Chapter 9

Blood and Bonds

The rain-soaked clearing pulsed with tension, the air thick with the scent of wet earth, blood, and betrayal. Aria stood frozen, caught between Victor’s cruel smile and Caden’s blazing fury. The pack warriors flanked their Alpha, their eyes glowing in the firelight, while Victor’s rogues formed a loose circle, their claws and blades gleaming. Rollan’s blanket was still clutched in Aria’s trembling hands, a fragile tether to the son she’d do anything to protect.

“Tell him, Aria,” Victor taunted, his golden eyes glinting with malice. “Tell your Alpha how you’ve lied to him. How you’ve hidden his heir. Or do you want me to spill your secrets?”

Caden’s gaze burned into her, his blade steady in his hand, but his voice was a low, dangerous growl. “Is it true? Is Victor Hale your brother?”

Aria’s throat tightened, her heart hammering so loud she thought it might burst. The truth was a noose, tightening with every second she delayed. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the rain. “He’s my brother. But I’m not with him, Caden. I swear it.”

Caden’s jaw clenched, his eyes flickering with a storm of emotions—rage, betrayal, and something deeper, something that looked like pain. “And the boy? Rollan? He’s mine?”

She nodded, tears mixing with the rain on her face. “He’s yours. I hid him to keep him safe from Victor. From… from what I did to you.”

Victor laughed, a sharp, mocking sound that cut through the tension. “Oh, she’s done far worse than hide a child, Alpha. She stole your wolf. Her cursed blood stripped you of your beast, and she’s been playing Luna while you’ve been weakening. Tell me, how does it feel to be betrayed by your own mate?”

Caden’s blade twitched, his eyes never leaving Aria. “Is that true? You knew about the curse?”

“I didn’t know then,” Aria said, her voice breaking. “Not until after Rollan was born. Rosalie told me what my bloodline does. I was scared, Caden. Scared you’d hate me, scared you’d take him away. I only wanted to protect him.”

“Protect him?” Caden snarled, stepping closer. “You brought a war to my pack. You brought *him*.” He jerked his head toward Victor, who watched with a predator’s glee.

“Enough talk,” Victor said, his voice cold as he raised a hand. His rogues shifted, ready to strike. “Give me the boy, Aria, and I might let you live. Or don’t, and I’ll take him from Caden’s corpse.”

Caden’s warriors growled, their forms rippling as some began to shift. But before the fight could erupt, Kael emerged from the shadows of the cottage, his arm still bleeding but his blade drawn. “Victor!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “You want the boy? You’ll have to go through me first.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “The loyal Beta, turning on his Alpha? Or are you just soft for my sister?”

Kael’s gaze flicked to Aria, a silent promise in his eyes. “I’m protecting what’s right. Rollan’s innocent. And Aria… she’s not your pawn.”

Aria’s heart twisted. Kael was risking everything—his loyalty to Caden, his life—for her and Rollan. But she couldn’t let him fight her battle. “Kael, don’t,” she pleaded, stepping forward. “This is my fight.”

“No,” Caden said, his voice like steel. He moved between Aria and Victor, his blade raised. “This is our fight. If Rollan is my son, no one touches him. Not you, Victor. Not anyone.”

Victor’s smile faltered, but he recovered quickly, gesturing to his rogues. “Kill them all. Leave the boy for me.”

The clearing exploded into chaos. Wolves clashed, blades sang, and blood splattered the wet ground. Caden fought like a man possessed, his strength undiminished despite the loss of his wolf. Aria ducked behind a tree, her heart racing as she scanned for a way to escape, to find Rosalie and Rollan before Victor did.

Kael fought his way to her side, his blade flashing as he took down a rogue. “Aria, go!” he shouted. “Find Rosalie. I’ll hold them off.”

“I can’t leave you!” she cried, but Kael shoved her toward the trees.

“You have to. For Rollan.”

She hesitated, tears blurring her vision, but nodded. She ran, her legs burning as she plunged deeper into the woods, the sounds of battle fading behind her. The Silver River was close, she could hear its rush over the rain. Rosalie had promised to move Rollan, but where? Aria’s mind raced, her fear for her son drowning out everything else.

As she reached the riverbank, a figure stepped from the shadows. Rosalie, her face pale but resolute, held a bundle in her arms—Rollan, wrapped in a new blanket, his amber eyes wide but unharmed.

“Aria,” Rosalie whispered, relief flooding her voice. “I got your letter. I moved him when I saw the rogues near the cottage.”

Aria fell to her knees, pulling Rollan into her arms. His warmth, his soft breaths, grounded her. “You’re safe,” she murmured, kissing his forehead. “Thank you, Rosalie.”

But the healer’s eyes were grim. “Not for long. Victor’s men are everywhere. And there’s something else—Rollan’s mark. It’s not just Victor’s sigil. It’s… ancient. Tied to your bloodline. It’s why Victor wants him.”

Aria’s blood ran cold. “What does it mean?”

Rosalie hesitated, then whispered, “It means Rollan could be the key to breaking your curse or unleashing something far worse.”

Before Aria could process the words, a howl split the air, closer than before. Victor’s rogues were coming. And behind them, Caden and Kael were still fighting, their fates uncertain. Aria clutched Rollan tighter, her resolve hardening. She’d tell Caden everything about the mark, the prophecy, her love for him. But first, she had to survive the night.