Aria's POV
I'm falling through darkness that feels alive.
Cold hands grab at me, pulling at my hair, my clothes, my skin. Voices whisper terrible things promises of pain, threats of what's coming, laughter that makes my bones hurt.
ARIA! Zane's roar echoes above me.
Then he's falling too, crashing through the darkness like a bullet. He catches me mid-air, wrapping his body around mine to take the impact.
We hit something hard. Zane grunts in pain but doesn't let go.
Darius and Cael land beside us a second later, already in fighting stance.
Where are we? I gasp, trying to see through the darkness.
Underground, Darius says, his eyes glowing silver as he scans our surroundings. A pocket dimension. Created by powerful magic.
Lights flicker on, harsh and blinding. When my eyes adjust, I see we're in a massive cavern. The walls are covered in ancient writing that glows red. And surrounding us are dozens of cloaked figures.
The man from before steps forward, pulling back his hood.
I stop breathing.
Hello, daughter, Alpha Marcus says with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.
My father. Here. Working with the Covenant.
You, I whisper. You did this. You planned this.
Of course I did. He looks proud of himself. Did you really think your rejection was an accident? That Kade chose Aurora on his own? I've been planning this for months.
The betrayal cuts deeper than any wound. Why?
Because you're worth more broken than whole, Marcus explains like he's discussing the weather. A dormant True Luna is useless. But one who's been rejected, hurt, pushed to her limits? One who awakens in desperation? That's when the real power emerges.
You used her, Zane snarls, his body vibrating with rage. Your own daughter.
I made her valuable, Marcus corrects. The Covenant pays well for True Luna blood. But they pay even better for a live one at full power.
You sold me, I say, my voice hollow. To them.
Think of it as a trade. They get to study you. I get enough money and power to rule all the packs. He shrugs. You should be honored. Your sacrifice will change everything.
Something inside me breaks. Not the sad kind of breaking. The angry kind.
No, I say quietly.
Marcus laughs. No? You don't get a choice, Aria. You never did. You were always just a tool
I SAID NO!
Power explodes from my body. The silver runes on my skin flare like suns. Every single cloaked figure stumbles back from the force of it.
Even my father looks shocked.
I'm done being used, I say, my voice echoing with ancient authority. Done being hurt. Done being weak. You wanted me to awaken? Congratulations. You created something you can't control.
I feel my three Alphas move closer, supporting me with their presence. Their partial bonds feed me strength.
Impressive display, a woman's voice says.
Another figure steps forward, pulling back her hood.
Aurora.
My sister looks different. Her eyes are cold, empty. Dark veins spread across her skin like poison.
Aurora? My voice breaks. What did they do to you?
They offered me what you stole, she says flatly. Power. Respect. A place in the world. All I had to do was help them catch you.
I never stole anything from you
You existed! Aurora screams, her mask cracking. Father always wondered if you'd awaken. Always watched you, waited for you, while I did everything right and got nothing! I was the strong one. The perfect one. But you're the True Luna? It should have been me!
I didn't ask for this, I say desperately. Aurora, please. We're sisters
We're not anything anymore. She raises her hand. Dark magic swirls around her fingers. The Covenant promised if I help them break you, they'll transfer your power to me. I'll become the True Luna. And you'll become nothing.
That's not possible, Darius says, but his voice wavers. That magic doesn't exist
It does now, Marcus says. Ancient spells, rewritten. Your sister volunteered for the procedure. Once we drain Aria's essence, Aurora will be reborn.
It'll kill you both, Cael snarls at Aurora. You can't transfer True Luna power without destroying the host
I don't care, Aurora says simply. If I can't have it, at least she won't either.
My sister is willing to die just to take my power away. The realization hurts worse than any physical pain.
We're leaving, Zane announces, moving to shield me. Now.
You're not going anywhere, Marcus says. He signals the Covenant members. Take them. Separate the Alphas from the Luna. Break their partial bonds.
The cloaked figures attack.
My three Alphas fight like demons, but there are too many. Magic binds their movements, slows their strikes. I try to help, try to command the attackers to stop, but something is blocking my power.
Silver dust in the air, Darius gasps, struggling against magical chains. It dampens True Luna abilities
A Covenant member grabs me from behind. I scream, fighting, but more hands join in. They're dragging me away from my Alphas.
ARIA! All three roar my name.
Let her go! Lyra's voice echoes through the cavern.
My best friend drops from somewhere above, landing in the middle of the fight. She's not alone. Twenty wolves pour in behind her the neutral territory pack.
