Aria's scream tore through the sanctuary.
This was not like the first or second phase—
not the silver surges
not the unstable pulses
not even the blinding transition that nearly killed her.
This was worse.
Her body arched violently in Ronan's arms, her skin glowing so brightly the sanctuary was bathed in white fire.
Ronan held her against his chest, trembling with desperation. "Aria—Aria stay with me! Breathe!"
Her breath hitched, broken, choking. "R—Ronan… it—it hurts—"
"I know," he whispered, voice cracking. "Hold on to me."
The stranger backed away, horror widening his eyes. "This is too early—the final stage shouldn't have triggered yet!"
The Devourer's voice filled the sanctuary, vibrating the cracked stone.
I FORCED IT.
THE VESSEL OPENS.
THE DOOR WAKES.
NOW—LET IT BREAK.
Aria convulsed so hard Ronan nearly lost his grip on her. He tightened his arms, holding her as though sheer will could keep her soul inside her body.
Her skin glowed like molten moonstone. The sigil on her chest pulsed uncontrollably, each beat sending a shockwave through the room.
Silver veins crawled up her neck.
Her eyes flickered white.
Her breath became a ragged gasp.
"Ronan…" She clutched his shirt, nails digging in. "I—I can't—I can't do this—"
"Yes, you can." He pressed his forehead to hers. "You're not alone. I'm right here."
She sobbed against his jaw. "I'm s—scared."
He swallowed, his voice breaking.
"I'm scared too."
That honesty seemed to steady her for a heartbeat.
But the Devourer stepped closer, towering and ancient.
LET HER FALL, WOLF.
LET HER BREAK.
LET HER BECOME MINE.
Ronan growled, stepping in front of Aria while still holding her, shielding her with his own body.
"Over my dead body."
The Devourer laughed.
A sound colder than any winter Ronan had ever felt.
THAT CAN BE ARRANGED.
Tendrils rose like spears around them.
⸻
Aria's Body Begins to Change
A violent pulse shot through Aria—
so strong her back arched away from Ronan.
He reeled her in. "Aria—focus on my voice. Don't slip away!"
"I—I can't see—" she gasped. "Everything's white—everything's loud—"
The stranger shouted over the chaos, "Her senses are shifting—changing—she's losing human perception!"
Aria cried out, pressing her hands to her ears. "Make it stop!"
Ronan grabbed her wrists gently. "Look at me—just look at me—ignore everything else."
"I'm trying—"
Her voice broke entirely.
"Ronan, help me—please—help—"
He pulled her into his arms and held her shaking body against him.
Her bones vibrated beneath her skin—
not breaking
not reforming
but awakening.
Her heartbeat sped up—
then slowed suddenly—
then sped again.
Aria gasped. "It's taking me—Ronan, it's taking me—"
He cupped her face, forcing her to see him.
"No. I won't let it."
Her fingers clutched at his chest.
"Don't—don't let me disappear," she whispered.
"You won't." His voice shook fiercely. "As long as I'm breathing, you won't."
⸻
The Stranger's Revelation
The stranger raised a glowing rune. "Ronan—listen to me! The final stage is not simply transformation—it is judgment. Her soul is choosing its form."
"What does that mean?!" Ronan snarled.
"It means the Moonbreaker decides—human, Moonborn… or Devourer."
Ronan's blood froze.
Aria choked on breath. "No… no—I won't—"
"But the Devourer is inside her mind," the stranger continued. "It will fight to tip the scales."
Ronan turned to Aria, shaking. "Listen to me. Don't let it influence you. Don't let it near your core."
Aria sobbed. "I don't know how—"
"Yes, you do." He pressed her trembling hands to his heart. "Follow the bond. Follow me."
Her glow flickered.
The Devourer roared.
HER HEART IS CRACKED.
HER PAST IS HOLLOW.
HER FUTURE IS MINE.
Aria screamed so loudly the sanctuary walls split.
⸻
The Devourer Attacks the Bond
Tendrils shot into the air and slammed down—
Not toward Aria's body.
Toward Ronan.
Aria's instincts flared. "NO!"
But she was too slow.
A shadow tendril wrapped around Ronan's chest, lifting him off the ground. He choked on blood, claws ripping desperately at the darkness.
"RONAN!" Aria cried.
Her glow flared wildly—silver flames rippling off her skin.
The Devourer hissed.
YES.
BREAK FOR HIM.
