Chapter 15

The Old Oak’s Shadow

The mist clung to the ground as Aria, Caden, and a small contingent of Darkfang warriors moved toward the old oak, a gnarled sentinel standing alone in a clearing sacred to the packs. Rollan was nestled in a sling against Aria’s chest, his tiny body warm but quiet, as if sensing the danger. The mark on his arm pulsed faintly, a beacon in the pre-dawn gloom. Caden walked ahead, his blade drawn, his broad frame a shield against the unseen threats lurking in the fog. Kael flanked them, his wounds slowing his steps but not his resolve, his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of Victor’s rogues.

The old oak loomed closer, its twisted branches clawing at the sky like a warning. Aria’s heart pounded, Victor’s note burning in her memory: "Bring him to me at the old oak by dawn, or I’ll burn the keep." The deadline was here, and the air crackled with the promise of violence. She glanced at Caden, his face a mask of determination, but the sting of his earlier words— I’ll never forgive you —lingered like a bruise.

“Stay close,” Caden said, his voice low and sharp. “Victor’s playing games, but he won’t leave this clearing alive.”

Aria nodded, her throat tight. “He’ll use Rollan’s mark. He thinks it’s a weapon.”

Caden’s eyes flicked to the sling, to their son, and for a moment, his expression softened. “He’s not a weapon. He’s ours.”

The words, simple but fierce, ignited a spark of hope in Aria’s chest. But before she could respond, a low laugh slithered through the mist, chilling her to the bone.

“Touching,” Victor’s voice called, smooth and venomous. He stepped into the clearing, his golden eyes glinting, his long brown hair slick with dew. A handful of rogues flanked him, their claws extended, their eyes glowing with feral hunger. “But you’re too late, Alpha. The boy’s mark is already mine.”

Aria’s blood ran cold as Victor raised a hand, revealing a small, glowing sigil etched into his palm—a mirror of the mark on Rollan’s arm. The air shimmered with dark magic, and Rollan whimpered, his mark flaring brighter.

“What have you done?” Aria demanded, stepping forward despite Caden’s warning hand.

Victor’s smile was cruel. “The prophecy, sister. The mark binds us. With it, I can amplify my power—or drain every wolf in this region. Including your precious Alpha.”

Caden’s growl rumbled through the clearing, his blade raised. “You’ll die before you touch him.”

Victor laughed, unfazed. “You’re wolfless, Caden. Weakened by her curse. You can’t stop me.”

The rogues lunged, and the clearing erupted into chaos. Caden and his warriors met them head-on, steel clashing against claws, blood spraying the wet grass. Aria backed toward the oak, shielding Rollan, her heart racing as she searched for an escape. Kael fought nearby, his blade a blur despite his injuries, but his eyes kept darting to her, protective and desperate.

“Run, Aria!” Kael shouted, parrying a rogue’s strike. “Get Rollan out of here!”

But Victor was faster. He moved like a shadow, slipping past Caden’s defenses and grabbing Aria’s arm. His grip was iron, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “Give me the boy, or I’ll kill you both.”

Aria struggled, clutching Rollan tighter. “Never.”

Victor’s sigil flared, and Rollan cried out, his mark burning bright. Pain shot through Aria’s chest, as if the curse in her blood was responding to Victor’s magic. She stumbled, her vision blurring, but a roar split the air—Caden, his blade slicing through a rogue as he charged toward Victor.

“Let her go!” Caden snarled, his eyes blazing with a fury that belied his wolfless state.

Victor shoved Aria aside, meeting Caden’s attack with a dagger of his own. The two clashed, their blades sparking, their movements a deadly dance. Aria scrambled to her feet, her eyes locking onto Kael, who was struggling against two rogues. Blood poured from his chest, his strength fading.

“Kael!” she cried, torn between helping him and protecting Rollan.

“Go!” Kael gasped, his voice weak. “I’ll hold them off.”

But as he struck down one rogue, the other drove a claw into his side. Kael collapsed, his blade clattering to the ground. Aria’s heart shattered, but she couldn’t stop. She ran, clutching Rollan, toward the edge of the clearing, praying the wards Rosalie had taught her would hold.

Behind her, Caden and Victor’s fight raged on, their grunts and clashing steel echoing through the mist. Aria reached the tree line, her breath ragged, when a sharp pain shot through her shoulder—a rogue’s claw, grazing her as he lunged from the shadows. She screamed, stumbling, but managed to keep Rollan safe.

“Aria!” Caden’s voice was a roar, and he broke away from Victor, cutting down the rogue with a single swing. He reached her, his hands steadying her, his eyes wild with fear. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” she gasped, blood seeping through her sleeve. “But Kael, he’s..."

Caden’s gaze flicked to his Beta, lying motionless in the grass. His face hardened, but he turned back to Aria. “Stay here. I’m ending this.”

As Caden charged back toward Victor, Aria’s heart pounded. Kael was dying, Victor was unstoppable, and Rollan’s mark was a beacon drawing danger closer. She whispered a prayer to the moon, clutching her son, and made a desperate choice. She’d fight with Caden, not for her own life, but for Rollan’s—and for the love she still hoped to salvage.