The woods that once echoed with the crack of twigs and frantic breaths now fell eerily silent as Aria and Kael emerged into the clearing. Before them stood a towering structure, ancient and foreboding—the Alpha's Fortress. Constructed of dark gray stone and wrapped in tendrils of ivy, it sat like a beast upon the land, exuding strength, authority, and danger.
Aria slowed her steps, her legs aching, heart hammering, but Kael remained by her side. The grip he had on her hand wasn't forceful, but firm. Protective. Assuring. She was still wary of him—of the powerful energy that radiated off him like wildfire—but as the cool shadows of the fortress loomed closer, she found herself clinging tighter to his warmth.
The gates groaned open with an ominous creak, as though the very walls recognized Kael's return. Guards bowed with clenched fists over their hearts, their eyes flickering to Aria with confusion and something darker—suspicion. She didn't belong here. And she felt it.
Inside, the fortress was even more intimidating. High ceilings arched above their heads, lined with torch-lit sconces that made the stone walls dance with orange light. A long hallway stretched out ahead, lined with warriors, advisors, and courtiers. Whispers rippled through the crowd like a rising tide.
"Who is she?"
"A human?"
"No scent of pack…"
Kael ignored them all, his presence parting the crowd like a wave. Aria kept her head down, her heart caught somewhere between panic and awe. Everything was too much, too fast.
At the end of the corridor stood a massive iron door, engraved with ancient sigils. Kael raised his hand, pressing his palm to a symbol at its center. A low hum echoed through the chamber before the door swung open, revealing a war room of sorts—maps, scrolls, and weapons adorning every surface.
"This will be your sanctuary for now," Kael said softly, leading her inside.
Aria looked around, her gaze landing on a single object resting on a velvet cloth—a glass orb swirling with silver mist.
"What is that?"
"The Oracle's Eye," he replied. "It sees fragments of futures. Only the Alpha and a few others can access it."
Her eyes narrowed. "And why am I here, Kael? What does any of this have to do with me?"
Kael hesitated, his jaw clenching. "You carry a legacy far older than you understand. The necklace I gave you—it wasn't just to buy you time. It awakened something ancient inside you. A bloodline that was hidden for centuries."
Before Aria could process the weight of his words, the door opened again, and a new presence swept in.
Maria.
Tall, stunning, with fiery red hair and piercing eyes that could cut glass. Her lips curled into a cold smile as she entered the room, her gaze sliding from Kael to Aria with barely veiled disdain.
"So... this is her? The girl you risked the Eastern border for?"
Kael's expression hardened. "Maria, this isn't the time."
Maria stepped closer, circling Aria like a predator. "She looks fragile. Are we adopting strays now, Kael?"
Aria bristled but held her tongue. It was clear Maria was more than just another warrior. There was history here. And jealousy.
"Her name is Aria," Kael said, stepping between them. "And she is under my protection."
Maria laughed, low and sharp. "Of course, she is."
Kael took Aria's hand again, this time less to guide and more to shield. "We need to prepare. The Council meets tomorrow, and they will demand answers."
As they left the war room, Aria glanced back at Maria, who stood like a storm waiting to erupt. She was beginning to understand: the fortress wasn't just made of stone and steel.
It was made of politics. Of secrets. Of people who would rather see her gone.
In her new chamber, Aria stared at her reflection in a burnished mirror. Dirt-smudged face. Tangled hair. The necklace pulsed faintly against her skin.
"Why me?" she whispered.
But this time, the question wasn't one of fear. It was one of challenge.
She was done running.
Kael had given her time, a place, and something else she couldn't quite name yet. It was time she began to uncover what that meant—who she really was—before others decided it for her.
And somewhere beyond the fortress walls, the moon began to rise.