Luna ducked as a branch flew over her head. Kaelen's angry growl echoed through the forest.
"Run!" Aric grabbed Luna's hand and pulled her forward. "My sister's house is just ahead!"
Luna's heart pounded in her chest as they ran. The baby inside her kicked wildly, as if sensing the danger. Behind them, Kaelen crashed through the underbrush, his boots heavy on the forest floor.
"You can't take what's mine!" Kaelen roared. "Luna belongs to me!"
Aric suddenly stopped and pushed Luna behind him. "Go straight ahead," he whispered. "You'll see a small cottage with a red door. That's Vera's place. Tell her I sent you."
"What about you?" Luna asked, breathing hard.
"I'll hold him off." Aric's eyes flashed amber as he turned to face Kaelen.
Luna wanted to stay and help, but the baby gave another kick. She had to protect her child. With one last look at Aric, she ran toward the road ahead.
The small house appeared just as Aric had described. A red door stood out against the gray stone walls. Luna pounded on it desperately.
The door swung open, and a woman with long dark hair and the same amber eyes as Aric stood there. She looked at Luna's scared face and quickly pulled her inside.
"You must be Luna," the woman said, shutting and closing the door. "I'm Vera."
"How did you know my name?" Luna asked, backing away.
Vera smiled kindly. "Aric contacted me telepathically. It's something we can do as siblings." She guided Luna to a comfortable chair. "Sit. You look exhausted."
Luna sank into the chair gladly. "Aric is fighting Kaelen. He needs help!"
"Aric can handle himself," Vera said quietly. "He's stronger than he looks." She gave Luna a cup of hot tea. "Drink this. It will help with your strength."
Luna sniffed the tea suspiciously. After everything she'd been through, trusting strangers wasn't easy.
Vera laughed. "It's just chamomile with honey. Good for you and the baby."
Luna's hand went to her stomach protectively. "How do you know about my baby?"
"I can sense its energy," Vera said simply. "Just like Aric can. That child is special, Luna. More special than you know."
Before Luna could ask what she meant, the front door burst open. Aric stumbled in, his shirt torn and blood dripping from a cut on his face.
Luna jumped up. "Are you okay? Where's Kaelen?"
"I lost him," Aric said, breathing hard. "For now. But he'll be back."
Vera raced to her brother's side, examining his wounds. "These aren't too bad. Sit down, I'll get my herbs."
Aric fell onto the couch, wincing. Luna knelt beside him, her eyes filled with worry.
"You shouldn't have fought him for me," she said quietly. "You barely know me."
Aric's amber eyes locked with hers. "I know enough."
Something in his gaze made Luna's heart flutter. It wasn't just thanks she felt, but something deeper. Something that scared her.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked.
Before Aric could answer, Vera returned with a small wooden box. She opened it, showing jars of strange-smelling pastes.
"Hold still," she told her brother, dabbing green paste on his face. "This will heal you by morning."
Luna watched them, feeling like a stranger. These people were strangers, yet they were risking everything to help her. It didn't make sense.
"You must be hungry," Vera said, turning to Luna. "Let me get you some food."
While Vera busied herself in the kitchen, Luna moved closer to Aric.
"Thank you for saving me," she said softly.
Aric's hand reached for hers, his fingers warm against her skin. "I've been looking for you for a long time, Luna."
Luna pulled her hand away, confused. "What do you mean? We just met today."
A sad smile crossed Aric's face. "Not exactly."
Before he could explain, Vera returned with a plate of food. The smell made Luna's stomach growl loudly.
"Eat," Vera urged. "You need your strength. Both of you."
Luna ate hungrily, not realizing how starved she was until the first bite hit her tongue. As she ate, Vera and Aric exchanged glances, having a silent discussion Luna couldn't understand.
"What aren't you telling me?" Luna asked, putting down her fork.
Vera sighed. "Luna, do you know what a soul bond is?"
Luna shook her head.
"It's a rare connection between two werewolves," Vera stated. "Stronger than any normal bond. Their souls are linked across time and space."
"What does that have to do with me?" Luna asked, though a part of her already knew the answer.
Aric leaned forward. "You feel it too, don't you? This pull between us. It's not just attraction. It's recognition."
Luna wanted to deny it, but she couldn't. From the moment she'd met Aric in the trees, something had felt familiar about him. Safe. Like coming home after a long trip.
"That's impossible," Luna whispered. "My mate was Kaelen."
"No," Aric said strongly. "Kaelen may have claimed you, but he's not your true mate. I am."
Luna stood up, shaking her head. "You're wrong. I don't even know you."
"But your soul does," Vera said softly. "And your baby recognizes him too."
As if on cue, Luna's baby kicked strongly, making her gasp. The same silver light that had appeared in the forest began to glow at her fingers.
"What's happening to me?" Luna cried.
Aric stood and took her burning hands in his. The moment they touched, the silver light spread to him too, wrapping around both of them like a sparkling ribbon.
"This is the bond," Aric whispered, his eyes full of wonder. "Our souls recognizing each other."
Luna felt tears running down her face. It was beautiful and frightening all at once. "I don't understand. How is this possible?"
Vera watched them with wise eyes. "Luna, there's something you need to know about your heritage. About who you really are."
A loud crash stopped them. The windows broke as something heavy was thrown through them. Smoke began to fill the room.
"Fire bomb!" Aric yelled, pulling Luna toward the back door. "We need to get out!"
Vera grabbed a small bag from a shelf. "The tunnel! Go!"
They rushed to a trapdoor hiding under a rug. Aric helped Luna down a ladder into darkness.
"Hurry!" Vera called, following them.
As they reached the bottom of the ladder, Luna heard a voice that made her blood turn cold.
"I can smell you, little omega," Kaelen called from above. "You and that child you're carrying. Did you really think you could hide from me?"
But it wasn't just Kaelen's voice. There was another voice too, female and cold.
"Find her," the woman ordered. "And kill anyone who stands in your way."
Luna looked at Aric with scared eyes. "Who is that with him?"
Aric's face darkened. "That's Serena. Kaelen's Luna."
Luna's heart stopped. The woman Kaelen had picked over her was here, hunting her down.
"They're coming," Vera whispered anxiously. "We need to move now."
As they rushed through the dark tunnel, Luna felt the baby inside her stir restlessly. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
"Aric," she gasped, stopping suddenly. "The baby—"
Luna doubled over in pain as silver light burst from her entire body, lighting the tunnel like daylight.
"No," Vera breathed, her eyes wide with shock. "It's too soon."
Aric caught Luna as her knees buckled. "What's happening?"
"The baby," Vera said, her voice shaking. "It's coming. Now."
Luna screamed as another wave of pain washed over her. Above them, they heard footsteps and Kaelen's victorious laugh.
"Found you
," he called down into the tunnel. "And this time, there's nowhere to run."