BREAK FOR ME.
Ronan struggled to breathe, vision blurring.
Aria thrashed, crawling toward him even as her body convulsed. "Let him go! LET HIM GO!"
The stranger shouted, "Aria—if the bond takes damage, your power will collapse! You must stay centered—"
"I CAN'T WHEN HE'S DYING!" she sobbed.
The Devourer coiled more tightly around Ronan.
THIS WOLF IS YOUR ANCHOR.
REMOVE HIM—
AND YOU FALL.
Aria's scream shook the sanctuary.
"STOP!"
The sigil on her chest exploded outward in a violent flash.
Silver energy blasted the Devourer so hard it lost form for a split second.
The tendril holding Ronan snapped—
He fell, gasping, collapsing to his knees.
Aria crawled to him on trembling limbs. "Ronan—please—please—look at me—don't close your eyes—"
He blinked weakly, blood staining his lips. "I… I'm here…"
She cupped his face, pressing her forehead to his. "You scared me—I thought—"
"I won't leave you." He forced a pained smile. "Not ever."
Their bond pulsed—
a steadying warmth
a defiant heartbeat
a promise.
The Devourer reformed.
PATHETIC.
YOU CANNOT PROTECT EACH OTHER FOREVER.
WHEN ONE FALLS—THE OTHER SHATTERS.
Aria rose shakily, standing between Ronan and the Devourer.
"No," she whispered.
Her voice wavered.
Her legs shook.
Her veins glowed like molten silver.
"I won't shatter."
⸻
The Vision of Her Mother
The Devourer extended a claw.
Dark mist curled around Aria's head.
Before Ronan could stop it—
the mist enveloped her mind.
Aria's eyes rolled back—
and she collapsed into another vision.
A woman stood in the snow—
silver hair
silver eyes
crying.
Not the First Luna.
Her mother.
Aria reached for her. "Mother…?"
Her mother shook her head, tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't leave because of you."
Aria's heart cracked. "But—he said—"
Her mother reached for her cheek.
"I left to keep you alive."
Aria froze.
Her mother continued, voice trembling:
"They feared your birth. Feared what you might become. I had to hide you. Protect you. Even if it meant… letting you believe I abandoned you."
Aria's chest tightened. "So you didn't run from me?"
Her mother's voice softened.
"I loved you. More than anything. You were never a curse."
Aria wept. "Then who—who wanted me dead?"
A cold wind cut through the vision.
Her mother turned in horror.
"It's here. I can't hold it back—Aria, listen to me—"
The Devourer slithered into the vision, tearing the memory apart.
Her mother's scream echoed—
And then—
Darkness.
⸻
Aria Wakes With New Resolve
Aria gasped back to consciousness.
Ronan grabbed her instantly. "Aria! Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, tears falling silently.
"No."
Her voice was stronger.
Steadier.
"I know the truth now."
Ronan cupped her cheek. "Tell me."
"My mother didn't run from me." Aria stared at the Devourer, heart aching. "She ran from it."
The Devourer hissed.
LIES.
"No." Aria's glow brightened. "My mother loved me. She protected me. You're the one who tried to end me."
Silver fire crackled at her fingertips.
Ronan stepped beside her, eyes glowing icy blue.
"Aria," he murmured. "Your power—"
"It's not breaking anymore," she whispered. "It's choosing."
The stranger gasped. "She's aligning with her Moonborn side. Ronan—her soul is stabilizing!"
The Devourer recoiled.
IMPOSSIBLE.
YOUR HEART WAS WEAK.
YOUR FUTURE MINE.
Aria raised her hand.
Her voice was calm.
"My heart was never weak. You just underestimated who I'd choose to stand with me."
She looked at Ronan.
He swallowed hard.
Then nodded.
The Devourer's form wavered.
MOONBREAKER.
YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE YOUR FINAL SHIFT.
THE WOLF WILL WATCH YOU FALL.
Ronan growled. "She's not falling."
Aria's entire body glowed—
not painfully, this time
but like she was being lit from within by the moon itself.
Silver rose from her skin in delicate patterns, spiraling into the air.
Ronan stared in awe. "Aria…"
The stranger whispered:
"The Final Stage… is beginning."
Aria looked at the Devourer, steady and unafraid.
"Then let it begin."
The sanctuary shook.
The mountain roared.
Aria's body lifted into the air—
And her final transformation ignited.