Moonlight Promises

The council chamber emptied, leaving Aria alone with her swirling thoughts. One mate or none at all? How could she choose?

Riven had stormed out after Elder Varyn's announcement, his face like stone. Silas disappeared into the shadows, as he always did when troubled. Only Kade lingered, his golden eyes fixed on her.

"Come with me," he whispered, extending his hand. "You need to breathe."

Aria hesitated, remembering Maelin's warning about trust. But the ache in her chest pushed her toward him. The mate bond hummed between them, eager and alive.

"Where?" she asked.

"Somewhere safe." His smile held a secret. "Somewhere just for us."

They slipped out the back door of the pack house. The moon hung high, bathing the forest in silver light.

"We should run," Kade suggested. "It will clear your head."

Without waiting for her response, he shifted into his wolf form—russet fur gleaming with golden streaks, powerful and beautiful. Aria followed, her white wolf smaller but quick. Together they raced through the trees, leaving behind the weight of prophecies and curses.

For an hour, they simply ran. No words, no fears, just the rhythm of paws against earth and the wind in their fur. Aria felt free for the first time in days.

Kade led her deeper into the forest, to places she'd never seen. They climbed higher into the mountains until the sound of rushing water filled her ears. A waterfall cascaded down rocks into a glowing pool below.

They shifted back to human form. Kade had brought a small pack, from which he pulled out clothes for both of them.

"This place is magical," Aria said, slipping on the dress he'd brought. "How did you find it?"

"I come here when I need to escape." Kade's voice was softer than she'd ever heard it. "When being an Alpha's son becomes too heavy."

He sat at the edge of the pool, patting the spot beside him. Moonlight danced on the water's surface, creating ripples of light.

"Do you ever wish you weren't born into your family?" Aria asked, sitting beside him.

Kade's laugh was hollow. "Every day."

"But you're an Alpha's son. You have everything."

"I have a legacy I didn't ask for," he corrected her. "A brother who thinks I'm reckless. Another who thinks I'm stupid." He skipped a stone across the water. "And now I have a mate who has to choose between three brothers like we're prizes to be won."

Aria flinched. "Is that what you think this is?"

"No." He turned to face her, eyes burning with intensity. "I think this is the Moon Goddess playing cruel games with all of us."

His honesty surprised her. This wasn't the confident, arrogant Kade that everyone knew.

"Choose me," he said suddenly.

"What?"

"When Elder Varyn forces your hand—choose me." Kade moved closer, taking her hands in his. "Riven will never put you first. His duty to the pack will always win. And Silas—" He shook his head. "Silas is hiding something. I can feel it."

"And you're not hiding anything?" Aria challenged.

Kade's face softened. "I'm an open book, Moon Girl. What you see is what you get."

"A reckless Alpha who does what he wants?"

"A man who knows what he wants," he corrected, leaning closer. "And I want you."

Her heart thundered in her chest as his fingers traced her cheek. Through their bond, she felt his emotions—desire mixed with fear, possessiveness tangled with genuine care.

"There's something happening to me," Aria whispered. "I'm changing. What if I'm not the person you think I am?"

"I don't care what you are," Kade said fiercely. "Moon Child, curse, omega, whatever—I just want you."

The simplicity of his declaration washed over her like warm water. No conditions. No prophecies. Just want.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked, his voice rough with emotion.

Aria nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.

His lips met hers gently at first, then with growing hunger. The mate bond between them surged like electricity. Images flashed in her mind—Kade as a child, hiding tears after his father's criticism; Kade watching her from afar for years; Kade fighting with his brothers over their future.

When they broke apart, both were breathing hard.

"Did you—" Kade started.

"See your memories?" Aria finished. "Yes."

His eyes widened. "That's not normal, even for mates."

"Nothing about us is normal." She touched her crescent birthmark, which tingled warmly. "Maelin said as each seal breaks, more of my power will emerge."

Kade's expression darkened at the witch's name. "Don't trust her completely."

"I don't trust anyone completely right now."

"Not even me?" he asked, hurt flashing across his face.

Aria thought of the memory she'd glimpsed—Kade arguing fiercely with his brothers, his voice raised in anger: She's mine! I'll make sure of it!

"What did you mean when you told your brothers you'd make sure I was yours?" she asked quietly.

Kade froze, then pulled away slightly. "You saw that?"

"Just now, when we kissed." She watched his reaction carefully. "What did you do, Kade?"

He stood, pacing beside the water. "It doesn't matter now."

"It matters to me."

He ran his hands through his hair, a gesture of frustration she'd seen before. "I was afraid, okay? Afraid that Riven would win because he's the eldest. Afraid that Silas would outsmart me, like he always does."

"So what did you do?" Aria pressed, standing to face him.

Kade's eyes met hers, tormented and defiant. "I asked Maelin for help before she was banished."

Ice spread through Aria's veins. "Help with what?"

"Making sure the mate bond recognized me first." He reached for her hands, but she stepped back. "I didn't know it would trigger for all three of us! I just wanted—"

"You interfered with fate?" Aria's voice shook. "With my choice?"

"I ensured we had a chance!" Kade's eyes flashed with desperation. "You don't understand what it's like living in Riven's shadow!"

The water in the pool began to ripple, though there was no wind. Aria felt her power rising with her anger.

"So I'm just another prize for you to snatch before your brother gets it?" she demanded.

"No! That's not—" Kade stepped toward her. "Aria, I've loved you since we were children. I just wanted a fair chance."

The sincerity in his voice made her pause. Through their bond, she felt his genuine regret mixed with desperate love.

"The bond would have found us anyway," he continued softly. "I just helped it along."

"By using magic," Aria said. "The very thing your father forbids."

Kade's expression hardened. "My father's rules have always been selective. Ask Maelin about that sometime."

Before Aria could question him further, a howl pierced the night—urgent, demanding.

"That's Riven," Kade said, instantly alert. "Something's wrong."

Another howl joined the first, this one pained. Silas.

They shifted quickly, abandoning their clothes by the pool. As they raced down the mountain, the scent hit them—blood and fear.

When they reached the pack grounds, chaos greeted them. Warriors ran in all directions. In the center of it all stood Elder Varyn, holding a bloody knife over a fallen wolf.

Silas lay motionless on the ground, blood staining his silver fur.

"The choice has been made for you," Elder Varyn announced as Aria shifted back to human form, uncaring of her nakedness in the moment of horror.

"The cursed moon rises tomorrow night," the Elder continued. "And the sacrifice is ready."