The cave was quiet, but Aria couldn't sleep.
She sat near the dying fire, arms wrapped around her knees, staring at the faint silvery burn that shimmered on her skin — the same place where her mate mark used to be.
But this… this wasn't Kael's.
It was new.
A swirl of energy, like a moon etched in silver flame, faint but pulsing.
"Ronan?" she whispered into the dark.
He stirred, instantly alert. "What's wrong?"
She turned her arm toward the firelight. "Look."
He moved closer, his eyes narrowing at the glowing sigil. "That's… not a wolf mark."
She flinched. "Then what is it?"
Ronan hesitated, then said softly, "It's a lunar glyph. Ancient magic. Forbidden. Only a few bloodlines were ever marked with it… and most were wiped out during the purge."
Aria stared at him, her voice trembling. "You think I'm one of them?"
"I think someone tried to bury what you are," he said, eyes meeting hers. "But it's waking up now — and the people who did it won't let you live freely."
The flames flickered sharply. For a moment, a face appeared in the fire — a hooded figure, red eyes glowing.
Aria gasped and scrambled back.
Ronan jumped to his feet, growling low. "They found us."
The fire roared into smoke and died.
Then silence.
But outside… a whisper on the wind: "The lost moon has risen."
---
Meanwhile…
Kael stood in front of the sealed door in the pack archives — one only the Alpha could open.
Cassian watched, arms crossed. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"She's in danger," Kael said coldly. "And if I'm right… it's not just her."
He pressed his palm to the glyph on the stone door. Light flared, and the door groaned open, revealing an old scroll bound in silver wire.
Kael unwrapped it slowly. As he read, his hands clenched.
> "If the rejected carries the moon's true mark…
She is not the broken one.
She is the weapon."
Kael's heart sank.
He hadn't rejected a weakling.
He'd rejected a weapon — and now, others woul
d try to claim her.
Or destroy her.
---
To be continued...