Aria did not remember walking.
One moment she stood in the valley, surrounded by four predators with eyes that glowed like fire in the dark. The next, she was crossing a stone bridge carved into the side of a mountain, the Moon Pack's territory unfolding before her.
The valley had been beautiful.
This was something else.
A fortress of dark stone rose from the cliffs, torches flickering along its walls. Wolves,real ones—paced along the perimeter, their eyes reflecting silver under the moonlight. As Aria stepped forward, every gaze turned toward her.
She felt it immediately.
Judgment. Suspicion.
Possession.
"She's human," a voice murmured from somewhere in the shadows.
"For now," Riven replied lightly, though his tone carried an edge.
Darius walked ahead of her, his posture unyielding, his presence commanding enough to silence the whispers without effort. Kaelen stayed to her left, watchful. Lucian followed behind, quiet but aware of everything.
She was surrounded.
Protected.
Trapped.
"Why are they staring at me like that?" Aria whispered.
"Because," Kaelen said calmly, "they can smell the change."
Her stomach tightened. "What change?"
Darius stopped abruptly. She nearly collided with his back. Slowly, he turned, his amber eyes glowing faintly now.
"You were chosen," he said. "The Moon does not mark without reason."
"Marked?" she repeated.
Before anyone could answer, a sharp pain flared across her collarbone. Aria gasped, stumbling as heat spread through her skin. She clutched at her shoulder, but Darius was already there, steadying her.
"Easy," Lucian murmured from behind.
Kaelen's jaw tightened. "It's appearing."
Riven crouched slightly, studying her with unusual seriousness. "Well… that's new."
Aria forced herself to look down.
There, just below her collarbone, glowing faintly beneath her skin, was a crescent-shaped mark—silver and pulsing like a heartbeat.
Her breath left her in a rush.
"What did you do to me?" she demanded.
Darius's voice lowered, rougher now. "We did nothing. The bond has begun."
"The bond?" she repeated weakly.
Lucian stepped forward for the first time, his dark eyes softer than before. "Centuries ago, it was foretold that one would come who could anchor the four alphas. Balance us. Strengthen the pack."
"And if she refuses?" Aria asked.
Silence.
Kaelen answered first. "The Moon rarely accepts rejection."
Riven tilted his head, studying her. "Lucky you."
Aria's pulse raced. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for any of you."
Darius stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. She could feel the heat of him, the quiet strength in the way he held himself.
"No," he said softly. "But neither did we."
For a moment, something passed between them—an understanding neither of them wanted.
A sudden growl rippled through the courtyard.
One of the wolves shifted—bones snapping, form twisting—until a tall man stood in its place. His glare was fixed on Aria.
"She cannot stay," he said sharply. "The pack will not accept a human claiming all four alphas."
Claiming.
The word echoed in her mind.
Darius's expression hardened instantly. "Careful."
The man stepped forward anyway. "This is madness. The bond could weaken us."
Kaelen's eyes flashed. "Or strengthen us beyond measure."
Lucian folded his arms. "We will test her."
Aria's head spun. "Test me? For what?"
Riven grinned faintly. "To see if you survive."
The tension in the courtyard thickened. Wolves shifted uneasily. Some watched her with curiosity. Others with open hostility.
Darius finally raised his voice, authority rolling through the night like thunder.
"She stays."
Silence fell immediately.
"She will remain under my protection," he continued. "Any challenge to her is a challenge to me."
The message was clear.
No one moved.
Aria swallowed hard. "You can't just decide that for me."
Darius looked down at her slowly. "The moment you stepped into the valley, the decision was no longer yours alone."
Her anger flared despite her fear. "I am not some prophecy tool."
Something flickered in his eyes—respect? Amusement?
"Good," he said quietly. "We do not need someone weak."
Kaelen stepped closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "If you wish to survive here, Aria, you must learn quickly. The pack senses doubt."
Riven leaned near her other side, his voice teasing but softer now. "And try not to look so terrified. It excites them."
Lucian's gaze lingered on her mark. "The Moon chose carefully," he murmured.
Aria lifted her chin.
If they expected her to crumble, they would be disappointed.
"Fine," she said. "Test me."
A slow smile curved Darius's lips.
"Be careful what you offer," he said.
High above them, the full moon burned brighter, as if watching with approval.
And deep within the pack's territory, something ancient stirred—aware that the prophecy had finally begun.