POV: Orion KingsMy fist crashed into a tree, missing Amara's head by inches. I didn't want to hurt her. But my body wasn't listening to me anymore."Orion, please!" Amara begged, jumping away from my next attack. "This isn't you! Fight it!"I wanted to tell her I was trying. That I was yelling inside my own head. But my mouth opened and different words came out."The Mother commands, and I obey," my voice said, cold and empty. "Join us, sister, or die."The strange woman with white hair and shining eyes—the one who appeared after the black stone broke—stood watching from the edge of the clearing. She wasn't The Mother, but somehow, she controlled me now."I know you're in there," Amara said, refusing to fight back as I swung at her again. "Remember who you are!"Who was I? Memories stirred—broken pieces I couldn't quite grasp."I am the Son of Blood Moon," I said automatically. "I serve the Ancient One."Amara dodged my kick and finally hit
POV: Multiple CharactersEliasThe blood moon broke through the clouds, painting the forest red. I raced through the trees, the smell of my uncle's blood pulling me forward."Faster!" I shouted to Amara, who ran beside me.We burst into the backup camp and froze. My mother lay motionless on the ground, Uncle Viktor squatting beside her, his hands covered in blood."No," I whispered. "Not her too."Viktor looked up, his eyes full of pain. "Marcus cheated us. She tried to tell everyone."Amara squeezed my hand. "I'm sorry, Elias."I knelt beside my mother's body, feeling like a little boy again. For all her faults, she was still my mother. And now she was gone."There's more," Viktor said, his voice urgent. "Your mother told me The Mother has another spy among us. Someone close to the twins."My blood ran cold. "Who?"Viktor's face darkened. "Celeste."Amara"That's impossible," I gasped. "Celeste helped us escape. She gave us t
POV: Ingrid DevereauxThe knife missed my face by inches. I ducked and rolled behind the supply tent, heart beating."I know you're there, Ingrid," a voice called out. "You should have stayed in the main camp."I reached for my own blade, hating myself for coming alone. The fight with The Mother raged half a mile away, but here in the backup camp, I'd found something far worse—treachery."Show yourself!" I ordered, trying to sound braver than I felt. My son Elias was fighting for his life, and I'd be damned if I'd let a spy ruin everything now.A shadow moved between the tents. I caught a glimpse of dark hair and recognized the figure immediately."Marcus?" I whispered, stunned.Marcus Hale stepped into view, his eyes cold as stone. My son's best friend. Our pack's best fighter. And, obviously, a traitor."Why?" I asked, holding my knife tighter. "Elias trusted you with his life."Marcus laughed. "Elias is a fool. He always was. The Mother of
POV: Viktor BeaumontI ducked as The Mother threw a ball of red fire at my head. It crashed into the tree behind me, turning it to ash quickly."Is that the best you can do, Elena?" I teased, using her real name. "You've grown slow in your old age."Her face twisted with rage. "How dare you!"I'd spent eighteen years planning for this moment. Eighteen years in exile, gathering friends, studying ancient texts, and waiting for the Blood Moon twins to come of age. Now, everything would change.With a sharp whistle, I marked the first wave. From the trees behind me appeared fifty wolves—not pack wolves, but rogues. Outcasts like me. Wolves The Mother thought too weak to bother destroying.Her eyes widened. "Rogues? You think rogues can beat me?""Not just rogues," I answered with a smile.On my second cue, another group emerged. Witches with marks similar to Celeste's, but with blue symbols instead of green. The Lunar Coven—thought dead for generatio
POV: The MotherI tightened my grip on the Alpha's throat, enjoying how his eyes bulged. So weak, these Alphas. Just like all the others I had broken over the ages."Take him to the ritual circle," I told my wolf-witches. "And the unconscious one too."My slaves dragged Elias and Dorian away while I turned my attention back to my daughter. Seraphina knelt before me, her silver eyes—so like my own once were—glaring with hate."Still so defiant," I sighed, touching her cheek. "Even in chains.""You won't win," she spat. "Amara is stronger than you think."I laughed, the sound echoing across the battlefield. "Strong? Yes. But also stupid. Just like you were."The black stone around my neck pulsed, feeling my anger. Inside it swirled the souls of a hundred Alphas I had destroyed over my long life. Their power was mine now.I looked to where Amara had stood moments ago, daring me. I could feel the twin bond growing between her and Orion. It both pleas
POV: Amara KingsBlue fire burst from my hands, knocking back three of The Mother's wolves. The strange fire didn't burn them – it did something worse. It broke their pack ties. The dogs howled in confusion, suddenly unable to feel their Alpha."This way!" I shouted to Elias and Dorian, who were fighting side by side despite their competition.We pushed through the fighting toward where my mother Seraphina was being held. All around us, chaos ruled. Trees burned. Wolves fought evil. The night sky glowed red from the Blood Moon rising higher.I sent another blast of blue fire at an attacking witch. As the flames left my body, a sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I gasped, falling to one knee."Amara!" Elias was at my side quickly, his hand warm on my back."I'm fine," I lied, forcing myself to stand. But I wasn't great. Each time I used my power, it hurt worse than before.Dorian appeared on my other side, his dark eyes filled with worry. "You're pu