CHAPTER 0002

CHAPTER 2

Aria

The moon had split and its light was now dim. I could hear everyone's panicked cries coming from the corridor, but that was not my worry now; it was a matter of life or death for him or me. I just felt pain and the echo of Claus's words.

"Power Aria! Power is what I want. Can you give me that?”

He chose power above fate, but what I am about to accomplish transcends both. The moon was now full again but its light was still dim. Shivers ran down my spine but that wasn't enough to withhold me from what I would be doing.

My hands shivered as I lifted the obsidian blade, something that had not been seen for centuries because it could only mean life or death but tonight it would be for both.

There was nothing to live for because my love was a traitor, and my poor heart wouldn't recover from this because, after this act, I wouldn't be the same Aria again.

I thought he knew I could give everything to him but he still went to take another woman. Now I'll show him what I'm capable of. Without hesitation, I'm going to choose myself.

“I, Aria Knight of the Nightshade Pack…” I whispered, my voice cracking like frost on the bark. “...reject the bond of fate. I sever the tie given by the Moon. Let him be nothing to me.”

I could feel White screaming from the inside eager to take control as my decision was something irreversible. The blade sliced through my palm and blood dripped into the rune's center. The ground beneath my feet shuddered before a scream came from within from White.

It cracked the stones and sent every bird in the trees flying as a strong wind blew causing some trees to be uprooted. The moon suddenly turned red for a moment and then split before sealing again.

Dark mist rolled across the grove, and shadows emerged. Tall, twisted spirits with hollow eyes were awakened by the bond's destruction.

“You have murdered a soul,” one hissed, its voice the sound of rustling bones.

“No,” I whispered, collapsing to my knees, “I saved mine.”

From the trees, the Council’s guards appeared, drawn by the quake and magic.

“What have you done?!" one of the elders shouted in terror.

“Moon Goddess has mercy on us," another cried.

“There! The Luna!” someone cried. “She’s done it—soul severance!”

“By Luna, exile her! She’s cursed us all!”

“Yes, she needs to go; our pack is cursed now."

“This is an abomination. How can you do such a thing after our Alpha announced his engagement?"

“Please, she’s grieving—she didn’t know what she was doing!” I heard my Mom beg.

“We don't care about that, don't act like you don't know what she did is going to our pack."

“Yes, we can't keep her here; take that girl out of here!" they shouted.

"Aria we need to go!” I heard White say in fear.

"Aria, it's Tina. Can you hear me?” Tina asked, her voice shaking.

"Yes what's—”

"You need to go to the Alpha's coming here with his men; you need to go to Aria,” she said, and I quickly got up and ran into the forest.

My broken heart was beating fast, and the echoes of the shadows that had followed me. I was so tired yet couldn't stop as it felt like Claus's men were getting closer. I couldn't risk being taken back to him.

It was almost midnight and I looked up at the moon. Its color was not back to normal and the trees in the forest were different. I could tell that I was in a different territory by just sensing the smell around there.

I slowed down and sat under a large tree to catch my breath. I closed my eyes but opened them immediately when I saw how Claus's men were looking for me. “White, I'm sorry," I apologized, but she was silent.

"For what? You know I'm also mad at what our mate did to you.”

I felt horrible knowing we left the only home we had because a stranger was chosen over us. I was deep in my thoughts till I fell asleep without knowing.

“Aria wake up!" I heard White scream before I jumped.

“Are…are they here?” I asked before noticing two male wolves standing in front of me. I wasn't scared as I could tell that they weren't from Nightshade.

“Who do we have here?” A larger one sneered, tongue rolling out.

"Something we could enjoy if we're careful enough,” the smaller muttered with a sick grin.

"Don't, don't come close to me,” I warned as one was about to take a step closer.

“Relax we don't mean no harm just trying to—"

I quickly blocked the larger one with the hand that had the cut and the next thing I saw was him going to fall at a tree that was far from where we were standing.

“What the—”

"Do you want to come close too?” I asked the smaller wolf before it ran to help the larger one get up.

“Who the hell is she?" the larger one asked getting up while I walked towards them with lighting eyes.

“Please spare our lives we're just rogues that —"

“The next time you come across a she-wolf don't try what you were attempting otherwise I will—”

"Please don't,” they beg now already transformed into their human form.

“Go and don't even look back or tell anyone about what had just happened," I said before they vanished into the forest.

I took a deep breath and took a look at the hand that just released the powers I'd kept hidden for years. It was healed but the pain in my heart was still there.

“Aria, we need to go; this place isn't safe; they are closer!" White said and I knew she wasn't lying.