The forest remained silent long after Darius disappeared into the darkness.
Ava stood frozen where she was, her heart still racing. The words echoed endlessly in her mind.
Moon Queen bloodline.
Every alpha will come for you.
Her hands trembled slightly as she stared at Kael.
"You're going to explain everything," she said firmly.
Kael didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the spot where Darius had vanished.
Only when he was certain the rogue alpha was truly gone did he finally turn to her.
"You shouldn't have awakened tonight," he muttered.
Ava frowned.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she snapped. "Next time I'll try not to unleash mysterious powers while being attacked by rogue wolves."
Kael ignored her sarcasm.
"This changes everything."
"Then maybe you should start talking!" Ava's voice rose with frustration. "Everyone keeps speaking in riddles like I'm some kind of secret weapon."
Kael walked toward her slowly.
Under the moonlight his expression softened, but his eyes were filled with worry.
"You are a secret weapon," he said quietly.
Ava blinked.
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
The seriousness in his voice made her stomach twist.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The cold wind rustled through the tall trees, carrying the distant sounds of the pack territory far behind them.
Finally Ava exhaled sharply.
"Start from the beginning."
Kael ran a hand through his dark hair.
"You know the stories about the Moon Queen?"
Ava hesitated.
"Every wolf does," she said slowly. "But they're just legends."
"The Moon Queen was the first werewolf blessed directly by the moon goddess," Kael explained. "Her bloodline carried abilities no other wolf possessed."
"Abilities like what?"
"Power over other wolves… heightened strength… and the ability to command the lunar energy itself."
Ava stared at him.
"That's impossible."
Kael gave a humorless laugh.
"You literally threw a rogue wolf across the forest five minutes ago."
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
Fair point.
"But the Moon Queen bloodline disappeared centuries ago," Ava insisted.
"That's what everyone believed," Kael said.
"Until tonight."
Ava felt her chest tighten.
"You're saying I'm related to… her?"
Kael nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The word hung heavily between them.
Ava shook her head.
"No. My parents were normal wolves."
"Were they?" Kael asked quietly.
She froze.
"My father died when I was young," Ava said slowly. "And my mother never talked about our family history."
Kael's eyes darkened.
"Exactly."
Ava's pulse quickened.
"You knew."
"I suspected."
"You suspected?" she repeated in disbelief. "And you didn't think that was important information to share?"
Kael stepped closer.
"I needed to be certain."
"Before or after you kidnapped me from my pack?"
"I didn't kidnap you," he said firmly.
"You claimed me against my will!"
His jaw tightened.
"Yes," he admitted. "Because it was the only way to keep you alive."
Ava stared at him.
"What does that even mean?"
Kael's voice dropped lower.
"The elders in your pack discovered something about your bloodline."
Her stomach dropped.
"They were planning to hand you over."
"To who?"
"Whoever offered the highest power alliance."
Ava felt sick.
"They would never do that."
"You underestimate how much power the Moon Queen bloodline represents."
Her wolf stirred uneasily inside her mind.
"You're saying they would've sold me?"
"Yes."
The word came without hesitation.
Ava turned away, running a hand through her hair.
"This is insane."
"I know."
She paced back and forth.
"Okay, let's say I believe you for a second," she said. "Why claim me as your mate?"
Kael's expression hardened.
"Because if you belong to me, no other alpha can take you."
Her eyes widened.
"That's not comforting!"
"It's the truth."
Ava glared at him.
"So I'm basically a political shield?"
"No."
Kael stepped closer again.
"You're my mate."
The words hit her like a sudden gust of wind.
Her wolf stirred again.
The mate bond pulsed faintly in her chest.
"But you rejected me once," Ava said quietly.
Pain flickered across Kael's face.
"That was before I knew the truth."
"Convenient."
"Ava—"
"Do you know what it felt like?" she interrupted. "Standing in front of everyone while you rejected me under the full moon?"
His gaze dropped.
"Yes."
"You humiliated me."
"I protected you."
"How is that protection?!"
Kael looked back up at her.
"Because if anyone had sensed your true power back then, you would've been hunted years ago."
Ava's anger faltered.
"You rejected me… to hide me?"
"Yes."
The forest grew quiet again.
Ava tried to process everything.
All the pain she had carried for years.
All the humiliation.
Was it really… protection?
"I don't know if I believe you," she whispered.
"That's fair."
Kael didn't try to defend himself further.
Instead he said something that surprised her.
"But I would do it again."
Ava blinked.
"What?"
"If rejecting you kept you alive," he said quietly, "I would make the same choice every time."
Something in his voice made her chest ache.
Before she could respond—
A distant horn suddenly echoed across the forest.
Kael's head snapped up instantly.
"That's the border alarm."
Ava's stomach tightened.
"What does that mean?"
"Someone just crossed into my territory."
Another horn sounded.
Then another.
Kael's expression darkened.
"Multiple intruders."
Ava felt fear crawl up her spine.
"Rogues?"
Kael shook his head slowly.
"No."
"Then who?"
He looked toward the horizon where the faint glow of torches now flickered through the trees.
His voice turned grim.
"Alphas."
Ava's heart skipped.
"What?"
"They must've felt your awakening," Kael muttered.
More horns sounded across the territory now.
The entire pack was on alert.
"How many?" Ava asked nervously.
Kael's eyes narrowed as he focused on the distant scents carried by the wind.
"At least three."
Her breath caught.
"Three alphas are coming here?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Kael gave her a look.
"You already know why."
Her chest tightened.
"They're coming for me."
"Yes."
Ava suddenly felt very small in the middle of the massive forest.
"What do we do?"
Kael stepped closer.
His voice became calm again.
"We go back to the pack."
"And then?"
"Then we prepare for war."
Her eyes widened.
"War?"
"Every alpha who learns about your bloodline will want control over you."
"That's insane!"
"Welcome to the reality of power."
The torches in the distance were getting closer.
Ava could hear faint voices now.
Dozens of wolves.
Maybe more.
Her pulse quickened.
"They're already here."
Kael nodded.
"Faster than I expected."
He placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Ava, listen to me carefully."
She looked up at him.
"No matter what happens tonight… stay behind me."
"I'm not helpless."
"I know."
His eyes softened.
"But you're still learning what you are."
Another horn sounded — much closer now.
Then suddenly—
A powerful voice echoed across the forest.
"Alpha Kael!"
Ava turned toward the sound.
Three massive wolves stepped out of the trees.
Behind them stood dozens of warriors.
Each wolf shifted into human form.
Three men now stood at the front of the group.
Each radiating terrifying alpha energy.
One of them smiled coldly.
"Well… well."
His gaze locked onto Ava instantly.
"So the rumors were true."
Kael stepped forward protectively.
"You're trespassing."
The alpha chuckled.
"We came for a meeting."
"At midnight?"
"With an army?"
The man shrugged casually.
"You never know when negotiations might get… complicated."
Ava felt the tension rising around them like a storm.
The second alpha spoke next.
"We'll make this simple."
His eyes also fixed on her.
"Hand over the girl."
Kael's voice turned deadly.
"No."
The third alpha stepped forward.
"You're outnumbered, Kael."
"That's never stopped me before."
The first alpha smirked.
"You really think you can keep her from us?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Ava felt the mate bond pulse stronger again.
Then the alpha said something that made her blood run cold.
"Then we'll just take her."
And suddenly—
Every wolf behind them began to shift.