasn't the type to leave things to chance.A soft crunch of stone interrupted my thoughts.I turned.Ciara was approaching. The young princess stopped beside me.Neither of us spoke immediately.Finally, I broke the silence. "How did you know?"She blinked. "Know what?"
Lucien's POVMaverick grinned.“You look terrible,” he added cheerfully.I huffed out a breath that might have been a laugh.“Good to see you too.”“You’re welcome here,” he said, voice firm now. “Always.”Something in my chest loosened at that.I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear it.He le
Lucien's POVI thought I had already lost everything.I was wrong.Some losses don’t bleed. They hollow you out.Grayson stood in front of me, his head bowed, his hands empty. No chains. No guards. He didn’t fight. He didn’t beg.That hurt more than if he had.For twenty-five years, he had stood at
Finn's POVWhen Alpha Lucien named me Beta, my first thought wasn’t pride.It was fear.Not the kind that makes you run.The kind that makes you stand still and realize that if you fall, everyone behind you falls too.Grayson’s shadow was everywhere.In the council hall. In the training grounds. In
Maya's POVThe truth did not come all at once.It came in small, sharp pieces that cut deeper the more I put them together.The first night after Sophie and I decided to tell Lucien, I couldn’t sleep. My wolf, Lyra, paced inside me like a storm trapped under my skin. Every sound felt too loud. The







