The sanctuary could no longer contain the power swelling inside Aria.
Light roared out of her in waves—
silver, white, celestial—
blasting through the ancient chamber like a storm of falling stars.
Ronan shielded his eyes with one arm, muscles trembling as the air heated and shimmered. His wolf surged beneath his skin—not in fear, but in awe.
He had seen alphas shift.
He had witnessed warriors channel rage.
He had stood under the full moon at its fiercest.
But he had never—
not once—
seen anything like her.
Aria hovered in the air with quiet, effortless power.
Silver radiated from her skin.
Her hair floated like burning silk.
Her eyes—white with a starburst center—glowed with the calm of ancient moons.
Her voice carried through the sanctuary, resonant and layered:
"Ronan."
He stepped closer automatically. "I'm here."
Her gaze met his—strong, steady, grounded.
"Don't let go of the bond."
"Never," he whispered.
The Devourer snarled, shadows writhing like beasts in pain.
MOONBREAKER.
YOU SHOULD NOT EXIST.
YOU ARE A CONTRADICTION OF BLOOD.
A CRIME OF FATE.
Aria didn't flinch.
"I'm not here because fate allowed it," she said. "I'm here because someone loved me enough to protect me."
Anger sliced through the Devourer's voice.
THEN LET US SEE IF LOVE CAN SAVE YOU.
It expanded—
mass forming into a towering monstrosity with jagged limbs, hollow eyes, and rows of teeth made of shadow.
The stranger backed away. "This is its full manifestation. The sanctuary will not hold."
Ronan stepped forward, claws extended. "Then we make our stand."
Aria raised a glowing hand.
"No."
Ronan paused. "Aria—"
"You fight beside me," she said. "Not in front of me."
His heart staggered in his chest.
He nodded once.
"Beside you."
She turned toward the Devourer, light swirling around her like armor.
The battle began.
⸻
The First Strike
The Devourer lunged—
A tidal wave of shadow collapsing toward them.
Ronan shoved Aria behind him on instinct, claws slashing. He ripped through the first tendrils, silver sparks flying from his fingertips.
But more kept coming.
"Ronan—left!" the stranger shouted.
Ronan spun, slashing another tendril from the air—
but the Devourer struck from behind, sending him crashing into a crystal pillar.
"RONAN!" Aria cried.
Pain exploded across his ribs, but he pushed himself upright.
"I'm fine—focus on your form!"
Aria raised her hands.
Light burst outward.
A shockwave blasted the Devourer backward, scattering shadow limbs like smoke.
Ronan froze, staring up at her.
"Aria… you…"
She hovered slightly off the ground—
every movement graceful
every breath controlled.
She didn't even look winded.
This was not the trembling girl who collapsed in his arms hours ago.
This was power.
This was Moonborn royalty.
This was the Moonbreaker.
⸻
A Deadly Exchange
The Devourer screeched, shadows swirling violently.
YOU CANNOT MASTER WHAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
THIS POWER WILL BETRAY YOU.
Aria's expression sharpened. "My power is not my enemy."
YOUR POWER IS MINE.
It launched at her again.
Aria extended her palm.
Silver light streaked forward and pierced the Devourer's chest. The creature shrieked—an awful, slashing sound that shook the sanctuary.
"Ronan!" Aria called. "Now!"
He understood instantly.
Ronan leapt, claws glowing with borrowed silver. He slashed across the Devourer's weakened form, tearing a large section of shadow away.
The Devourer reeled, screeching.
WOLF.
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TOUCH ME.
Ronan bared his fangs. "I'll do more than touch you."
He lunged again.
But the Devourer anticipated his strike this time—
its body split open like a shadow flower
and dozens of tendrils whipped out.
"RONAN—MOVE!" Aria screamed.
Too late.
Tendrils wrapped his arms, chest, and throat—lifting him into the air.
He gasped, claws thrashing violently, struggling to break free.
"Aria—!" His voice cracked.
She flew forward.
Her glowing hand sliced through shadows like they were nothing—but the Devourer coiled more tendrils around Ronan, tightening its grip, pulling him higher.
Ronan's vision blurred.
He choked.
