The chains were finally lifted.
Not removed.
Lifted.
Aiden felt the difference immediately.
The wolves surrounding him did not trust him.
Two large alphas held each arm tightly, claws carefully restrained but ready.
Aiden could have fought.
He knew he could.
He had escaped worse.
But there were too many.
And more importantly...
He needed answers.
His eyes remained fixed on the temple ahead.
The Moon God.
Theron.
The thought kept repeating in his mind.
If I can just speak to him.
If he sees me...
If he remembers even a little...
Everything would be fine.
Because this was Theron.
His mate.
The god who searched lifetimes for him.
The god who held their pups like they were the most precious things in existence.
The god who looked at Aiden like he was the center of the universe.
He couldn't truly believe that this was different.
Could he?
The ceremony began.
The elder stepped forward.
His voice echoed through the stone temple.
"Under the light of the moon, we return what was given."
Aiden's jaw tightened.
"Stop calling me that."
The elder continued.
"The Moon God watches."
The gathered wolves lowered their heads.
"The Moon God accepts."
Aiden pulled against the alphas holding him.
"I said stop."
His voice carried through the temple.
Several wolves looked uncomfortable.
Some people pitied him.
Someone whispered.
"He's still fighting."
"Poor child."
"He doesn't understand the honor."
Honor.
Aiden almost laughed.
He wasn't being honored.
He was being handed over.
Then...
The air changed.
Every wolf immediately became silent.
The moonlight grew brighter.
A presence filled the temple.
Aiden stopped breathing.
Because he knew.
Before he even looked.
He knew.
The wolves bowed.
"The Moon God has arrived."
Aiden slowly lifted his head.
And there he was.
Theron.
No scars from battles.
No exhaustion from lifetimes.
No softness from raising children.
Just...
a god.
Young.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
His hair moved slightly in the moonlight.
His expression remained calm.
Then Aiden saw his eyes.
Amber.
The same eyes.
But not the same person.
Aiden waited.
For recognition.
To my surprise.
For anything.
A small change.
A flicker.
A sign.
Anything.
But there was nothing.
Theron looked at him the way someone looked at an object placed before them.
Not hatred.
Not anger.
Assessment.
Like he was judging the quality of a beautiful vase.
Aiden felt something inside him crack.
Because that was worse.
A monster could be hated.
A monster could be fought.
But this...
This was Theron looking at him and seeing nothing.
The elder bowed.
"Great Moon God, your offering has been brought."
Theron's gauze moved over Aiden.
"An omega."
His voice was calm.
"Healthy."
Aiden stared.
Healthy?
That was all?
After everything?
After lifetimes?
He was just...
an offering.
Theron looked away slightly.
"It will serve its purpose."
Something in Aiden snapped.
The alphas holding him tightened their grip.
Too late.
Aiden looked directly at the god before him.
He loved the face.
At the eyes he had cried for.
And all he felt was anger.
Deep.
Raw.
Painful.
"Let me go."
The temple went silent.
The wolves froze.
Theron's eyes returned to him.
Aiden's voice shook.
Not from fear.
From heartbreak.
"Let me go, you fucking bastard."
The entire temple stopped breathing.
The alphas looked horrified.
No one spoke to the Moon God that way.
Ever.
But Aiden didn't care.
Because the person standing in front of him was supposed to know him.
Supposed to love him.
Supposed to choose him.
Instead...
he was just another sacrifice beneath the moon.