The sanctuary hummed.
Not softly like before—
but with a deep, thrumming pulse that vibrated through the floors, the walls, the air itself.
Aria clung to Ronan's shirt, her fingers trembling. Silver light continued swirling beneath her skin, spiraling out from her heart and wrist like glowing vines.
Ronan cupped her face gently, forcing her eyes to meet his.
"Aria. Breathe."
She nodded, even though her breaths came fast and shallow. "I— I feel strange… different…"
"How?" Ronan whispered.
"Everything feels louder," she gasped. "The air… the light… you."
Ronan swallowed hard. "Me?"
"I can hear your heartbeat. I can feel your fear." Her voice cracked. "Ronan… something's changing inside me."
The stranger stepped closer, observing her wrist. "Her transformation has begun sooner than expected."
Ronan snapped, "She just came back from nearly dying—give her a moment."
The stranger didn't flinch. "Moments are exactly what we don't have."
Aria leaned heavily against Ronan as another pulse moved through her—hot, sharp, electric. She winced, fingers tightening on his arm.
"Aria?" Ronan whispered. "What hurts?"
"Everything," she gasped. "My chest… my bones… it's like they're stretching."
Ronan looked ready to tear the sanctuary apart. "Make it stop."
The stranger sighed. "I cannot. And neither can she."
Aria looked up at him, fear shimmering in her eyes. "What's happening to me?"
The stranger exhaled. "Your Moonborn blood is awakening fully. Your human and Moonborn sides are fighting to merge. If they cannot… you will not survive the transformation."
Ronan froze.
Aria went pale.
"You said I would survive," she whispered.
"If anchored properly," the stranger corrected. "If balanced. If protected. If guided."
Ronan growled dangerously. "Tell me what to do."
⸻
The Ancient Wall
The stranger motioned toward a large crystal wall etched with symbols Aria hadn't noticed before.
"These runes hold the prophecy of the Moonbreaker."
The sanctuary brightened as he approached, the wall glowing in response to his touch. Runes shifted, rearranged, and formed an image—
a woman of light
a wolf of silver
and a shadow swallowing a moon.
Aria shivered. "What does it say?"
The stranger translated quietly:
"When the shadow hungers,
the Moonbreaker shall rise.
Not to destroy—
but to choose.
The wolf's bond shall steady the light.
The Devourer shall seek the heart.
And from the ashes of fate—
one world shall stand."
Silence washed over the room.
Ronan's jaw tightened. "One world? What does that mean?"
"It means," the stranger said, "the Moonbreaker holds the power to end the Devourer… or unleash it."
Aria's breath hitched. "And what decides that?"
"You," he said simply. "Your choices. Your emotions. Your bonds."
Aria glanced at Ronan.
The stranger continued, "Your bond with him grounds you. Without him, your awakening becomes… unstable."
Ronan drew her closer. "I'm not going anywhere."
Aria swallowed hard. "But if I transform into something dangerous—"
"You won't," he said fiercely.
"How do you know?"
Ronan tightened his hold on her waist, forehead brushing hers. "Because I know who you are."
Aria's heart stuttered at his certainty.
The stranger cleared his throat. "Emotional anchors strengthen the transformation. Fear weakens it."
"That's not helpful," Aria whispered, trembling.
Ronan pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You're not alone. Not now, not ever."
Her breath steadied slightly.
But the sanctuary trembled again—
harder
deeper
as if the earth itself shifted.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Aria jerked. "What was that?"
The stranger's face went stiff. "The Devourer is moving. It's coming closer to the mountains."
Aria's blood ran cold.
Ronan growled. "We need to get her deeper into the sanctum."
The stranger shook his head. "If she is moved during transformation, the instability could tear her spirit in half."
Aria's hand flew to her chest. "What do I do then?"
"You must ride the transformation through its first wave," the stranger said. "Without collapsing. Without resisting. Without letting the Devourer slip inside."
A fresh pulse struck Aria's ribs.
She cried out.
Ronan caught her as she doubled over. "Aria!"
Her bones shifted subtly beneath the skin—
not breaking
not elongating
but restructuring.
Her breath came in sharp, terrified gasps.
"I can't—Ronan—Ronan it's too much—"
He held her against him firmly. "You can handle this. I'm here. Look at me."
Her glowing eyes met his. "Don't let me disappear."
"Never."
⸻
The First Wave Hits
The sanctuary lights flickered into brilliance.
Aria screamed as the first full wave hit.
Her body arched violently.
Silver lightning crawled down her spine.
Her fingers glowed, trembling as if the energy tried to rip them apart from the inside.
Ronan gritted his teeth, pulling her tighter. "Breathe with me. Stay here. Stay in your body—"
"I'm—trying—"
Her voice cracked into a sob.
Her wrist blazed like a star exploding.
Energy rippled across the sanctuary, throwing the stranger backward.
Crystals cracked. Runes flickered.
"Aria!" Ronan shouted, fighting to hold her steady. "I'm right here—stay with me!"
Her eyes rolled back.
"No—no, no, no—Aria, listen to me—" Ronan cupped her cheeks. "Look at me!"
She blinked weakly.
For a moment, he saw her—the girl he'd held, protected, loved with a depth he still couldn't name.
"Ronan…" she whispered.
"Yes. Yes, I'm here."
Her grip on his shirt tightened desperately. "Don't let me go…"
"I won't. Ever."
The sanctuary pulsed again.
A shockwave exploded from her chest—
silver and white
bright enough to blind.
Ronan shielded her with his body, growling as the energy seared his skin. He didn't move.
The stranger whispered in awe, "She's merging too fast—this is unheard of—"
Another scream tore from Aria.
Ronan held her through it, whispering anything to keep her anchored.
"You're safe. You're strong. You're mine to protect."
Her breathing hitched. "Yours…?"
He froze.
But she didn't.
Her fingers curled around his heart.
"You feel like home."
The sanctuary went silent.
Ronan's breath trembled.
Aria slumped forward against him, exhausted from the wave.
He hugged her fiercely.
But before he could catch his breath—
The sanctuary trembled again.
Not from Aria.
From outside.
A low, rumbling growl echoed through the mountains.
The stranger paled. "It's closer than I thought."
Ronan stiffened. "The Devourer?"
"No." The stranger stepped to the entrance. "Something else."
The growl came again.
Aria's mark flared in response, her body jerking.
Ronan held her tighter. "What's happening now?"
The stranger whispered:
"The Devourer isn't coming alone."
The temperature plummeted.
Shadows crawled along the sanctuary walls.
Aria's eyes fluttered open.
Her voice was barely a whisper:
"It found me."
Ronan growled. "Over my dead body."
But the stranger's voice shook as he pointed toward the tunnel.
"No. Look."
Ronan turned.
And froze.
Standing in the shadows of the entrance was a massive wolf—
taller than any normal wolf
eyes glowing faint white
jaw dripping blackened mist.
Corrupted beyond anything he'd fought.
But that wasn't what made Ronan's heart stop.
Aria whispered the name before he could.
"…Elias?"
Mae's brother.
The wolf who defended her.
Now twisted into something unrecognizable.
Elias snarled—
a horrifying sound
filled with pain
and hunger
and darkness.
Ronan shoved Aria behind him instantly.
Aria gasped. "No—Elias—what did they do to you—"
Ronan growled, claws extending.
"He's not Elias anymore."
Aria's eyes filled with tears.
And the final phase pulsed beneath her skin—
as the corrupted wolf stepped forward.