Aria's heart shattered. "Let him go!"
The Devourer whispered:
IF THE WOLF DIES—
THE BOND BREAKS.
THE MOONBREAKER FALLS.
Aria's power erupted.
The sanctuary shook so violently that crystals fell from the ceiling.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" she screamed.
She thrust both hands forward.
Light exploded—
Not as a beam.
Not as a wave.
But as a cage of silver fire that wrapped around the Devourer's tendrils, burning through them.
Ronan collapsed, coughing, into her arms.
She clutched him tightly. "Are you hurt?"
He shook his head, breath ragged. "I'm alright."
"No, you're not." She pressed her glowing palm gently to his chest. "You're bleeding—"
He grabbed her wrist softly.
"I'm alive. That's enough."
Her throat tightened.
The Devourer screamed, reforming its burned limbs.
⸻
The Devourer Targets Aria's Soul
The creature retreated into the darkness, shifting forms rapidly like it was searching for a weakness.
Then—
its shadowy mouth opened.
Not to speak.
To inhale.
A violent pull yanked the air toward the creature.
The stranger screamed, "ARIA—IT'S TRYING TO DRAW OUT YOUR SOUL!"
Aria staggered, her glow flickering.
Silver tendrils of light were pulled from her chest toward the Devourer.
She cried out, clutching her heart. "Ronan!"
Ronan grabbed her shoulders, anchoring her. "Fight it! Aria—stay with me!"
"I—I'm trying—"
Her knees buckled.
The Devourer groaned with hunger.
YES…
GIVE ME YOUR CENTER…
GIVE ME YOUR LIGHT…
Aria's eyes flickered between silver and white.
"Ronan—" she choked, voice shaking. "It's—draining—my essence…"
The stranger shouted, "If it consumes her core, she'll lose her identity! She'll lose herself entirely!"
Ronan pulled Aria against him, shielding her.
"No. You hear me? NO."
He pressed his forehead to hers, his voice trembling:
"Aria Hale, you stay here with me. You stay alive."
Her eyes glowed faintly. "I… I don't know if I can…"
He held her face in both hands.
"You can. Because you're not doing it alone."
He kissed her forehead.
Their bond ignited.
A pulse of warm, golden-silver light burst between them—
traveling down their link
forcing the draining tendrils to retract
pushing back the Devourer's pull.
Aria gasped, color returning to her glow.
The Devourer shrieked.
DISGUSTING.
THIS WOLF CORRUPTS YOU.
Ronan growled. "I strengthen her."
Aria rose again, light steadying.
"You don't get to break me," she said. "You don't get to decide who I am."
The Devourer laughed.
THEN LET US SEE HOW YOU HANDLE THE TRUTH.
⸻
The Sanctuary Collapses
The shadows slammed into the sanctuary walls—
cracking pillars
shattering runes
tearing the chamber apart.
The stranger shouted:
"It's destabilizing the entire mountain! We need to get out!"
Ronan reached for Aria. "Can you move?"
Aria shook her head. "I… I don't know. My body—feels strange."
Silver sparks crackled across her skin.
Ronan wrapped an arm around her waist. "I'll carry you."
"No," she whispered. "I need to stay standing."
Ronan nodded, supporting her.
The Devourer rose into its full height—
a massive, swirling darkness that scraped the ceiling.
THE SANCTUARY FAILS.
THE WORLD OUTSIDE WILL SEE YOUR FALL.
Aria glared at it.
"I'm not falling."
Ronan kept her tucked against him. "We need to move, Aria—this place is going to collapse."
But Aria's gaze remained locked on the Devourer.
"No."
Her voice strengthened.
"Not until this ends."
Ronan's breath caught. "Aria—"
She stepped forward.
And the sanctuary floor gave way.
"ARIA!" Ronan lunged—
But the Devourer struck them with a sweeping shadow, sending them both sliding across the collapsing floor.
The ground crumbled beneath them—
splitting
splintering
falling—
Until the entire sanctuary dropped into darkness.
Ronan grabbed Aria mid-fall.
Aria glowed like a burning star in his arms.
The Devourer descended after them.
THE FINAL BATTLE BEGINS BELOW.