ARIA POV
"Drop your weapon or the healer dies first," Alpha Darius growled, pushing the Blade of Severing against Lucien’s throat.
I froze. My fingers tightened around the Moon Chamber key. Every part of wanted to fight, but Lucien’s eyes t mine with quiet warning. Behind Darius, Elira and the guards blocked the only route.
"You wouldn’t kill your own son," I said, trying to sound brave despite my racing heart.
Alpha Darius laughed, a cold sound that sent shivers down my spine. "To save our bloodline? To protect our pack from the evil you’ve awakened? I would sacrifice much more."
Kael stepped forward, his face stone-cold. "Father, this has gone too far."
"Silence!" Darius roared. "You’ve been chard by her. All of you. The Blackwood line has stood strong for centuries because we’ve made the hard decisions."
The guards moved closer. I glanced at Mira, who stood quietly in the corner. She gave the tiniest nod. We had practiced ergency signs during our childhood—this one ant she had a plan.
"What do you want?" I asked, buying ti.
"The key. And you," Darius said simply. "The Moon Chamber must be shut forever, and you must be... contained. The curse ends tonight."
Jaxon laughed bitterly. "By killing our mate? That’s your solution?"
"She is not your true mate!" Darius shouted, his face going red. "The bond you feel is twisted magic, caused by the curse. Elena’s daughter was never ant to find her way back to our pack."
My mother’s na on his lips made my blood boil. "You knew her. You knew who I was all along."
Sothing flashed in his eyes—was it guilt? "I did what was necessary."
"You murdered her," I whispered as the truth suddenly beca clear. "My mother died because of you."
The room fell silent. Even Elira looked shocked.
"Your mother threatened everything," Darius finally said. "The forecast was clear—a daughter of moon and shadow would bring down the Alpha line. I couldn’t let that happen."
Kael’s hands clenched at his sides. "You told us she died in childbirth."
"A necessary lie," Darius answered coldly. "Just as necessary as what must happen now." He pressed the blade harder against Lucien’s throat. A small line of blood appeared.
My mind raced. I couldn’t let him hurt Lucien or the others. But I also couldn’t let him get the key to the Moon Chamber. According to Kael’s vision, that’s where he planned to pass the curse to permanently.
"Wait," I said, raising my hands. "I have a deal for you."
Darius narrowed his eyes. "I’m not interested in deals."
"You should be," I replied. "Kill , and the curse will only get worse. The Moon Goddess picked for a reason. But I’m willing to go with you quietly."
"Aria, no!" Jaxon shouted, but I hushed him with a look.
"What’s your deal?" Darius asked suspiciously.
I took a deep breath. "Let the brothers go unhurt. All three of them. Give until the next full moon to find another way to break the curse. If I can’t, I’ll surrender to whatever routine you have planned."
"That’s only five days away," Mira gasped.
"Five days," I repeated firmly, looking Darius in the eye. "On the full moon, we et at the Moon Chamber. If I haven’t found another answer by then, I’ll do whatever you ask."
Darius considered for a long mont. "And the key?"
"I’ll keep it," I said boldly. "Insurance that you’ll keep your word about the brothers."
He laughed. "You think I’d agree to that?"
"I think you’re desperate," I replied. "The curse is getting worse. I can feel it, and so can you. You need cooperative for your process to work."
His silence told I was right.
"Fine," he finally said. "Five days. But you co with now, where I can watch you. The brothers stay free, but they cannot leave pack territory."
"And Mira stays with ," I added quickly.
Darius paused, then nodded. "The oga can accompany you."
Kael stepped forward. "Father, this is crazy. The prophecy—" "The prophecy will be broken," Darius snapped. "One way or another."
I walked toward Mira, my heart racing. As I passed Kael, our fingers brushed. The touch sent electricity through our link.
"Don’t do anything stupid," he whispered so softly only I could hear.
I reached Mira and pulled her into a hug. During our hug, I slipped the Moon Chamber key into her pocket.
"Find Elder Malin," I whispered against her ear. "The book discusses blood magic. Three drops from each son..."
She squeezed my hand to show she understood.
I turned back to Darius. "I’m ready."
"Aria, don’t!" Lucien called out, fighting against his father’s grip.
"It’s okay," I told him, trying to sound confident. "Five days is all I need."
As Darius released Lucien and grabbed my arm instead, I felt our bond stretch uncomfortably. The link with all three brothers pulled tight, like rubber bands about to snap.
"Rember your promise," I told Darius as he led toward the door. "They stay safe."
"As long as they don’t interfere," he replied coldly.
I looked back at the brothers one last ti. Kael’s face was a mask of rage, Jaxon looked ready to attack, and Lucien’s eyes were filled with pain. Our bond humd between us, stronger than ever despite the distance growing.
"Five days," I said to them. "Trust ."
As the guards circled and we left the shed, I heard Elira whisper to Darius.
"You know the ritual won’t work if she’s unwilling," she said. "The Moon Chamber requires a true sacrifice."
Darius’s grip tightened painfully on my arm. "Then we’ll make sure she’s willing by the full moon."
A chill ran down my spine as I caught the aning behind his words. He wasn’t going to wait five days at all. Whatever he had planned would happen much sooner.
And as we walked away from the brothers, I felt sothing strange happening to our bond. Instead of fading with distance, it was changing—becoming sothing new. The power inside stirred, reacting to the danger.
The Moon Alpha was waking, and not even Alpha Darius knew what that really ant.
What he didn’t know was that I had already seen inside his mind when our hands touched. I knew exactly what ritual he planned. And I knew sothing he didn’t: The chamber wouldn’t just pass the curse to .
It would open sothing much worse.
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