I thought the night would bring peace.
I was wrong.
The whispers wouldn't stop. Even in the safety of Darius's lodge, I could hear them outside, spreading like wildfire through the village.
She's chosen.
She glowed like the moon.
The Goddess marked her… or cursed her.
Their voices weren't soft anymore. They weren't afraid to speak. Some whispered in awe, others in fear. And all of them carried my name.
Aria.
I curled tighter on the furs, pressing my hands against my ears as if that could drown it out. But my wolf heard every word. She prowled inside me, restless, proud. She wanted them to speak louder. She liked being seen.
I hated it.
When dawn came, the whispers grew into something worse—demands.
Wolves gathered outside the lodge, their voices louder now. Some shouted for me to come out and bless the pack. Others growled that I was dangerous, that I was tempting the Goddess's wrath.
The sound swelled until it rattled the walls.
Darius appeared in the doorway, his presence calm but sharp as a blade. His Beta followed close behind, tense and watchful.
"They want you," Darius said quietly.
My stomach twisted. "I didn't ask for this."
His icy gaze softened just slightly. "Power rarely waits for permission."
I shook my head, panic clawing at me. "I'm not their leader. I'm not even their Luna. I don't belong here."
"You do now." His words left no room for argument. "If you hide, their fear will grow. If you face them, their respect will grow. The choice is yours."
But was it really a choice?
The noise outside swelled, a mixture of howls, shouts, and growls. My chest tightened. My wolf pushed against me, urging me to go out there. To show them we weren't weak.
With trembling hands, I stood.
The sunlight was blinding when I stepped out.
The crowd parted instantly, all eyes locking on me. Some wolves dropped their heads in reverence. Others bared their teeth in suspicion. The air pulsed with tension, the weight of their stares pressing on me like chains.
I wanted to run. To vanish into the forest. But my feet stayed rooted.
Darius stood just behind me, silent, a steady presence at my back. He didn't guide me, didn't shield me. He let me stand on my own.
One wolf stepped forward, older, scarred, his voice sharp. "What are you, girl? Goddess-touched? Or cursed?"
The words stung, but I forced myself to lift my chin. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice trembling. "I didn't choose this. But the Goddess… she did. You all saw what happened."
The crowd murmured, restless.
Another voice shouted, "We don't need her! Two Alphas are already enough. She'll tear us apart!"
My wolf growled inside me, heat flaring in my chest. Before I could stop myself, my voice rang out sharper than I intended. "I'm not here to destroy you!"
The silver light flickered faintly across my skin, spilling into the sunlight. Gasps echoed through the crowd.
"I never wanted this," I continued, louder now, my voice carrying over the whispers. "But the bonds chose me. The Goddess chose me. And if that means I stand between Kael and Darius, then I'll do it. Not for them. For all of you."
The murmurs shifted. Some wolves lowered their heads in respect. Others still watched with narrowed eyes, suspicion heavy.
I could feel it—the balance tipping. My words weren't enough. Not yet.
And then, from the edge of the crowd, another voice cut through.
"She's lying."
My blood ran cold.
The speaker was a woman, tall and sharp-eyed, her expression hard. I didn't know her, but the way the wolves parted for her made it clear—she held power here.
"She glows like the Goddess, yes. But power like that doesn't come without cost. What if she brings ruin? What if she breaks both packs? Will you risk everything for her?"
The crowd murmured again, doubt rising.
My throat tightened. I had no answer. Because what if she was right?
Before I could speak, Darius's voice cut through the noise. Cold. Commanding. "Enough."
The crowd stilled instantly.
He stepped forward, his presence wrapping around me like ice and steel. "You question her because you're afraid. But fear is weakness. The Goddess doesn't make mistakes. And if she gave us Aria, then she is ours to protect—not doubt."
His words carried weight, silencing the whispers. But I saw the doubt in their eyes. It wasn't gone. Just buried.
And I knew it wouldn't stay buried for long.
That night, the village felt different. Too quiet, too heavy. Wolves avoided meeting my eyes. Some bowed as I passed. Others turned away.
Kael's fire bond burned hot in my chest, restless, tugging me toward the southern border. I knew he was close. Watching. Waiting.
My wolf whined, torn. Darius's icy bond pulled steadier, calmer, but no less consuming.
I sat by the fire in the lodge, staring at the flames, my thoughts a storm.
Darius broke the silence first. "They won't all accept you at once."
I looked at him, weary. "And if they never do?"
His eyes met mine, steady and unshaken. "Then they'll learn to fear you."
The words sent a chill down my spine.
Because part of me wondered if that was already happening.
Sleep finally came, but it wasn't peaceful. I dreamed of the forest, of silver light spilling from my hands, of Kael's fire and Darius's ice clashing endlessly. I stood between them, glowing brighter, until the world cracked open beneath me.
When I woke, the bond still hummed in my veins. But something else lingered too—a whisper.
Not from Kael. Not from Darius.
From the Goddess.
And her voice was clear.
This is only the beginning.