LOGINAria flinched, tears glimmering in her eyes. Damien’s face didn’t move, but his voice shook the hall. “Enough.”The word echoed, deep and final. Everyone stood still as his voice resonated in the building.The guards dragged Selene back, her cries growing fainter until the doors closed behind her with a hollow boom. The echo seemed to settle over everyone like a cloud of dust.For a long time, no one spoke. Everyone sat still in their seats; no one daring to move or make a sound. A small cough dropped from Damien’s throat like a signal, and the atmosphere was less tense.Then, slowly, one by one, the elders rose from their seats. Some bowed to Damien. Others bowed to Aria. Even those who had once doubted were silent now, their eyes fixed on the pair standing hand in hand.The High Elder spoke last. “The council recognizes your judgment, Alpha. The record shall stand. Selene, former queen, is hereby exiled under oath of the moon. Her magic and rights are forfeit until the day the Heave
The grand hall of judgment had not been used in years. Dust had gathered on its stone pillars, and cobwebs clung to the tall, arched windows. But that morning, the torches blazed, and every seat was filled to the brim. The air was heavy with curiosity, anger, and fear.At the center of it all, Damien stood. His recovery had been swift, though not yet complete. His frame was still leaner than before, but his golden eyes burned with fury.And beside him, Aria stood for the first time not as a servant, patient, or victim but as his chosen. Her dress was simple, pale silver that glowed softly in the firelight. When she entered the chamber, their murmurs rose like wind through dry leaves.“She’s here with him…” “The omega girl?” “She’s standing where Luna should stand…”Damien heard them, but he didn’t flinch. If anything, his jaw was clenched tighter.Orion and Niamh flanked them both, scrolls in hand, and their faces were carved from stone. The twelve elders’ council, each representing o
The next morning, Damien insisted on walking. The healers had warned against pushing too fast, but he ignored them. “An Alpha doesn’t heal by sitting still,” he grumbled stubbornly.Aria rolled her eyes, slipping an arm around his waist to steady him. “An Alpha also doesn’t fall on his face in front of his nurse.”He smirked, leaning slightly into her warmth as they took slow steps along the corridor. “You? A nurse? You scold more than you soothe.”“That’s because you act like a child,” she shot back, adjusting her grip when he stumbled slightly.He stopped, glancing down at her with that teasing spark returning to his eyes. “Then maybe I need a gentler nurse. One who listens when her patient asks for… a kiss for motivation.”Her cheeks flamed instantly, turning bright red. “You’re impossible!”“Admit it,” he murmured, grinning, “you like it when I’m impossible.”She bit her lip but said nothing. They continued their slow walk, his steps becoming steadier and her heartbeat louder with
The lower chamber smelled of stone and cold. Torches guttered in iron sconces, throwing pale light that made everyone look harder and harsher than they were. Naomi’s wrists were bound, but not with cruelty because the guards had been ordered to avoid needless violence. Still, the chill bit deep; hunger and exhaustion ran under her skin like a second heartbeat.She had been arrested and locked up for the past three days according to Orion’s command.He stood a few feet away, arms folded, as steady as a cliff. Niamh sat on a low stool, hands folded in her lap, watching Naomi like someone watching a storm build. The room had the quiet of a place where dangerous things were decided.“Naomi,” he said, his voice calm like still waters. “We asked you to come for questions. We did not ask for secrets to be buried.”Naomi’s face was pale, but her chin lifted. She could feel the cold in her bones and the dryness at the back of her throat. She had not slept properly in days. She should have been
They worked together by the river. Aria gathered stones, smoothing their surfaces with her palms. Her mother’s hands guided hers, showing how to crush fragments, how to fuse them with star ash until a faint radiance pulsed from within.Step by step, they polished the glass. It gleamed like frozen starlight. With a shard of obsidian, her mother etched the sigil; they were precise strokes forming the seven-pointed star, crescent curling protectively around it.“Now,” her mother whispered, pricking Aria’s finger lightly. A drop of blood fell onto the sigil, seeping into the grooves. The glass flared briefly to her surprise, as if recognizing its owner.“It is yours,” her mother said. “And with it, your power will never be stolen completely. You will always find a way to recover it even if something happens.”Aria held it close, its weight cool and firm in her palm. “I’ll keep it safe. I promise.”“More than safe,” her mother corrected softly. “Keep it close. Keep it always. For it will n
Damien finally slept off, and Aria left his chambers after tucking him under the thick wool blanket. She caught herself smirking, smiling, and blushing as she paced her room to sort one thing or another before sitting down to read the book that had been piquing her interest.“That brat knows how to flirt endlessly,” she coughed suddenly as the memories of him teasing her came backHer hand flew to her mouth to cover the laughter that almost dropped, and she quickly swallowed it before the maids would question her sanity.Lyra’s laughter echoed like wind chimes in a breeze. She suddenly popped out of Aria’s mind after a while of going silent, arms folded, watching the girl bustle about with an odd energy of fluffing pillows, refolding already neat blankets, and pacing as if her thoughts were too loud to sit still.“So…” Lyra tilted her head, a teasing glint in her eyes. “No plans to run away this time?”Aria froze, caught mid-stride as she reached out for the cup of water she left at a
|Aria|The choking smell of herbs slowly filled my nostrils and it didn’t clear up no matter how much I tried to breathe it away. My hands and legs felt numb and heavy. A thick, musky haze clung to the air like a damp woolen cloak. The scent of crushed sage and smoldering juniper clung to my nose.
The fume coming from the turned bowl filled the air, and my body shook tremendously. My knees buckled as I inhaled the substance, and I knew what it was instantly. He had just poisoned my body and my wolf.My weak body couldn’t take it further. Blood trickled down my nose as I tried hard not to vom
|Damien|A lot of time had passed, and I turned the entire pack upside down with my men but she was nowhere to be found. All my clothes were soaked with sweat. I had extended my smell gland to capture a wide range of smells to the point it got strained, but there was nothing like her scent. The sce
She stood there with a terrified look on her face. Lupus, my wolf, threatened to jump out due to the immense anger, but I fought back to keep him intact. At least, not in front of the terrified little girl.Her limbs and fingers shook simultaneously as she contemplated moving closer to be with her







