"What do you mean it's not Kaelen's baby?" Luna screamed, her hands protectively covering her stomach. "Whose is it then?"
The quiet that followed was deafening. Everyone stared at Jax, waiting for his answer.
"I can't tell you here," Jax said finally, his eyes moving to Kaelen. "But you need to trust me, Luna. Your life depends on it."
Kaelen grabbed Jax by the throat. "You knew? All this time?"
Aric pulled Luna further into the house, away from the open door. Vera slammed it shut and locked it, her hands shaking.
"We need to leave," she whispered quickly. "There's another way out through the back."
Luna couldn't move. Her mind was spinning. If the baby wasn't Kaelen's, whose was it? How could she not know something so important about her own child?
A crash against the door made them all jump. Kaelen was trying to break in.
"Luna!" he roared. "You can't hide the truth forever!"
Aric took Luna's hands, his eyes filled with purpose. "Do you trust me?"
Luna paused only a moment before nodding. After everything she'd learned, Aric was the only one who hadn't lied to her.
"Then come with me," he said, leading her toward the back of the house.
Vera pulled aside a small rug, uncovering another trapdoor.
"This leads to the river," she explained, pulling it open. "Follow it downstream and you'll reach the old temple ruins. Wait for me there."
"You're not coming?" Luna asked.
Vera shook her head. "Someone needs to throw them off your trail. I'll meet you by dawn."
The front door shattered as Kaelen rammed against it again. They were running out of time.
"Be careful," Aric told his sister before helping Luna down into the cave.
This one was smaller than the last, causing them to crawl on hands and knees. Luna could hear water running somewhere ahead. Behind them, wood cracked as the front door finally gave way.
"Hurry," Aric whispered, pushing Luna forward.
They crawled as fast as they could, the sounds of yelling and fighting fading behind them. Luna's knees hurt and her back ached, but fear kept her going.
Finally, the path opened up into a small cave. A narrow stream ran through it, disappearing into the darkness.
"We need to wade through the water," Aric said. "It will hide our scent."
Luna nodded, too tired to argue. She stepped into the cold stream, gasping as the water reached her legs.
"It's not deep," Aric comforted her, taking her hand. "Just cold."
They walked slowly downstream, the water numbing Luna's legs. Her mind was still reeling from Jax's admission. Not Kaelen's baby. The words repeated in her head, making no sense.
After what felt like hours, they reached a place where the cave opened up to the night sky. The stream flowed out into a wider river, and on the far side, Luna could see the crumbling stone walls of what must be the temple ruins.
"Almost there," Aric said encouragingly.
They waded to the bank and climbed out, their clothes soaked and heavy. Luna was shaking uncontrollably now, her teeth chattering.
Aric wrapped his arms around her, his body warm despite his wet clothes. "Let me help you," he whispered.
A soft glow spread from his chest to hers, warming Luna from the inside out. She gasped as the warmth reached her stomach, where the baby reacted with a gentle flutter.
"How did you do that?" she asked, looking up at him in wonder.
"The soul bond," Aric stated. "It lets us share strength, energy... everything."
They made their way to the ruins, finding cover under what was once a grand archway. Aric gathered some dry leaves and sticks, somehow managing to start a small fire despite everything being damp.
Luna sat close to the fires, watching Aric's face in the flickering light. He was beautiful, yes, but it was more than that. There was a kindness in his eyes, a softness that Kaelen had never possessed.
"Why didn't you run when you found out about my baby?" she asked suddenly. "Now that we know it's not even Kaelen's..."
Aric sat beside her, his arm touching hers. "The baby is a part of you, Luna. And you're a part of me. It doesn't matter whose it is."
Tears filled Luna's eyes. After months of rejection and fear, his welcome was almost too much to bear.
"I still don't understand any of this," she revealed. "The soul bond, my powers, this baby... it's all happening so fast."
"I know," Aric said softly. "I've had years to come to terms with it. You've had days."
"Years?" Luna looked at him in surprise. "You've known about me for years?"
Aric nodded, his eyes reflecting the firelight. "I've been searching for you since I was sixteen. The dreams started then – visions of a girl with silver light around her. A girl with the same birthmark as mine."
"But how? Why?"
"My grandmother was a seer," Aric stated. "Before she died, she told me I would find my soul mate – the last descendant of the wolf queen. She said we were destined to be together, to restore balance to the wolf packs."
Luna thought about all the strange events that had led her to Aric – running away from Kaelen, finding the cabin in the woods, their chance meeting in the forest.
"It doesn't feel like destiny," she said. "It feels like chaos."
Aric laughed, a warm sound that made Luna smile despite everything. "Maybe destiny is chaotic. Or maybe chaos is just destiny in disguise."
They fell silent, watching the flames dance. Luna's hand found Aric's, their fingers intertwining easily. It felt right, like their hands had been made to fit together.
"If the baby isn't Kaelen's," Luna said slowly, "then whose is it?"
Aric squeezed her hand. "Does it matter? The baby is yours. That's what's important."
Luna put her free hand on her stomach, feeling the now-familiar flutter. "I've been so scared, Aric. So alone. Everyone had an opinion about what I should do, where I should go. No one just... accepted me."
"I accept you," Aric said simply. "All of you."
The truthfulness in his voice broke something inside Luna. The walls she'd built around her heart since Kaelen's betrayal began to fall.
"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered. "I don't know if I'm strong enough."
"You are," Aric promised her. "But you don't have to be strong alone anymore. Let me help you carry this burden."
He reached out slowly, giving Luna time to pull away. When she didn't, he put his hand over hers on her stomach. The baby kicked against their joined hands, as if in agreement.
"I promise to protect both of you," Aric vowed. "With my life if necessary."
