Chapter 5 A Stranger with Golden Eyes

Darian’s pov

Grabbing my meal off the fire, I held the stick while the meat cooled.

“Have you got my bag hidden by chance?”

Grinning slightly I gestured toward the crushed vegetation she had plowed through and said, “It's probably where you dropped it.”

Aria's cheeks reddened as she spied her bag and announced she was going to find an area to change.

The moment she was gone Hella cleared her throat.

“She could be the Sacred Shewolf but I can't be certain of it since I don't think she's had her first shift. She has Phoenix blood if her wound is cauterized but neither her unique blood nor firewolf has awakened fully.”

Exhaling deeply, I tore off a piece of meat and handed it to Hella.

“My lower regions have stirred and my heart skipped a beat. She could be my mate but hasn't given any indication of acknowledging it,” I mumbled reluctantly, causing the old witch to cackle uproariously.

Narrowing my eyes at her she sobered, shook her head, and said, “Your Beta, Mora won't be pleased. She's been in your bed for years waiting for you to make her your Luna. She is jealous that her cousin Chloe will be marrying the soon-to-be Alpha Ronan.”

Hearing Aria returning I put my index finger to my lips to quiet my advisor.

Aria looked like a mystical warrior dressed in a tooled leather corset top and black jeans. I was impressed but her warrior ranking arm cuffs confused me.

“Were you part of the Alpha's personal guard?”

Eyeing me warily she shook her head and explained that her mom had been and that she was wearing her uniform for protection.

“Want to tell me why you were sent across into this wasteland?” I pried and she shook her head then gave me a curt, “Nope.”

Feeling her desire to end my questioning I tore off a bit of the roasted meat to offer to her.

Her fingers took it from me delicately as she thanked me.

“We must keep traveling so we get to my territory before the forsaken try to attack us,” I explained urgently.

She didn't seem concerned and just shrugged while she gestured for me to continue onward.

Stepping forward I paused momentarily and glanced at Aria.

“Do you know who your father is?”

She seemed insulted by my inquiry and growled, "No."

My wolf Amoux, was as perplexed as I was with our newest guest.

“I can't sense her wolf but I know she has one,” he growled sternly in my mind.

Seeing my castle home in the distance, I grinned slightly at the sight, and Aria gasped.

“Your pack house is in a castle?!”

“Yeah, I became the rogue Alpha after defeating the castaways. There are members from the Ironclaw Pack who are now my subjects,” I explained nonchalantly and she eyed me strangely.

“Aren't you concerned about a pack waging war against you and your land?”

Hella started laughing before she said, “No one wants this cursed land or the wolves cast upon it.”

“ALPHA!”

I cringed at hearing Mora calling out at me and peered over at Aria, narrowing her eyes in Mora's direction.

“Why is Chloe here?” Aria questioned and Hella answered, “That's Mora, Chloe's cousin. They are very similar, in looks and attitude.”

The young woman's eyebrow raised as she watched Mora rush up before me then wrap her arms around my neck.

I exhaled sharply while she planted a possessive kiss on the corner of my lips.

“We have a new guest, Mora, please behave appropriately,” I asserted firmly and her eyes glared daringly at Aria.

“Not another stray…which pack were you banished from?” She asked Aria but the young woman remained tight-lipped and shook her head refusing to answer.

Shrieking Mora blurted, “I bet she's a criminal and I'm going to find out if she is right this instant. GUARDS!”

Looking at her and the strangers coming towards her with her cousin Chloe in tow I glanced at Aria's frown.

Not wanting Aria to be taken away I was surprised by Hella pulling on my arm and shaking her head at me.

“She must be reborn,” my ancient sage whispered and I crossed my arms as Aria was bound by chains and being prepared to be returned to the Ironclaw Pack.

Mora looked delighted with herself as she slithered back to my side and boasted about how I was so easily blinded by a sob story.

“I heard she killed her own mother and Luna then seduced the Alpha," she mumbled and I eyed her incredulously not believing a single word of it.

Before the Ironclaw guards could haul her back I asked what the plans were.

Both guards eyed each other and the one I asked said, “She's accused of using a mate bewitchment spell on our Alpha and crossing onto the pack lands after being banished. Um, she will be burned at the stake either later today or tomorrow morning.”

I knew Ronan was cruel but damn. Then again if Aria was the Sacred Shewolf flames would break her out.

Chloe snickered and added it was her idea to see her fry in fire.

Disgusted with that I peered at Aria and furrowed my brow at the sight of her.

Instead of sobbing uncontrollably like a scared woman I saw anger and revenge swirling in her amber eyes. She was a steadfast warrior.

“Are you certain she is carrying phoenix blood, Hella?”

“Most definitely, Alpha.”

They took Aria but I would watch to see if she indeed awakened her phoenix blood and was the Sacred Shewolf that Hella and I believed her to be.