LOGINAria's pov
The moment Lucas walked away from me I felt something deep inside my chest cracked. This was unlike him. He hasn't for once show any affection to me since he started his training as an Alpha.
"Something is definitely wrong somewhere" I muttered. "Go home" his words replayed in my head.
I stood there for a few seconds, watching him disappear into the trees with his warriors, and I swear I can still feel his warmness in the air.
What was I expecting? He's the future Alpha and I'm no one. It's best I keep my distance from him. If he wants distance I'll give him that. I'm tired of begging for his attention.
*
Inside the pack's house, everywhere was silent which was normal because morning training has empty everyone outside.
My footsteps echoed loudly across the empty room. I headed straight to my room when someone walked into my path.
Mira!
She was wearing a smirk on her face with her arms crossed under her breasts.
"You look upset... Did Lucas finally let you out of his way?" She asked with a grin and I didn't say a word instead I continued with my walk.
She blocked me from moving any further by placing her hand on the way.
"Why are you even always with him? You're nothing but a weak wolf. You can't even shift" Those words hit like slap.
"Out of my way" I said sharply.
"No" She lowered her voice as she stepped closer.
"Girls like you don't deserve to go close to Alphas, you work is to serve them not the other way around " She said and I only heaved. "It's best you leave this place. Leave the sight of the Alpha. He doesn't want you, understood?"
"If you don't get the hell out of my way right now you'll regret what's going to happen to you in the next two seconds. It's best you respect yourself and get out of the way" I said with my fist clenched tightly beside me and for the first time in my life I saw fears in Mira's eyes.
The way she looked at me says it all. She was shocked. She didn't say a word instead she scoffed and murmuring some inaudibly words as she walked.
I watched her figure disappearing into thin air till she was out of sight completely and I pressed my shaking hands together, inhaling a deep breath.
I walked into my small space, my room. I collapsed on the bed and palmed my face with my palm and sobbed silently.
"Just take a deep breath, Aria. Don't let Mira words get to you. She means nothing" I reassured myself trying not to think deep about what she had said to me earlier.
On the other hand, Mira and everyone is right on this. The Lucas deserve a Strong Luna that they can rule the kingdom together forever and not a weak wolf that was cursed by the blood moon and can't even shift yet.
Before I know it tears started slipping from my eyes to the bed, I couldn't even wipe them off.
"Why does it has to be me? It should have been someone else." I hiccuped as more tears poured out.
All of a sudden a sharp pain hit my chest and before I could think of anything else blood spilled out of my mouth.
"What the hell?" I gasped as my hand went to my lip. I suddenly felt a strange energy around me. It felt like something in me was struggling to come out. I could feel the heat rushing down my body.
It hurts so much. My visions turned blurry. Everywhere turned red and it was as if I was in another world. My legs stayed glued to the ground.
"Argh!!! Make it stop. Someone help!" I shouted the moment I caught my fingers and veins glowing and all red.
The pain was unbearable. I bet that anyone could hear me because I couldn't even hear my own voice.
I heard a voice and my eyes snapped open at once and I looked around.
"Who's there?" I asked in shaking lips.
"Aria " the voice came again but this time around it came from inside me. "Finally" The voice came again and that was all I could remember before passing out on the cold floor.
*
I woke after a few minutes and the first thing I noticed was the sudden change of weight but I ignored it. I was drenched in sweats and for some seconds I thought all that happened was a dream.
I staggered to the small mirror on my dressing table and I picked it up and stared at myself. My heart left my chest the moment I saw my reflection on the mirror.
My eyes were no longer brow but instead they were glowing red like blood and I stumbled backward and flipped my eyes opened again and it was the same thing.
Fear gripped me at once and the mirror slipped out of my hands and shattered to the ground.
I grabbed my jacket and ran out of the room. My face was covered with the hoodie cap and a familiar scent hit my nose but I ignored it.
"Aria " Lucas called and I halted, holding the jacket tight.
He was at a distance leaning against a wall and he was covered in sweats like he just ran a Maranon.
He came closer to me. "Aria. You don't look good, Are you okay?" he tried to pull the hood up but I turned around sharply.
"Don't!" I whispered in fears.
"Don't do what?" He asked.
I turned sharply and pushed him out of the way and made to run again but I missed my steps and fell to the ground and my hood cap fell in the process, revealing my eyes.
"Aria!!" He gasped with wide eyes. "Your eyes... They looked so different!!"
"I know and I don't know what's happening to me" I said with a heavy breath, staring at the ground.
"Just look at me Aria..." He tried touching me but I slapped his hands off.
"I said don't come close, please. I'm a beast and you'll get hurt if you come close" I said but he didn't keep his distance.
"Stay put Aria let us figure this out..." He said with a small smile and I moved backward slowly while shaking my head sideways.
"You made it clear to me in the morning that we're nothing. You shun me off like I was nothing and now you're suddenly saying we will figure this out? Let's stop deceiving ourselves Lucas. I'll handle this myself " I said and he sighed loudly.
The pain I felt earlier came again and this time around it was unbearable. I couldn't even breath. I gasped for air.
I felt a burning sensation from my neck and my finger found it way to my neck but before I could touch the spot, something shone brightly from there.
"Your wolf is waking up, Aria " Lucas muttered.
"What are you spitting? I don't have a wolf!!" I shouted.
"And who the hell doesn't have one, Aria? It's waiting for the perfect time which is now" He said and he did the least I was expecting. He squatted to my level and held my arms. "Let it all out, Aria..."
