The Trial of Fire had left Selene's body aching, her feet raw and blistered, but it was nothing compared to the storm brewing inside her. The rogues now looked at her differently—not with scorn, but with wary respect. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that the fire had only been the beginning.
And she was right.
At dawn, Aria summoned them to a clearing beyond the rogue camp. The morning air was sharp with mist, and the forest felt strangely hushed, as if waiting. Damon stood tall, radiating Alpha dominance, but his hand brushed Selene's back in a silent reassurance.
Aria was already there, waiting like a queen on a throne of shadows. Her wolves flanked her, silent and watchful. She greeted them with a thin smile that never reached her eyes.
"You survived," Aria said to Selene, her voice carrying a grudging note of admiration. "I'll admit, I didn't think you would."
Selene lifted her chin. "Neither did I."
Damon growled low. "Enough games, Aria. You wanted proof, she gave it. Now speak your terms."
Aria's smile widened. "Straight to the point. I always liked that about you." She paced slowly, her boots crunching the frost. "The Council's power grows. They hunt not only rogues but packs that question their authority. Even Alphas bend the knee or risk annihilation."
Her gaze sharpened. "But you, Damon—you dare to defy them. You dare to protect what they would destroy. That makes you dangerous. And useful."
Selene's stomach knotted. "So this was never about proving me. It was about testing him."
Aria's eyes glimmered. "Clever girl. Yes. The bond may be your fate, but the Council will see it as a weapon. If we are to stand against them, we need more than courage. We need an alliance."
Damon's jaw tightened. "And what do you want in return?"
Aria stopped pacing. Her voice dropped, heavy with intent. "Half your territory. A seat at your table. Recognition as your equal."
The clearing went silent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Damon's growl rolled like thunder. "You dare—"
"Yes," Aria cut him off, sharp as a blade. "Without us, the Council will crush you. With us, you have an army. I offer survival, Damon. All I ask is power."
Selene's chest tightened. The offer was both tempting and terrifying. She glanced at Damon, his golden eyes burning with fury.
"You want half of Blackthorn?" Damon spat. "You want to stand beside me as if you've earned it?"
Aria's smile was pure steel. "I earned it the moment I kept my rogues alive in a world that wanted us dead. Can you say the same, Alpha?"
Damon's fists clenched, but Selene touched his arm gently. Her voice was soft, but it carried. "If we refuse, what then?"
Aria's gaze flicked to her, sharp with interest. "Then when the Council comes for you, don't expect us to lift a claw. You'll burn alone."
The words hung in the air like smoke. Damon turned away, pacing at the edge of the clearing, his shoulders tight with rage. Selene could feel his conflict through the bond—the weight of his pack, his pride, his love for her, all pulling in opposite directions.
Finally, he turned back, his voice low and dangerous. "If I agree, there will be conditions. Blackthorn is mine. My pack bows to me, not you. You will have a seat at my table, but never at my head."
Aria tilted her head, considering. "So, not an equal… but an ally."
"Yes," Damon said, his voice like iron. "An ally. Nothing more."
Selene watched the two of them, the tension sparking like lightning. For the first time, she realized this wasn't just about survival. It was about control. And if they weren't careful, the alliance might become a war of its own.
Aria extended her hand, her eyes glimmering with something unreadable. "Then we have an accord."
Damon hesitated. Selene held her breath.
Finally, he took her hand, his grip crushing, his voice a growl. "Betray me, and I'll end you."
Aria only smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it."
That night, the rogues and Blackthorn wolves gathered together for the first time. Fires blazed in the clearing, shadows dancing across faces both familiar and strange. Meat roasted over the flames, and the air was thick with uneasy truce.
Selene sat beside Damon, watching the mingling packs. Some wolves exchanged cautious nods. Others glared daggers, distrust still simmering beneath the surface.
"This won't last," Selene whispered.
Damon glanced at her, his hand covering hers. "It doesn't have to last. It only has to hold long enough."
She met his gaze, searching. "Long enough for what?"
His eyes softened, but his voice was fierce. "For me to tear the Council apart."
Her breath caught. The fire reflected in his golden eyes, and for the first time, Selene truly saw the weight of his vision. He wasn't just fighting for them anymore. He was fighting to change everything.
And she wondered if love alone would be enough to carry them through it.
Author's Note:
🔥⚔️ The rogue alliance is sealed, but at what cost? Aria now sits at Damon's table, and the Council looms closer than ever. Do you trust Aria's bargain, or do you think betrayal is already in motion? Vote with Power Stones if you're ready for the war to begin! ❤️