Chapter 1

20 Years Before

"Therefore, as punishment for your acts of treason against the Crimson Moon Pack, we sentence your monstrosity of a child to be put to death, effective immediately."

No. Dread filled my soul at the Alpha's decree, my blood running ice cold in my veins.

"You can't be serious! You can't kill our daughter! She's only a month old, what the hell is wrong with you people?" I shrieked, cradling Aria against my chest with every ounce of strength left in my trembling body.

"You are the one who chose to procreate with that leech, Ms. Baxter. You must take responsibility for your crimes." He responded coldly, speaking of my love as if he wasn't standing right beside me.

"I'm aware of that, Alpha. But he's my royal! All we're asking is that we be able to raise our child on the pack border. Please, this is my family!" The room erupted in a mix of boisterous laughter and judgmental whispers, which Alpha silenced with a raise of his hand.

"We will not have you speaking your nonsense here, miss. You damn well know that it's impossible for a werewolf to have a royal."

Nonsense? How could they be so blind to the will of our gods? There had never before been a hybrid like my baby girl, but instead of celebrating her uniqueness, they were acting like she was some freak of nature who didn't even deserve to live. I growled, my claws extending, but Jasper was quick to reach for my hand, rubbing small circles on the back with his thumb to calm me. It worked, just as it always did, but it didn't mean I would stand down.

"I'm a member of this pack. Whether or not you guys accept him as my divinely selected partner is irrelevant. I have the right to live with the man I love, and you have no right to take my child from me. We're leaving, and you aren't going to stop us." I grounded, but the asshole only smirked.

"You are in no place to be making demands, Ms. Baxter. Men, please retrieve the girl."

He gestured for the two huge warrior wolves to take Aria, and chaos ensued. Jasper's hand released mine as he stepped between us, his fangs bared and eyes aglow with anger and silent threat, daring them to step closer.

"You don't want to challenge us, boy. There are no other vampires here to back you. If you value your life, you'll stand down and go back to where you came from." The Alpha boomed over the noise, but my love didn't even flinch at his threat.

"No, this is bullshit. If you want someone to punish, punish me! Not our daughter! She made no decision in the matter; she doesn't deserve to die!" He shouted back in return.

What? He couldn't possibly be suggesting...

"Ha, you honestly think you can take her place?"

"Why not? A life in place of a life. It's fair," Jasper gritted, his eyes narrowed into a fierce glare.

"We get nothing out of killing you."

"What the fuck do you get out of killing a baby?" He took one menacing step forward, making the Councilmen growl and the warriors crouch in defense. The Alpha stood, slamming his fists down on the oak desk.

"We get the satisfaction of knowing that we eliminated a creature that should never have lived in the first place! A creature that goes against the laws of nature!"

"That 'creature' is my daughter, asshole!" I barked, shielding Aria's sensitive ears from the shouting.

"Our decision on the matter stands. We have already gotten approval from the Sire King to follow through with it." Jasper's fists clenched, his normally peaceful and confident demeanor shifting into one of unease and simmering hatred.

"Fine! You want money?!" He snarled at the pack leader. Everyone went silent, looking towards Lawson with curiosity.

"Are you trying to bribe me?" The Alpha scoffed. Jasper straightened his shoulders, his brows furrowed in determination.

"No. I'm offering you a deal. You said that you got nothing from taking me instead. If I write you into my inheritance, I can ensure at least six hundred million will be granted to your pack upon my death." My eyes flashed to him in panic.

"No, baby, don't. We'll find another way, you can't bargain your life away!" I pleaded, but they both ignored me.

"That certainly is tempting, Mr. Wilson. Not surprising, coming from a businessman of your influence. But how would your Sire feel about your death? We don't wish to go to war over this." Jasper's jaw clenched.

"I have a partner that can take over the ARIA in my stead, so I highly doubt he'll give a shit. Do we have a deal or not?"

I held my breath as the Alpha's eyes roamed freely around the room, finally landing on the love of my life.

"Now that is an offer we can't refuse."

Present Day

"Aria, come out here please," I heard my mom shout from down the hall.

I groaned, turning off the electropop playlist on my cellphone so I could better gauge the tone of her voice. Shit, did I forget a chore? I quickly ran through my checklist for the ranch, making sure I had everything checked off.

Coming up clean, I slipped from my cotton sheets, readjusting my nightshirt to hang freely down the front of my bare thighs and padded down the cream-colored, carpet-lined hallway towards the living room.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked, plopping onto our sandy brown sofa beside her. She was busy tying her nearly black hair into a high ponytail while two bobby pins hung lazily from the plump lips I had inherited from her.

She didn't look anywhere near old enough to have an adult daughter, and I sometimes wished that she could find a handsome widower who would appreciate her beauty. Not that she showed any interest in a romantic affair. She was still completely enthralled with my father, which was something I admired greatly. She knew nothing could beat her magical connection with him, and she didn't want to settle just so she would not be lonely anymore.

I was so thankful that the Moon Goddess had given me such a selfless and caring mother. I supposed I could also thank the Sanguine One for my father, also known as the deity of the vampires, but to be honest, vampire lore and religion were extremely unfamiliar to me. My mom tried her best to teach me, even borrowing history books from Anthony, Dad's partner who took over the hotel and casino after his passing. It just never stuck. I didn't feel the same connection to vampires.

Once her wild locks were secure, she turned to me, slapping the palms of her hands against her knees for extra effect.

"James is coming over tonight to talk to you." Her eyes danced mischievously, making my brow cock.

James was a councilman and Mom's childhood friend who had basically been like a father to me my whole life, protecting us against the verbal abuse of the pack, even though his wife hated our existence as much as the rest of them.

"O-kay? What's so important that he needs to stop by at—" I glanced at the time on my phone. "Almost ten o'clock at night?"

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, trying to hide a smirk.

"He met with the council today." Her simple words provoked twelve shades of dread in my mind. There was only one thing this could mean.

Their decision was in on the Eclipse ceremony.