ARIA'S POV
"Silver Death."
The nickname hit me like a punch as I walked toward the arena on day two.
A group of pack wolves whispered it, watching me pass. Not with hatred anymore—with fear.
"She put three competitors in the medical wing yesterday."
"Did you see that last fight? She moved like—"
"Like a Silverpaw." An older female wolf finished, her eyes knowing. "They always were faster than they looked. Deadlier too."
I kept my expression blank, but inside, satisfaction burned hot.
Good. Let them fear me. Let them remember what they took when they destroyed my pack.
Maya fell into step beside me, keeping her voice low. "You're making quite the impression. Half the pack thinks you're going to win the trials."
"What does the other half think?"
"That Kade will kill you before you get the chance."
"Let them think that." I touched the hidden pocket where I'd managed to smuggle my father's blade. Small enough to conceal, sharp enough to end an Alpha. "It'll make my victory sweeter."
The arena was already packed when we arrived. Today's trials were team-based combat—three against three, testing strategy and cooperation.
I was paired with two male wolves I didn't know. They eyed me warily.
"Try not to get in my way," one said. "Just because you won yesterday doesn't mean—"
"I'll take point," I interrupted. "You two flank. When I create an opening, you finish them."
"You're giving us orders?" The other wolf bristled. "You're a rogue. We don't take—"
"Then lose without me." I moved toward the arena entrance. "Your choice."
They followed. Smart wolves knew when to swallow their pride.
Our opponents were Bloodmoon warriors—experienced, coordinated, lethal. The crowd expected them to destroy us.
They were wrong.
The fight lasted four minutes.
I moved like water through their formation, creating chaos, forcing them to break coordination. My teammates capitalized on every opening I created. By the time the referee called the match, all three opponents were down, and we hadn't taken a single serious hit.
The crowd went insane.
"SILVER DEATH! SILVER DEATH!"
The nickname echoed through the arena like a battle cry.
I looked up at Kade's throne.
He was leaning forward, elbows on his knees, completely focused on me. His Beta, Garrett, was saying something, but Kade didn't respond. Didn't even acknowledge him.
He only had eyes for me.
Our gazes locked across the arena, and I felt it again—that electric pull I didn't understand. Like invisible threads connecting us, pulling tight.
His wolf flashed in his eyes. Red bleeding into crimson.
My wolf Luna stirred in response, pressing against my skin, wanting to shift even though the fight was over.
What was happening?
I broke eye contact first, unsettled, and walked out of the arena.
I won two more fights that day.
By sunset, I'd advanced to the final tier of competitors—only eight wolves left, including me.
Tomorrow would be individual combat. Winner advances to the full moon trial.
The final trial.
My chance to face Kade.
But as I headed back to my quarters, Selene Nightshade intercepted me in the hallway.
"Enjoying your winning streak?" Her smile was venomous. "Don't get comfortable. It won't last."
I should have walked away. Should have ignored her.
But five years of rage made me reckless.
"Jealous?" I tilted my head. "I've been here two days and already earned more respect than you've gotten in years of trying to be Luna."
Her eyes flashed. "You're nothing but a rogue playing dress-up. When Kade gets bored of whatever game he's playing with you, he'll toss you aside like garbage."
"Is that what happened to you? He got bored?"
Her hand moved faster than I expected—claws extended, aimed at my face.
I caught her wrist an inch from my eye.
"Try that again," I said softly, "and I'll break every bone in your hand."
Wolves were gathering, watching, waiting to see if this would escalate.
Selene jerked her hand back, breathing hard. "You think you're special because you can fight? You're just another dead pack's broken survivor. Kade destroyed you once. He'll do it again."
The words hit their target. My grip on control slipped.
My wolf surged forward, and I shifted before I could stop myself.
Luna—my silver wolf—exploded into existence, snarling. Selene stumbled backward, shocked.
Guards appeared instantly, weapons drawn.
"Stand down!" Garrett's voice cut through the tension. "Both of you, now!"