My eyes glowed brighter and my fingers curled up as my heart was racing faster. Lucas never let me go instead he held my tightly to himself.
"Shift Aria... You can do this, I trust in you " He soothe
d me caressing my hair.
"Argh!!!" I screamed loudly as the moon turned blood red and I fell to the ground weakly.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVEAria's POVTwo weeks passed in a strange kind of peace.I spent my mornings training students. My afternoons walking the pack lands. My evenings wrapped in Lucas's arms. It felt normal and quiet.In the best way possible."You're smiling," Kira observed one morning. We watched Sarah lead a training session. Her students practiced shields, getting better every day."I'm allowed to smile.""You are but it's nice to see. You've been so serious since losing your power. Today you look almost happy.""I think I am happy. It's strange but good."Sarah called out a correction to one of her students. The shield strengthened immediately. Pride swelled in my chest. These kids were going to be incredible."She's a natural teacher," Kira said. "Just like someone else I know.""She's better than I ever was.""Liar but I'll let you have that." Kira bumped my shoulder. "So the alliance council meeting is tomorrow. Are you nervous?""Terrified. What if they expect me to do something
CHAPTER FORTY-FOURAria's POVThe ceremony happened at noon.I stood in the center of the courtyard wearing a white dress Kira had somehow found. The entire pack surrounded me. Allied packs too. Hundreds of faces staring with something that looked like worship.It made my skin crawl."Breathe," Lucas whispered beside me. He looked devastating in his formal Alpha attire. All sharp lines and power. "You're doing fine.""I hate this.""I know. Five more minutes. Then it's over."Elder Rothwin stepped forward. The same man who once voted to execute me. Now he looked at me with something like reverence."Aria Vale." His voice carried across the silent crowd. "You came to us marked by darkness cast out,feared but you became our light. Our shield. Our salvation."My throat tightened."Today we honor your sacrifice. The power you gave. The war you ended. The lives you saved." He held out a silver circlet a delicate,beautiful engraved with symbols from the old magic. "This belonged to the fir
CHAPTER FORTY-THREEAria's POVThree days passed like flash I drifted in and out of consciousness. Every time I woke, Lucas was there holding my hand and stroking my hair just watching me with those worried eyes that made my chest ache."You need to sleep," I whispered during one lucid moment."I'll sleep when you're better." He brought water to my lips. I drank gratefully."Stubborn.""Says the girl who literally burned out her own power to save everyone." He smiled, but it was sad. "How are you feeling?""Empty. Like there's this huge hollow space inside me." I tried to explain but words felt inadequate. "I keep reaching for my light and there's nothing there.""Miriam says it might come back. Given time and rest.""Might not exactly reassuring.""But you're alive." He kissed my forehead. "I'll take you powerless over not having you at all."Kira appeared in the doorway still limping but looking better than she had on the battlefield."The hero is finally awake." She sat on the edg
CHAPTER FORTY-TWOAria's POVDawn came too fast.I woke wrapped in Lucas's arms. For a moment, I forgot about the battle. The ritual and everything waiting outside then I heard it. War horns blowing and reality crashed down."They're here," Lucas whispered against my hair.He didn't move neither did I. We just lay there, pretending we had more time."I love you," I said. My voice cracked."I love you too. No matter what happens today, that doesn't change." He kissed me softly. "Ready?""No but let's do this anyway."We got up,dressed in armor. I strapped on weapons I prayed I wouldn't need. Lucas checked everything twice, his hands lingering on my shoulders like he was memorizing me.Outside, the pack grounds were organized chaos. Warriors lined up in formation. My students gathered near the front, faces pale but determined. Kira stood with Garrett. When she saw me, she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes."There's our Luna," she called out.A few warriors cheered. I still wasn't use
CHAPTER FORTY-ONEAria's POVMiriam led me beneath the pack house to a hidden chamber that smelled like old stone and something ancient. The air was thick and heavy, pressing down on my chest."Sit." She pointed to a circle carved into the floor. Symbols I didn't recognize surrounded it, glowing faintly.I sat cross-legged in the center. My heart pounded."The ritual is simple in theory, dangerous in practice." Miriam pulled out a silver blade. "You'll cut your palm. Let three drops of blood fall on each cardinal point. Then channel every ounce of light you possess into the symbols. They'll absorb it. Magnify it. When battle comes, you'll release it all at once.""And then I die?""Maybe. Maybe not. It depends on your will to live." She looked at me seriously. "Light Bearers who survived all had one thing in common. They had something worth living for which is something that anchored them."Lucas, his face flashed in my mind. His smile. The way he held me. Our future."I have that," I
CHAPTER FORTYAria's POVThe pack grounds buzzed with chaos. Warriors sharpened weapons,healers set up stations. Everyone moved with desperate urgency.Two days. We had two days before two hundred shadow wielders arrived."Aria!" Sarah ran up, breathless. "The students are asking for you. They're scared. I don't know what to tell them.""Tell them the truth. We're going to fight, and we're going to win.""But what if we don't?"I grabbed her shoulders gently. "Then we go down protecting the people we love but we don't think about losing. We only think about surviving."She nodded and ran back toward the training grounds.Thirty young wolves waited for me there. All wide-eyed looking terrified."I know you're scared," I started. My voice carried across the field. "I'm scared too but fear doesn't make us weak. It means we're smart enough to understand the danger and brave enough to face it anyway.""What do we do?" a young boy asked. "We've only been training for weeks. They're sending







