Chapter 22: The Ambush

The Ambush

The words clung to Aria's mind long after Lyra Moonshade vanished.

"You were never meant to escape. You were meant to lead them."

Aria's breath was uneven, her pulse thrumming like war drums in her ears. The weight of Lyra's revelation threatened to crush her. The first Alpha King. The creator of the Shadowborn. The one who made Kael.

The one who made her.

Her fingers trembled against the edge of the ancient book. Every instinct screamed that this was a lie, that it had to be.

But the memories—**the chains, the blood, the whispers in the dark—**they said otherwise.

Her heartbeat roared louder.

She couldn't stay here.

Aria turned on her heel, pushing past the shelves of the forgotten library. Lyra's presence loomed behind her, watching, but Aria didn't look back.

She needed air.

She needed to breathe.