I forced myself to shift back, breathing hard. "She attacked first."
"I saw." Garrett's expression was stern. "Selene, return to your quarters. Consider this your warning."
"She's dangerous!" Selene shrieked. "She threatened me!"
"You tried to claw her face. She defended herself." Garrett turned to me. "Silver, you need to control your wolf. Shifting outside the trials is—"
"I know." I cut him off. "It won't happen again."
Selene shot me one last venomous look before storming off.
Garrett waited until she was gone before speaking quietly: "You're making powerful enemies."
"I made those enemies five years ago." I straightened my shirt. "Selene's just mad I'm stealing her spotlight."
"It's not about spotlight." Garrett's eyes were serious. "She's been working toward becoming Luna since she was sixteen. You appearing out of nowhere, dominating the trials, earning the pack's respect—it threatens everything she's built."
"Good. She can get in line behind everyone else who wants me dead."
"Aria—" He stopped himself. "Silver. I'm trying to help you."
"Why?" I studied him. "You're Kade's Beta. His most loyal wolf. Why would you help his enemy?"
"Because Kade needs someone who challenges him." Garrett's answer surprised me. "He's been drowning in guilt for five years. Maybe you're exactly what he needs."
"I'm not here to save him. I'm here to kill him."
"Maybe." Garrett's slight smile was infuriating. "Or maybe fate has other plans."
He left before I could respond.
Day three of the trials arrived with storm clouds.
I faced my final opponent before the full moon trial—a massive male wolf named Erik, known for brutality and illegal kills. He'd put four competitors in critical condition during his fights.
The crowd expected him to destroy me. Expected the "Silver Death" streak to finally end.
They were wrong.
The fight lasted seven minutes—longer than any of my previous matches. Erik was strong, experienced, vicious. But he was also predictable.
Angry.
And anger made wolves careless.
I let him think he was winning. Let him get overconfident. When he lunged for a killing blow, I sidestepped and used his momentum against him.
My kick caught him mid-air, sending him crashing into the arena wall.
He didn't get up.
The crowd's roar shook the foundations.
"SILVER DEATH WINS! SILVER DEATH ADVANCES TO THE FULL MOON TRIAL!"
I stood in the center of the arena, breathing hard, covered in blood and bruises, victorious.
And I looked straight at Kade.
He was standing now, hands gripping the railing, his entire body tense. Our eyes met, and something passed between us—acknowledgment, challenge, something deeper I refused to name.
Tomorrow night, under the full moon, it would be just him and me.
Just like I'd planned.
Just like fate apparently wanted.
The crowd chanted my earned name as I left the arena: "Silver Death! Silver Death! SILVER DEATH!"
But all I could feel was Kade's eyes on my back, burning like brands.
And my wolf's confusing response—not hatred, not fear.
Recognition.
That night, I stood at my window, staring at the full moon rising over the mountains.
Tomorrow, everything would end. One way or another.
I pulled out my father's silver blade, checking the edge. Still sharp. Still ready.
"Tomorrow, Dad," I whispered. "Tomorrow I finish what he started."
Movement caught my eye. Across the courtyard, on his private balcony, Kade stood alone.
Staring at the same moon.
And even from this distance, I felt it—that pull. That connection I didn't understand.
Luna stirred inside me: Something's coming. Something big.
"What?" I asked aloud.
Fate, my wolf whispered. Our fate. His fate. All tangled together.
"I don't believe in fate."
You will, Luna said, and something in her tone made my blood run cold. Tomorrow, you'll believe.
I watched Kade across the distance, and I swore he turned his head. Swore he looked directly at my window.
Our eyes met through the darkness and moonlight.
And for one breathless moment, the world held still.
Tomorrow, I'd kill him.
Tomorrow, I'd get my revenge.
So why does my soul feel like it's about to shatter?
I closed my curtains, blocking out his silhouette.
Blocking out the truth I wasn't ready to face:
That something was coming tomorrow night.
Something neither of us was prepared for.
Something that would change everything.