Drenny_Ben

Aria Blackwood has always dreamed of the moment she would meet her fated mate. But when the night of the Moon Ceremony arrives, the one she’s destined for — the powerful Alpha Kael Thornhart — rejects her without a second thought. Heartbroken and betrayed, Aria flees into the wilderness, only to be saved by a mysterious stranger.

Lucien Draven, the Vampire King, has watched her from afar, sensing the power within her that even Aria doesn’t understand. He claims her as his own, offering protection and answers to the secrets of her bloodline. As Aria’s world shifts from one of wolves to one of vampires, she’s caught in a deadly game of politics and passion.

With the Alpha who rejected her now hunting her down and the Vampire King’s dangerous promises pulling her closer, Aria must navigate a path that will determine not just her fate, but the future of both werewolves and vampires.

Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Vampire King

The fire crackled in the cave, casting flickering light across the stone walls — but Aria felt no warmth.

She was cold. Not from the forest night, but from the words still echoing in her mind.

Ronan sat across from her, silent but watchful. His wounds were healing fast — he had rogue blood, after all. But Aria's side still ached, the deep gash refusing to close as quickly as it should.

"You're sure you've never been trained?" Ronan finally asked.

Aria shook her head. "My pack always said I was… average. Too soft to fight. Too emotional to lead."

Ronan's eyes narrowed. "That wasn't emotion out there. That was power. Controlled. Precise."

She glanced at her side, where faint, silver sparks shimmered briefly over the wound before vanishing.

"What if something's waking up in me?" she whispered.

Ronan's jaw tightened. "Then we need to find out what. Before someone else does."

A heavy silence stretched between them.

Then, he added, "And they will. That black smoke... it wasn't just dark magic. It was a tracker spell."

Aria's eyes widened. "You mean someone saw us?"

"No," he said grimly. "Someone knows where you are — and they're coming."

She swallowed hard. There was no going back now. Whoever had sent those rogues wasn't finished.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the cave, and Aria caught it — faint, but unmistakable.

The Alpha stood in the center of the training field, his fists clenched as Beta Cassian approached, concern etched across his face.

"She's alive," Kael said before Cassian could speak. "I felt her."

Cassian's eyes widened. "That's not possible. You rejected her."

Kael's voice was cold. "Then tell me why I still feel her pain."

Cassian hesitated, then handed him a torn scroll marked with blackened sigils.

"This was found near the northern border," he said. "Dark magic. Same as the curse that wiped out the Nightfangs."

And somehow, despite everything, his bond to her wasn't completely gone.

w… he would have to live with the cost.

The Echo of Shadows