LOGINChapter 21 — The Eye Beneath the KingdomThe eye blinked.Aria forgot how to breathe.It was enormous.Not the eye of a wolf.Not the eye of a human.It was something older.Something that seemed to have been sleeping beneath the castle long before the first stone had ever been placed there.The ancient wall trembled around it.Dust drifted from the ceiling.Every wolf outside the chamber lowered its head.Even Luna froze.For the first time since Aria had known her, the ancient white wolf looked afraid.“Luna?” Aria whispered.Luna didn’t answer.Aria turned toward her.“Luna.”The wolf finally spoke.Her voice was barely more than a breath.“Do not let it see you.”Aria’s stomach dropped.“It’s already looking at me.”“I know.”The gigantic eye moved.Slowly.Its silver pupil narrowed.Then a voice filled the chamber.Not through their ears.Through their minds.ARIA.She staggered backward.Kael immediately stepped in front of her.“Stay behind me.”The stranger at the doorway laug
Chapter 20The Daughter They CreatedThe crown floated above them.Silver light poured from it, illuminating the chamber.Aria couldn’t move.The girl standing across from her looked exactly like her.Same face.Same silver eyes.Same white hair.But there was something wrong about her.Something empty.Something unnatural.Luna’s growl echoed through the chamber.She is not your sister.Aria swallowed.“Then what is she?”The girl smiled.“I told you.”Her voice was strangely calm.“I was created from you.”Aria stared at her.“Created how?”The girl looked toward the first Queen.The Queen didn’t answer.So the girl did.“Your blood.”Aria’s expression changed.“They took your blood?”“Not exactly.”She stepped closer.“They took what was inside your blood.”“What does that mean?”“The thing that makes you different.”Aria looked at the silver mark on her wrist.“The White Wolf.”The girl nodded.“They extracted it from you when you were a baby.”Aria’s stomach turned.“And they put
Chapter 19The ContractThe room was silent.Too silent.Aria stood in the middle of the ancient chamber, staring at the woman who had just called her daughter.But Aria couldn’t move.Because the woman looked exactly like Queen Elara.The real Elara was standing beside King Darius.Alive.Terrified.And staring at the stranger as if she had seen a ghost.Kael slowly raised his sword.“Who are you?”The woman smiled.“I’ve already told you.”Her silver eyes shifted toward Aria.“I am her mother.”Elara stepped backward.“No.”The stranger’s smile disappeared.“You still deny me?”“I buried you.”Aria looked at Elara.“You buried her?”Elara’s lips trembled.“I thought she was dead.”The stranger laughed softly.“You wanted me to be dead.”Darius stepped forward.“Enough.”The woman’s eyes immediately turned toward him.The temperature in the room dropped.“You.”Darius tightened his grip around his sword.“You were supposed to remain beneath the sanctuary.”“I was.”“Then why are you
Chapter 18 The Woman Beneath the Castle The palace went completely dark. For several seconds, nobody moved. Not Aria. Not Kael. Not Darius. Not even Queen Elara. Then— BOOM. Something struck the floor beneath them. The entire chamber shook. Kael immediately drew his sword. “Everyone back!” Guards rushed into the room. But before they could reach Aria, every torch along the walls burst into silver flames. One after another. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Aria stared. The silver light reflected in her eyes. Luna stood between her and everyone else. Her enormous body was tense. Her teeth were exposed. Darius stared at the wolf. “Luna…” The wolf growled. Do not speak my name. Darius’s face went pale. “You’re not supposed to be here.” Luna’s eyes narrowed. Neither is your daughter. Aria turned sharply. “My daughter?” Darius looked at her. “Aria—” “No.” She stepped forward. “Everyone keeps saying things about me as if I’m not standing here.” She pointed at D
Chapter 8 The Man Who Knew Her First Aria couldn’t breathe. The man stood at the entrance of the hidden passage, half-covered by shadows. Eighteen years. Eighteen years of memories she could barely remember. And somehow, the voice was still familiar. “You.” The man smiled faintly. “You remember me.” Aria stepped backward. “You came to Mara’s house.” “Yes.” “You knew me.” “Yes.” “Who are you?” The man didn’t answer. Instead, he looked past her. His eyes landed on the enormous white wolf. For the first time, his confidence disappeared. “You’re awake.” The wolf growled. The sound shook the walls. The man immediately reached inside his coat. Aria’s silver eyes flashed. “Don’t.” He froze. Aria didn’t know why she had said it. She didn’t even know what she was capable of. But the moment she spoke, every wolf in the passage lowered its head. The man stared at her. “You really don’t understand what you are, do you?” “Then explain it.” He laughed bitterly. “Th
Chapter 16The Brother Beneath the Sanctuary“Do you remember killing me?”Aria stared at the enormous wolf.She couldn’t speak.The creature stood at the center of the shattered sanctuary, its massive body covered in black and white fur.Its silver eyes were fixed on hers.Not angry.Not surprised.Almost…familiar.Aria shook her head.“I’ve never seen you before.”The wolf tilted its head.“You don’t remember.”“No.”A low growl escaped its throat.“Of course you don’t.”Kael stepped between them.“Stay away from her.”The wolf slowly looked at him.“You.”Kael tightened his grip on his sword.“What?”“You are Darius’s son.”Kael’s eyes narrowed.“How do you know my father?”The wolf laughed.“I know every Alpha who ever sat upon that throne.”Darius stepped forward.“Enough.”The wolf turned toward him.The entire sanctuary seemed to freeze.“You.”Darius’s face went pale.The wolf took one enormous step forward.“You remember me.”Darius didn’t answer.“You remember what you did.