How did you find us? I cry.
Followed the magic signature, Lyra says, her eyes glowing with witch-fire. Did you forget I'm half-witch? I can track dimensional portals.
She throws a vial at the ground. Purple smoke explodes, clearing the silver dust from the air.
My power roars back to life.
I shift instantly, my white wolf breaking free from human hands. Power pulses through me as I land beside my three Alphas.
Together, we're unstoppable.
Zane's massive black wolf tears through Covenant members like paper. Darius moves with perfect precision, every attack landing exactly where it needs to. Cael is everywhere at once, too fast to track.
And me? I command.
STOP, I order with everything I have.
Half the Covenant wolves freeze instantly, unable to fight my True Luna authority.
Marcus's face twists with rage. The ritual. Now!
Aurora raises both hands. Dark magic erupts from her palms, forming a circle around me. The ground glows with symbols I don't recognize.
I'm sorry, sister, Aurora whispers, tears streaming down her face. But I can't live in your shadow anymore.
The ritual activates.
Pain like I've never known rips through me. It's stealing my power, pulling it out through my skin. I scream, falling to my knees.
My three Alphas roar in fury and agony they feel it through our partial bonds.
The bonds! Darius shouts. She's draining them too. If we don't break connection, she'll kill us all!
Then we die, Zane snarls, moving closer to me instead of away. I'm not leaving her.
Neither am I, Cael adds, pressing against my side.
Idiots, Darius mutters, but he joins them. Brave, loyal idiots.
All three Alphas place their hands on me, pushing their strength through our bonds instead of pulling away.
The ritual backfires.
Instead of draining me, it amplifies. My power combines with theirs, creating something new. Something the Covenant never expected.
The golden threads of our partial bonds explode into full mate bonds all three at once.
Complete. Unbreakable. Eternal.
The backlash of power destroys Aurora's ritual circle. She screams as dark magic rebounds into her body.
Marcus catches her as she falls. For one second, I see fear in his eyes. Fear for Aurora. Fear of what he's done.
Retreat! he orders the Covenant. RETREAT!
They vanish in swirls of dark smoke, taking Aurora with them.
The cavern starts collapsing. Lyra grabs my arm. We need to go NOW!
My three mates because that's what they are now, truly shift back to human form. We run for the portal exit as the pocket dimension tears itself apart.
We burst through into the Veil just as everything behind us implodes.
I collapse in the purple mist, gasping. My three Alphas surround me immediately.
Are you okay? Zane asks, checking me for injuries.
Did the bonds Cael starts.
Complete, Darius finishes, his eyes wide with wonder. All three. I've never seen anything like it.
I can feel them now. Three golden threads connecting my heart to theirs, blazing like stars. Permanent. Forever.
I'm sorry, I whisper. You didn't choose this. The ritual forced the bonds
Stop, Zane interrupts gently. We chose. We could have pulled away. We stayed.
We'll always stay, Cael adds.
In every future I see, we're together, Darius says softly. This was always meant to be.
Lyra helps me stand. Okay, that was insane. Your father tried to sell you, your sister tried to steal your power, and you accidentally completed three mate bonds. Normal Tuesday for you?
I laugh, even though I'm crying. My family hates me. The Covenant wants to harvest me. And I'm mated to three Alphas I barely know. What am I supposed to do now?
Now, a cold voice says from the shadows, you pay for what you did to my daughter.
A woman steps into view. Beautiful, ancient, and radiating power that makes my skin crawl.
Behind her are hundreds of wolves. An army.
I am Morgana, she announces. High Priestess of the Covenant. And you, little Luna, just destroyed my heir. She gestures to where Aurora disappeared. That was my granddaughter. My legacy. My future.
Wait. Granddaughter?
I look at the woman's face. See the resemblance to my mother. To Aurora. To me.
You're my grandmother, I breathe.
Was, she corrects coldly. Before you killed your sister and chose these mongrels over your own blood.
Aurora's not dead
She will be. The ritual backlash poisoned her. She has hours, maybe less. Morgana's smile is cruel. But you can save her. Surrender yourself to us. Let us complete the transfer. Your life for hers.
I look at my three mates. At Lyra. At the wolves who came to help me.
Then back at Morgana.
No, I say clearly. Aurora made her choice. I made mine.
Then your sister's death is on your hands, Morgana says. And I will make you suffer for it.
She raises her hand. The army of Covenant wolves surges forward.