Luna looked into his eyes and saw no deception there, no hidden purpose. Just pure, honest dedication. It scared her how much she wanted to believe him.
"What if the prophecy is true?" she asked. "What if my baby brings destruction to all werewolves?"
"Then we'll face it together," Aric said. "But prophecies are tricky things. Often, they mean something different than what we first think."
A twig snapped close, making them both tense. Aric quickly put out the fire, sending them into darkness.
"Someone's coming," he whispered.
Luna strained her ears, listening. Footsteps approached, slow and deliberate. Not running like a pursuer, but not trying to hide either.
"It's me," called a familiar voice. "Don't be afraid."
"Jax," Luna breathed, relief rushing through her.
Her brother stepped into the ruins, alone and unarmed. His face was bruised, and there was blood on his shirt.
"What happened?" Luna asked, running to him. "Where's Kaelen?"
"I managed to get away," Jax said, groaning as Luna touched his face. "Vera is safe too. She led them south while I came to find you."
Luna felt Aric tense beside her. "How did you know where to look?"
Jax smiled sadly. "I've known about this place for years. It's where our parents first met."
"Our parents?" Luna repeated, confused.
Jax nodded. "There's so much I need to tell you, Luna. About our family, about your baby."
"Then tell me," Luna ordered. "No more secrets, Jax. Who is the father of my baby if not Kaelen?"
Jax took a deep breath, looking from Luna to Aric and back again. "It's complicated. The baby wasn't conceived in the normal way."
"What do you mean?" Luna asked, her hand going protectively to her stomach.
"Your pregnancy is the result of ancient magic," Jax stated. "A spell cast by our mother before she died. She knew what was coming – the wars between packs, the hunt for the wolf queen's bloodline. She wanted to ensure that bloodline would continue."
Luna shook her head, not understanding. "Are you saying my baby was... created by magic?"
"Yes," Jax nodded. "But it still needs a father's essence to be complete. That's why the baby responded to Aric's touch. It recognized him."
Luna looked at Aric, who seemed as shocked as she felt. "How is that possible?"
"Because," Jax said quietly, "according to the prophecy, the soul bond must be completed for the child to be born. The baby needs both of you."
Aric reached for Luna's hand, holding it tightly. "What are you saying, Jax?"
Jax looked at them both, his eyes grave. "I'm saying that biologically, the baby isn't Kaelen's. But it isn't fully Luna's either. Not yet. For the baby to live, it needs to bond with Luna's soul mate. With you, Aric."
Luna's mind reeled. This was too much, too strange, too hard to believe.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" she asked Jax, rage rising through her confusion.
"I wasn't sure," Jax revealed. "Not until I saw you with Aric. The silver light, the connection between you... it confirms everything our mother predicted."
Before Luna could answer, a howl cut through the night – not one wolf, but many. The hunting pack had found them.
"We need to go," Aric said quickly. "Now."
Jax shook his head. "There's no time. They're too close." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial filled with bright blue liquid. "Take this. Both of you need to drink it."
"What is it?" Luna asked suspiciously.
"It will complete the soul bond," Jax stated. "And protect the baby from Kaelen. He can sense it now because it's incomplete. Once the bond is sealed, the baby will be hidden from him."
Luna looked at the vial, then at Aric. Could she trust Jax? Could she trust her own heart?
The howls grew closer. They were running out of time.
"I'm not asking you to love me, Luna," Aric said softly. "Just to trust me enough to protect you and your baby."
Luna thought of everything that had happened – the betrayals, the revelations, the strange link she'd felt with Aric from the beginning. Maybe this was fate after all.
She took the vial from Jax and uncorked it. The liquid inside glowed brighter, casting blue light on their faces.
"If I do this," she said to Aric, "we're bound forever. Are you sure that's what you want?"
"I've never been more sure of anything," Aric answered without hesitation.
Luna took a small sip and passed the vial to Aric, who did the same. The liquid tasted sweet and warm, like honey mixed with sunshine.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then heat burst in Luna's chest, spreading through her entire body. She gasped, falling to her knees as silver light burst from her skin, reaching for Aric, who was glowing with the same light.
Their auras met, twisted, merged into one bright flare. Luna felt Aric's presence in her mind, his feelings flooding through her – his worry, his hope, his devotion. It was overwhelming and beautiful and frightening all at once.
Just as suddenly as it started, the light faded. Luna felt different somehow – stronger, more complete. The baby moved inside her, a feeling of happiness emanating from her womb.
"It worked," Jax breathed, looking at them in awe.
Luna turned to Aric, seeing him with new eyes. She could feel him now, like a warm presence in the back of her mind. The soul bond was real, and it was strong.
A slow clap broke the silence. Luna whirled around to see a figure step out from the darkness – a woman with long dark hair and cold eyes.
"How touching," Serena said, a cruel smile on her face. "The wolf queen has found her king. But I'm afraid your fairytale ends here."
She raised her hand, revealing a strange-looking gun pointed straight at Luna's heart.
"Kaelen wants you alive," Serena said coldly. "But he didn't say anything about your new mate or your traitor brother."
Luna moved to stand in front of Aric and Jax, her hand on her stomach. "Don't do this, Serena. Please."
Serena's smile widened. "Oh, but I must. You see, there's something about that baby of yours that everyone seems to be forgetting."
"What's that?" Luna asked, trying to buy time.
Serena's eyes gleamed with hatred. "According to the prophecy, whoever controls the wolf queen's child controls the future of all werewolves. And I have no intention of letting that power slip through my fingers."
She pointed the gun at Luna's stomach.
"The baby might need its mother," Serena said, "but the prophecy never mentioned anything about needing its father."
Her
finger tightened on the trigger as she switched her aim to Aric. "Say goodbye to your soul mate, little queen."