chapter 3: Jason's promise

JASON

The rain had stopped hours ago, but the smell of wet earth still filled the air.

I stood by the window of my study, staring out at the forest — the same forest where I had found her.

Aria Moon.

The name burned in my mind like fire.

I clenched my fists, trying to calm the storm inside me.

I had found her half-dead under an oak tree — cold, shaking, barely breathing.

I didn’t know who she was at first. She had looked weak and lost, just another runaway.

But when she said her name… everything changed.

The daughter of Alpha Kian Moon.

The man who destroyed my family. The man who took me as a prisoner — and worst of all — killed my brother.

My brother, Liam, had died after the Silver Claw fire five years ago. We were both taken captive. Alpha Kian held us for six months, tortured us for no reason — just because he hated our pack. Because he hated our parents.

I didn’t do anything to deserve that. Every day, he would come to where we were chained. Every day, he would cut off our fingers and toes — just to see how fast we could heal.

I would cry and beg, “Please, sir, let me go.”

But he would only smile and say, “This is for your parents. I can’t hurt them — they’re already dead. So I’ll hurt you instead.”

And now, the one person connected to that tragedy was sleeping under my roof.

I turned away from the window and poured myself a glass of water. My reflection looked tired — dark circles under my eyes, jaw tight, eyes cold.

Being Alpha meant never showing weakness. But right now, the anger I felt made my hands shake.

A soft knock came at the door.

“Come in,” I said.

My Beta, Draven, stepped inside. He had sharp eyes and a scar across his cheek — loyal, careful, and always honest with me.

“She’s awake,” he said. “And… she’s asking to see you.”

I didn’t answer right away. I took a deep breath and stared into the fire burning in the hearth.

Draven watched me quietly. “You’re sure it’s her?”

“Yes,” I said softly.

He frowned. “Then what do we do, Alpha? She’s the daughter of your enemy. You should have let the patrols deal with her.”

I turned my head toward him. “I don’t kill a woman who’s already half-dead. And besides, if I want to punish her, I’ll do it myself.”

Draven sighed. “You’re too soft sometimes, Jason. That girl brings trouble. If the Silver Claw Pack finds out she’s here—”

“They won’t,” I cut in sharply. “No one will.”

He looked at me, confused. “You’re keeping her here?”

“For now,” I said quietly. “As my prisoner, maybe.”

He crossed his arms. “Why? Out of pity?”

I didn’t answer.

Because I didn’t know why.

Maybe it was the way she looked at me — broken, afraid, but not lying. I could tell when someone was lying.

Her eyes were too honest. Too sad.

Draven nodded slowly. “Understood. But be careful, Alpha. You know what happens when the past wakes up.”

When he left, I sat down at my desk, running a hand through my hair. The fire crackled beside me — the only sound in the room.

I looked at my phone for a long moment before finally picking it up.

There were only two people I could call about this — my brothers, Ivar and Alaric.

They lived outside the territory, leading smaller allied packs. They were my family — the only ones left.

I dialed Ivar first.

He answered on the second ring. “Jason. What’s wrong? You never call this early.”

“I found someone,” I said.

“Who?”

“Aria Moon.”

There was silence. Then I heard him laugh — but it wasn’t a happy sound. “Wait. That Aria Moon? The enemy’s daughter?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure? The one whose parents killed our parents?”

“Yes,” I said again, my voice tight.

He whistled softly. “Well, that’s something. What are you going to do? You hate her bloodline more than anyone.”

I looked toward the hallway where her room was. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“You haven’t decided?” Ivar said, surprised. “Jason, are you losing your mind? That girl’s father caused our parents’ and brother’s deaths. She probably knows more than she’s saying.”

“I know,” I said quietly.

Then another voice joined the call — Alaric, the youngest. His tone was usually light, but now it was serious.

“Wait… Aria Moon? Alpha Kian’s daughter?”

“Yes,” I said again, my patience thin.

“Bro,” Alaric said, “I thought she was dead. Everyone said she was banished recently and should be dead by now.”

“She’s not dead,” I said. “I found her in the forest. She’s here.”

Silence.

Then Ivar spoke again. “Jason… don’t tell me you’re helping her.”

I didn’t answer right away. My jaw tightened.

Finally, I said, “She’s my prisoner. For now.”

“What the hell are you doing?” Ivar shouted. “Do you think she’s innocent? That girl’s cursed. She’s trouble.”

I rubbed my temples. “I just want to hear her side before I decide anything.”

There was a pause. Then Alaric said quietly, “Wait, Ivar. Think about it. The Moon Goddess never does anything by accident. What if she’s… his mate?”

The words hit me like lightning.

I froze.

My brothers both went silent.

Ivar laughed again, but this time it sounded nervous. “Don’t even say that, Alaric. That would be insane.”

But I couldn’t move. My heart had started to beat faster.

Because the truth was — the moment I had touched her in the forest, something had happened.

A strange pull in my chest.

A warmth that spread through me like fire.

My wolf had stirred for the first time in months.

“No,” I muttered. “That can’t be.”

But even as I said it, my wolf whispered in the back of my mind, Mate.

I stood up so fast the chair scraped the floor. “No,” I said louder this time. “She can’t be.”

“Jason?” Ivar called through the phone. “You okay?”

I didn’t answer. My pulse was racing, my thoughts spinning.

How could the Moon Goddess be so cruel?

How could my fated mate be the daughter of the man who ruined my life — the man who destroyed me?

This can’t be real. It has to be a mistake.

The phone slipped from my hand, hitting the desk. My brothers’ voices echoed faintly from the speaker.

But I didn’t hear them anymore.

Because just then, I felt something — a soft knock at the door.

I turned.

It opened slowly, and there she was — Aria Moon — standing in the doorway, pale and trembling, wrapped in my jacket.

“Alpha Jason,” she whispered. “I… I think something’s wrong with me.”

Her eyes glowed faintly silver.

And at that moment, my wolf howled in my head — Mate.